Outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Monday called President Obama’s dedication to high-speed rail the “crowning glory” of his transportation legacy.

“I think the crowning glory for the president — and he is going to have many legacies but his transportation legacy — will be high-speed rail in America, bringing passenger rail all over America,” LaHood said, speaking at a news conference in which Obama announced the nomination for Charlotte, N.C. Mayor Anthony Foxx to be the next transportation secretary.

Read more.

NEW YORK — Amtrak ridership increased in the first six months of fiscal year 2013, with ridership in March setting a record as the single best month ever in Amtrak’s history, the railroad said Tuesday.

Ridership grew 0.9 percent from October 2012 to March compared to the prior year despite disruptions from weather including Superstorm Sandy. Amtrak said 26 of 45 routes had rider increases.

The railroad said October, December and January also set individual monthly records. Amtrak expects to end the fiscal year at or above last year’s record of 31.2 million passengers.

Read more.

Even though Wisconsin has bowed out of participating in the Midwest high-speed rail network, a lot of state businesses stand to profit from the initiative.

In a report last month, the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, a group that boosts eco-business innovation, lists hundreds of high-speed rail service and supply companies that could become part of the supply chain for the rail initiative, 73 of them in Wisconsin. Locally they include HNTB of Madison, an engineering and architecture firm; Mohawk Industries, a carpet manufacturer; and Stoughton Trucking.

Read more

A lthough a high-speed rail line that was proposed for Wisconsin is instead being built across the state of Illinois just south of the border, some Wisconsin manufacturers ultimately may benefit from the expansion of high-speed rail across the nation anyway, according to a new report by the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC).

Read more.

Perhaps sparked by highway congestion or the hassle of air travel, Amtrak’s passenger rail service has been the nation’s fastest growing mode of transportation, according to a new report that urges Congress to push forward with coordinated national rail plan.

The government-subsidized railway carried a record 31.2 million people last year, a 55 percent increase since 1997, according to a study by the Brookings-Rockefeller Project on State and Metropolitan Innovation.

Read more.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Next-generation passenger rail service continues to pick up speed across the nation, and one of the biggest beneficiaries could be the Midwest. Nearly 500 companies in seven states across the region that could profit from rail expansion have been identified in a report by the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

Read more

CHICAGO (AP) — Hundreds of Midwest manufacturers stand to benefit from a web of high-speed passenger rail routes emerging from Chicago’s rail hub, according to a report released by an environmental policy group that has fought to defend the use of billions in taxpayer money on such projects.

The report released Friday by the Chicago-based Environmental Law & Policy Center found that 460 manufacturers in seven Midwest states are poised to reap new business, along with a dozen more highly visible companies that make rail cars and locomotives. Those additional supply-chain manufacturers make everything from seats, couplers and bolts to ceiling panels, interior lighting and air horns. They also cut sheet metal, provide electronics and communications equipment, and supply track maintenance machinery.

Read more

ELPC is the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization, and among the nation’s leaders. We develop and lead successful strategic environmental advocacy campaigns to improve environmental quality and protect our natural heritage. We are public interest environmental entrepreneurs who engage in creative business deal making with diverse interests to put into practice our belief that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together. ELPC’s multidisciplinary staff of 46 talented public interest attorneys, environmental business specialists, policy advocates and communications specialists brings a strong and effective combination of skills to solve environmental problems and improve the quality of life in our communities. ELPC’s headquarters is in Chicago with additional offices and professional staff in Columbus, OH, Des Moines, IA, Jamestown, ND, Madison, WI, St. Paul, MN, Sioux Falls, SD, and Washington D.C.  ELPC has an annual budget of $6.5 million and started in 1993.  See www.elpc.org and www.highspeedrailworks.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The ELPC Transportation Policy Advocate will work with ELPC’s senior staff team and ELPC’s Federal Legislative Director to promote sustainable transportation policies and projects through reauthorization of the federal surface transportation and rail authorizations, appropriations and other opportunities.  Responsibilities include advocacy and education with Congressional offices and the Administration, policy research and development, advocacy and outreach in support of a Midwest High-Speed Rail Network and other transportation priorities, and relations with ELPC’s coalition partners. In addition, this ELPC policy advocate will work on other targeted federal issues and opportunities that emerge as ELPC priorities.  This position requires occasional travel to Chicago and other Midwest cities.

QUALIFICATIONS: At least five years of professional experience with federal policy advocacy and analysis. Understand and enjoy multifaceted strategic advocacy that involves coordinated legislative advocacy, policy analysis, media and organizing actions. Hill experience on transportation issues highly desirable.  Excellent persuasive abilities and oral and written communications skills, analytic abilities and strong interest in public interest and environmental advocacy. An inspired and demonstrated commitment to public interest advocacy and the ability to work productively as a member of a team of skilled professionals is required.  Advanced degree preferred.

SALARY: Commensurate with experience and with ELPC’s salary structure that is competitive with other large public interest environmental organizations.  Excellent benefits provided.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please send a cover letter, resume and three professional references to ELPC Deputy Director Kevin Brubaker at TranspoAdvocate@elpc.org Telephone inquiries are discouraged.  The Environmental Law and Policy Center is an equal opportunity employer and is continually seeking to diversify its staff. (Posted 1/29/2013)

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is leaving the Obama administration after four years, a White House official confirms.

LaHood announced last fall that he did not plan to serve in President Obama’s second term Cabinet. But he went on to walk back that statement, and at an inauguration party last week he said he would stick around for an indefinite amount of time.

Read more

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton says there is no government money right now to build high-speed rail lines in Minnesota.

Speaking at the Minnesota Newspaper Association annual conference Thursday, Dayton cast doubt on taxpayer money being available anytime soon for high-speed rail.
Dayton noted that the proposed Northern Lights Express linking Duluth and the Twin Cities was not in his construction proposal last year. He also spoke of a proposed high-speed rail line linking Rochester and the Twin Cities that could bring patients quickly to Mayo Clinic.

Read more