Possible cancelation Portland-Eugene Amtrak Cascades

[natebofto]

Here we go again, state of Oregon. The current state budget proposal states to reduce "general fund" funding for Portland-Eugene, OR segment of Amtrak Cascades. Same thing happened 2 years ago and funding was replaced and since then: WAY more convenient schedule changes for PDX-EUG have happened, and ridership is up over 10%.

If you are in Oregon I HIGHLY urge you to contact your state representatives to ensure this service continues. I'm on train 506 in Eugene right now and it is packed and will only fill up as we get closer to Portland. This would be devastating to our state

 

[Carolina Special]

Interesting because there is a Democratic trifecta in the state: the Dems hold the governorship, the Senate and the House.

 

[CraigDK]

Interesting because there is a Democratic trifecta in the state: the Dems hold the governorship, the Senate and the House.

According to some that is impossible. Maybe it is time to realize that transportation funding is more complex than that...

 

[WoodyinNYC]

... The state budget proposal... to reduce funding for Portland-Eugene segment of Amtrak Cascades ... [despite] WAY more convenient schedule ... ridership up over 10%.

ImageUploadedByAmtrak Forum1490457501.098687.jpg

Very nice poster, with all the needed facts very well presented.

Good luck with this effort. We need all the trains we can keep or get!

 

[Anderson]

Yeah...Virginia has had a generally favorable environment in spite of a large GOP majority in the legislature and through a Republican administration in Richmond. It's more complicated.

 

[Karl1459]

Interesting because there is a Democratic trifecta in the state: the Dems hold the governorship, the Senate and the House.

The Democrats in Oregon are more concerned with keeping their masters, ie public employees unions, retirement benefits intact than they are in otherwise serving the state. In addition to the Dems being very "left", the Republicans in Oregon tend to be very "right" so they tend to be unable to find common ground on insignificant matters like transportation (highway maintenance and rail options) and other infrastructure issues.

 

[Skyline]

Hmmm. Who knew that (transportation funding) was so complicated?