Month: December 2008

I think Martin misses the source of some of our disappointment in his post on LaHood. Here’s Martin:

I’ll take the opportunity to state that I’m not expecting a huge push from the administration to end the nation’s  emphasis on roads, make the car obsolete, or any of the other more radical goals of public transportation advocates.  The postwar consensus  in favor of the auto is a bipartisan one, and there are only so many transformations of American society that one administration can successfully execute.  It’s clear that the emphasis will be on the economy, the wars, health care, and climate change.  I’d expect Obama, Biden, and LaHood to help out at the margins with appointments and such, but those who are really disappointed in the LaHood pick should probably modulate their expectations.

Part of the disappointment with LaHood is the realization that we are not getting a real transportation progressive. LaHood has a bad record on  environmental issues, and he has voted for off-shore drilling and drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. He got a 66% from highway builders, and has supported Amtrak a couple of times and bicycles a couple of times. Fine so he’s a moderate.

But another huge part of the disappointment was the realization that Obama is not taking the transportation department any more seriously than previous presidents who used the department’s cabinet position for political purposes. At least Norman Mineta, George Bush’s token democrat in his cabinet, had transporation experience as chair of various house transportation committees and subcommitees. The problem with LaHood is that not only does he seem like a purely political appointment, he has shown little interest in transportation in his time in the House. Obama has said he wants to appoint the best people for the job. Is Ray LaHood the best person for this job, even among people who share his view?

Here is the latest information reinstating passenger rail service between Vancouver BC and Eugene, Oregon

December 21, 2008
9:00 p.m. ET

BNSF Railway has informed Amtrak of plans to restore most passenger train service to and from Seattle, following a major winter storm that suspended nearly all Amtrak service in the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, December 21.

This service restoration plan is based on best-available information. However, passengers in the affected area are advised to contact Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL or check train status on Amtrak.com before traveling on Monday, December 22.

Trains in the Pacific Northwest are expected to operate subject to significant delays on December 22.

Amtrak Cascades

Service is planned to operate on December 22 for the full route to and from Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, B.C., via Portland, Ore., and Seattle, with the exception of Train 500 between Eugene and Portland. Train 500 will originate in Portland rather than Eugene, with passengers directed to departures later in the day as alternate transportation.

Empire Builder

Trains 8 & 28 are planned to originate in Portland on December 22, with alternate transportation planned from Seattle for Train 8 passengers ticketed from Seattle and intermediate points to Spokane, Wash.

Coast Starlight

Trains 11 & 14 are expected to operate over their full Seattle-Los Angeles route on December 22, subject to significant delay in the Pacific Northwest.

Amtrak regrets any inconvenience. This information is correct as of the above time and date. Information is subject to change as conditions warrant. Passengers are encouraged to call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com for schedule information and train status updates.