Subject: Railroad Passengers July Newsletter
From: "Ross Capon" <[email-masked]>
To: "Ross Capon" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 10:59:52 -0400

To our friends at Amtrak, August 6, 2010-

It has just come to my attention that many (all?) of you may not have received the newsletter on July 13 when I thought I sent it to you. Apologies if you've already seen it!

-Ross Capon, President, National Association of Railroad Passengers www.narprail.org<http://www.narprail.org> 202-408-8362, cell 301-385-6438

Page one--House appropriations subcommittee approves Amtrak funding for Fiscal 2011 far below the railroad's, and high-speed rail $600 million below this year, while increasing highway spending $3.1 billion over this year's level and $4.1 billion over the White House request.
--Visionary engineer/planner/teacher Dr. Vukan R. Vuchic of University of Pennsylvania retires, leaving a legacy of intellectual support for balanced transportation with a heavy rail emphasis. In 1967, he initiated his university's graduate program in Transportation Systems Engineering
--North Carolina's third daily Raleigh-Charlotte Amtrak train was launched June 5

Page two-U.S. DOT announces release of the first $114.6 million in funds out of almost $8 billion in grants announced in January
--Senate confirms three new Amtrak board members; one vacancy remains
--New York Times documents heavy subsidies enjoyed by the oil industry "at virtually every stage of the exploration and extraction process."
--NARP has a new membership recruitment brochure available in hard copy and at www.narprail.org<http://www.narprail.org>

Page three-Deputy Secretary Porcari and Rep. Blumenauer speak at our annual Capitol Hill reception
--NARP comments positively on U.S. DOT's Draft Strategic Plan
--Correction from our April story: Amtrak's Cardinal study looks at adding a St. Louis leg, not eliminating the Chicago-Indianapolis section
--Reaching out to Students
--Brief list of recent posts to our blog

Page four-Travelers' Advisory including new Richmond-Washington trains starting July 20
--Trails & Rails Amtrak/National Park Service partnership offers downloadable recorded audio guide for Sunset Ltd. and other train/park features