Accessibility updates at Newbern-Dyersburg
Federal investment improves Newbern-Dyersburg platform
NEWBERN, Tenn. – Amtrak customers can enjoy a more accessible and comfortable experience at the Newbern-Dyersburg Station with the completion of $3.5 million in upgrades. The Amtrak City of New Orleans stops twice daily while traveling between Chicago, via Carbondale, Ill., and New Orleans, via Memphis and Jackson, Miss.
“With construction, renovation, repair, and upgrade projects at stations across the country, station accessibility is a priority we’re actively pursuing with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Dr. David Handera, Amtrak Vice President, Accessibility, Stations and Facilities.
“We want all of our stations to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for every customer,” he said at a ribbon-cutting at the station in West Tennessee with state tourism commissioner Mark Ezell and Newbern Mayor Pam Mabry.
To provide smoother pathways for passengers with disabilities, Amtrak installed a new 350-foot platform with historically inclusive features integrating key elements of the 104-year-old station, which includes the Newbern Depot & Railroad Museum, an Amtrak waiting room and a grand room for public functions with the surrounding community.
Other improvements include new accessible parking, public right-of-way access with sloped accessible walkways and safety barriers, energy efficient LED light fixtures providing full-coverage lighting along the pathways and at the platform, a new wheelchair lift with secure enclosure and new signage. Much of the work was done by local sub-contractors.
This investment is part of an Amtrak commitment to creating safer, accessible facilities across the National Network through its Accessible Stations Program. Since 2011 Amtrak has made more than $870 million in upgrades at 123 stations across the country, providing a better travel experience for customers with disabilities. Another 30 stations are targeted for completion this fiscal year as Amtrak works toward 100% completion by 2029.
NEWBERN, Tenn. – Amtrak customers can enjoy a more accessible and comfortable experience at the Newbern-Dyersburg Station with the completion of $3.5 million in upgrades. The Amtrak City of New Orleans stops twice daily while traveling between Chicago, via Carbondale, Ill., and New Orleans, via Memphis and Jackson, Miss.
“With construction, renovation, repair, and upgrade projects at stations across the country, station accessibility is a priority we’re actively pursuing with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Dr. David Handera, Amtrak Vice President, Accessibility, Stations and Facilities.
“We want all of our stations to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for every customer,” he said at a ribbon-cutting at the station in West Tennessee with state tourism commissioner Mark Ezell and Newbern Mayor Pam Mabry.
To provide smoother pathways for passengers with disabilities, Amtrak installed a new 350-foot platform with historically inclusive features integrating key elements of the 104-year-old station, which includes the Newbern Depot & Railroad Museum, an Amtrak waiting room and a grand room for public functions with the surrounding community.
Other improvements include new accessible parking, public right-of-way access with sloped accessible walkways and safety barriers, energy efficient LED light fixtures providing full-coverage lighting along the pathways and at the platform, a new wheelchair lift with secure enclosure and new signage. Much of the work was done by local sub-contractors.
This investment is part of an Amtrak commitment to creating safer, accessible facilities across the National Network through its Accessible Stations Program. Since 2011 Amtrak has made more than $870 million in upgrades at 123 stations across the country, providing a better travel experience for customers with disabilities. Another 30 stations are targeted for completion this fiscal year as Amtrak works toward 100% completion by 2029.
FRA releases long-distance service study
TARP is pleased to note that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released details on an extensive study to restore former long-distance Amtrak routes and develop new routes. Tennessee and other states with growing population would benefit from the fruits of this study (if the fruit produced is the real implementation of passenger rail service!).
Indeed this is a move in the right direction. This study sees the value in passenger rail routes that connect different corridors, several states, and a multitude of city pairs. Connections to other rail routes and to bus and transit service could transform these routes into true mobility mechanisms.
We encourage you to read and reflect on the study. Give us your thoughts and feedback as well. And keep the conversation going with your elected representatives.
Here is the link to the study: fralongdistancerailstudy.org/
Indeed this is a move in the right direction. This study sees the value in passenger rail routes that connect different corridors, several states, and a multitude of city pairs. Connections to other rail routes and to bus and transit service could transform these routes into true mobility mechanisms.
We encourage you to read and reflect on the study. Give us your thoughts and feedback as well. And keep the conversation going with your elected representatives.
Here is the link to the study: fralongdistancerailstudy.org/
Can a new mayor sell Nashville on transit?
Traffic headaches are one of our biggest frustrations with Tennessee's capital city. Our headaches on increase when we consider how many recent proposals failed to due lack of merit, research, and funding mechanisms. Can a new mayor deliver on a realistic vision for balanced transportation and traffic congestion relief? Here is an interesting article with several takeaways we would like for you to read:
Article from Governing.com
Article from Governing.com
Back on track? Intercity Rail Options for Tennessee
The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations prepared a comprehensive document based on an extensive study on passenger rail possibilities in Tennessee.
TARP is very pleased to note that the idea and proposals came about by looking at other state models and using data gathered from other state and interstate-related organizations.
The study is also balanced with specific ideas for short-term solutions to some of our state's mobility problems, including the expansion of intercity bus in certain corridors.
It's especially helpful to note the overall theme of the various proposals is to improve our mobility options to benefit the state as a whole.
We encourage our members and visitors to our website to please take some time to read the document in full and take note of its content. Please also take a moment to reach out to your elected officials so that the conversation can lead to specific proposals with the necessary funding mechanisms.
Here is the link to the document.
TARP is very pleased to note that the idea and proposals came about by looking at other state models and using data gathered from other state and interstate-related organizations.
The study is also balanced with specific ideas for short-term solutions to some of our state's mobility problems, including the expansion of intercity bus in certain corridors.
It's especially helpful to note the overall theme of the various proposals is to improve our mobility options to benefit the state as a whole.
We encourage our members and visitors to our website to please take some time to read the document in full and take note of its content. Please also take a moment to reach out to your elected officials so that the conversation can lead to specific proposals with the necessary funding mechanisms.
Here is the link to the document.
It's been 44 years now!
Tennessee lawmakers are taking a longer and deeper look into the possibility of passenger rail to serve our growing state; however, the challenges are steep.
Tennessee's lack of approach and investment means that the return of passenger rail at any point in our state's future is progressively more costly and difficult. Yet, at the same time, the need for passenger rail and its potential appeal is increasing along with our state's population growth.
If only we could turn back time! Tennesseans begged to stop the discontinuance of Amtrak's Floridian in 1979 with service to Nashville. We were promised by elected officials, including Albert Gore, Sr., that the train would return. It's been 44 years now!
When Atlanta offered to host the Olympics in 1996, Amtrak took a serious look at restoring the Floridian on an improved route through Tennessee. However, Tennessee lawmakers were less-than-serious, especially when the conversation involved funding. The Olympics came and went, but the train never came. It's been 27 years now!
In the late 1990's Amtrak expended the Chicago-Indianapolis Hoosier State route into Louisville, Kentucky as part of an experiment to carry additional freight and express. Passenger service was, unfortunately, an afterthought with this particular route, but the lure of Nashville's travel market was too much to ignore. Amtrak entered conversations with lawmakers and Nashville city officials for a proposed extension of the route into Music City and even ran a test train along the route. We learned the hard way that conversations are pointless without subsequent action. In 2003 Amtrak pulled away from their brash freight and express plan, which essentially killed the Louisville extension and all hope for extending the route to Nashville. It's been 20 years now!
Today our state is one of the fastest growing in the entire country. Our tourism market is big and getting bigger. Our interstate highways and city streets are overwhelmed, even during non-peak travel times. If only our state and civic leaders had found a way to preserve and expand passenger rail in years gone by, then our task to expand the service today would be significantly easier.
We are in a real bind at the moment. Our lawmakers are taking a serious look at passenger rail, but the task is daunting. Our role as passenger rail advocates is to help guide the conversation to a practical and cost-effective action plan to benefit our state in the near future. Doing so will give us a platform and springboard for future expansion. The lack of action will only make the task more difficult in the future.
I encourage all TARP members and supporters follow the conversation, give input, and ask your state and federal lawmakers to secure funding for projects that can move forward quickly. We have a near future opportunity to bring passenger rail in to upper East Tennessee that can thence be extended as far south as Chattanooga. We have existing proposals to provide a daylight service connecting Memphis and West Tennessee with the enormous Midwest travel market. And there are ways we can reconnect Nashville that won't require billions in up-front investment.
Tennessee, like all states, needs a balanced transportation system that interconnected, sustainable, and beneficial to all stakeholders. Passenger rail can and will play a vital role in that if and only if we move beyond the conversation and into action. And the action needed may not be as costly or require as much build-out as some might think.
Let's resolve to get practical results and not let more and more years go by.
Here's an article I encourage you to read that tells some of the background story and lays out some of our challenges for expanded rail service in the Volunteer State:
"Why can't I take a train Chattanooga to Nashville?" - in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press
L. Jarod Pearson, TARP President
Tennessee's lack of approach and investment means that the return of passenger rail at any point in our state's future is progressively more costly and difficult. Yet, at the same time, the need for passenger rail and its potential appeal is increasing along with our state's population growth.
If only we could turn back time! Tennesseans begged to stop the discontinuance of Amtrak's Floridian in 1979 with service to Nashville. We were promised by elected officials, including Albert Gore, Sr., that the train would return. It's been 44 years now!
When Atlanta offered to host the Olympics in 1996, Amtrak took a serious look at restoring the Floridian on an improved route through Tennessee. However, Tennessee lawmakers were less-than-serious, especially when the conversation involved funding. The Olympics came and went, but the train never came. It's been 27 years now!
In the late 1990's Amtrak expended the Chicago-Indianapolis Hoosier State route into Louisville, Kentucky as part of an experiment to carry additional freight and express. Passenger service was, unfortunately, an afterthought with this particular route, but the lure of Nashville's travel market was too much to ignore. Amtrak entered conversations with lawmakers and Nashville city officials for a proposed extension of the route into Music City and even ran a test train along the route. We learned the hard way that conversations are pointless without subsequent action. In 2003 Amtrak pulled away from their brash freight and express plan, which essentially killed the Louisville extension and all hope for extending the route to Nashville. It's been 20 years now!
Today our state is one of the fastest growing in the entire country. Our tourism market is big and getting bigger. Our interstate highways and city streets are overwhelmed, even during non-peak travel times. If only our state and civic leaders had found a way to preserve and expand passenger rail in years gone by, then our task to expand the service today would be significantly easier.
We are in a real bind at the moment. Our lawmakers are taking a serious look at passenger rail, but the task is daunting. Our role as passenger rail advocates is to help guide the conversation to a practical and cost-effective action plan to benefit our state in the near future. Doing so will give us a platform and springboard for future expansion. The lack of action will only make the task more difficult in the future.
I encourage all TARP members and supporters follow the conversation, give input, and ask your state and federal lawmakers to secure funding for projects that can move forward quickly. We have a near future opportunity to bring passenger rail in to upper East Tennessee that can thence be extended as far south as Chattanooga. We have existing proposals to provide a daylight service connecting Memphis and West Tennessee with the enormous Midwest travel market. And there are ways we can reconnect Nashville that won't require billions in up-front investment.
Tennessee, like all states, needs a balanced transportation system that interconnected, sustainable, and beneficial to all stakeholders. Passenger rail can and will play a vital role in that if and only if we move beyond the conversation and into action. And the action needed may not be as costly or require as much build-out as some might think.
Let's resolve to get practical results and not let more and more years go by.
Here's an article I encourage you to read that tells some of the background story and lays out some of our challenges for expanded rail service in the Volunteer State:
"Why can't I take a train Chattanooga to Nashville?" - in the Chattanooga Times-Free Press
L. Jarod Pearson, TARP President
Take Action Now!
TARPs efforts to expand rail service in Tennessee are moving from the federal level to the state level. We are now focusing our efforts on contacting state lawmakers to express support for passenger rail.
The first step in expanding passenger rail in Tennessee will be for the state to conduct a study that would project ridership and possible routes. Bills in the House and Senate HB 2278 & SB 2602 are currently in committee. We need to contact our elected officials to express our support for Amtrak service in Tennessee.
Here is a page from the legislature about effective communication with your Representative. Here is a link to find your Representatives.
Passenger rail in Tennessee has bipartisan support. We are asking for support from our Representatives to study Amtrak expansion.
The first step in expanding passenger rail in Tennessee will be for the state to conduct a study that would project ridership and possible routes. Bills in the House and Senate HB 2278 & SB 2602 are currently in committee. We need to contact our elected officials to express our support for Amtrak service in Tennessee.
Here is a page from the legislature about effective communication with your Representative. Here is a link to find your Representatives.
Passenger rail in Tennessee has bipartisan support. We are asking for support from our Representatives to study Amtrak expansion.
