HomeMy WebLinkAbout12817RESOLUTION NO. 12817
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING EFFORTS TO RETAIN THE
AMTRAK SOUTHWEST CHIEF PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE
INCLUDING PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE TO PUEBLO,
COLORADO
WHEREAS, City Council approved Resolution No. 12681 on May 28, 2013 endorsing
efforts to maintain the Amtrak Southwest Chief passenger rail service; and
WHEREAS, the Southwest Chief and its passenger train predecessors have served
routes through southeastern Colorado since the 1880s including a stop in Pueblo, Colorado until
April, 1971 and is ranked among the best Amtrak routes for both passenger loads and on-time
service; and
WHEREAS, the Southwest Chief is an essential transportation economic contributor to
southeastern Colorado, for the cities of Lamar, La Junta, and Trinidad and could be a key
economic contributor to the Pueblo region along a modified route connecting with Pueblo; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak provides a gateway to tourists from the West Coast and the Midwest
to attractions within Colorado, as well as a transportation link to the citizens of southeastern
Colorado that is of growing importance; and
WHEREAS, convenient, efficient, and seamless inner-state fixed route and charter bus
services in Pueblo Colorado would provide scheduled and timely connections to Colorado
Springs, Denver, and several other cities in the state of Colorado to promote statewide tourism;
and
WHEREAS, discontinuing the Southwest Chief’s service in Colorado would have a
negative economic impact to southeastern Colorado and the state of Colorado; and
WHEREAS, passenger rail service is an economic contributor to Colorado in terms of
direct employment, interstate passenger access, and tourism economy; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
The Pueblo City Council (“City”) strongly endorses the continuation of the Amtrak
Southwest Chief passenger rail service along a modified route linking from La Junta to Pueblo
and connecting to Trinidad that will be a key component of Pueblo’s regional tourism economy
and provide an important transportation link for our citizens.
SECTION 2.
The City recommends that Amtrak consider utilizing an alternative route for the
Southwest Chief linking from La Junta to Pueblo and connecting to Trinidad that will potentially
reduce the cost of track maintenance and enable passenger rail service to continue within
southeastern Colorado, western Kansas, and northern New Mexico.
SECTION 3.
The City calls upon the Governor of the State of Colorado, members of the legislature of
the State of Colorado, and all members of the Congressional Delegation for the State of
Colorado to strongly endorse continuation of the Amtrak Southwest Chief passenger rail service
along a modified route linking from La Junta to Pueblo and connecting to Trinidad.
SECTION 4.
The City calls upon representatives of Amtrak to strongly support continuation of the
Amtrak Southwest Chief passenger rail service along a modified route linking from La Junta to
Pueblo and connecting to Trinidad.
SECTION 5.
The City recommends that all community and civic leaders in southeastern Colorado
coordinate with each other and their colleagues in western Kansas and northern New Mexico so
that the three states can provide a united effort to retain the Southwest Chief passenger service.
SECTION 6.
The officers and staff of the City are directed and authorized to perform any and all acts
consistent with the intent of this Resolution to effectuate the policies and procedures described
herein.
SECTION 7.
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon final passage.
INTRODUCED: October 28, 2013
BY: Ami Nawrocki
Background Paper for Proposed
RESOLUTION
DATE: OCTOBER 28, 2013 AGENDA ITEM # M-3
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
JULIE ANN WOODS, AICP/ASLA, DIRECTOR
TITLE
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING EFFORTS TO RETAIN THE AMTRAK SOUTHWEST
CHIEF PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE INCLUDING PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE TO
PUEBLO, COLORADO
ISSUE
Should the City Council approve a Resolution endorsing efforts to retain the Amtrak
Southwest Chief passenger rail service including passenger rail service to Pueblo,
Colorado?
RECOMMENDATION
Approval of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND
City Council approved Resolution No. 12681 on May 28, 2013 endorsing efforts to
maintain the Amtrak Southwest Chief passenger rail service. The Resolution
emphasized the need for Amtrak to provide a gateway to tourists from the west coast
and Midwest. Amtrak also provides an important transportation link to the citizens of
Southeastern Colorado that is of growing importance.
On September 14, 2013, the Colorado Passenger Rail Association hosted a meeting in
Pueblo attended by 100 people including representatives from Kansas, New Mexico,
and federal officials from Amtrak. At the meeting a suggestion was made to consider
changing the route of the Southwest Chief to connect with Pueblo instead of continuing
the current route between La Junta and Trinidad. The Pueblo route currently has a
higher volume of freight traffic coming and going out of Pueblo that could justify the
BNSF railroad to invest more of their funds for capital improvements and upgrade of the
railroad, instead of placing a large burden on Amtrak to fund capital expenses to keep
the existing passenger rails functional.
This Resolution supports and endorses a modified route for the Amtrak Southwest Chief
passenger rail service linking from La Junta to Pueblo and connecting to Trinidad.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
None.