Why Donate to AANW?
All Aboard Northwest
AANW is a nonprofit organization that works toward achieving a national transportation network that provides seamless, door-to-door connectivity to everyone in the Greater Northwest region; and offers economic, environmental and equity benefits to all, including low-income, tribal, disability and rural communities, locations where transportation alternatives are limited, and those who cannot drive.
Amtrak Doesn’t Connect Us
The Real Needs
Yellow Lines - Existing Routes
Blue Lines - Proposed New Routes
Not all potential stops shown
All routes shown are “long-distance” services.
Advocacy Landscape:
National and State Organizations
- All Aboard Minnesota
- All Aboard Washington
- All Aboard Wisconsin
- Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates
- Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
- City of Boise
- Rail Passengers Association
- Transportation for America
- Utah Rail Passengers Association
Advocacy Landscape:
Regional Advocacy Needed
- All Aboard Northwest is a region-wide 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization.
- This organization supplements, not replaces, existing rail advocacy organizations.
Advocacy Landscape:
Local Group Successes
- Seattle Subway changed WA law to make Sound Transit eligible for funding
- Bike Portland
- Denver Bicycle Lobby
- Western Organization of Resource Councils
- Northern Plains Resource Council
- Dakota Rural Action
- YIMBY Denver
Political Landscape
Washington
- DOT rejects expanding rail service beyond skeleton Cascades service
- No plans to apply for federal grant funding
- Legislative Rail Caucus does not have a shared vision
- “A failure of process and legislative leadership”
Montana
- Legislature has no interest in rail
- Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is garnering support for studies of previous North Coast Hiawatha and Pioneer routes
- Grassroots enthusiasm growing
Minnesota, Wisconsin
- Passed legislation to fund state match of federal funds for second Chicago-Twin Cities train
- Interest in expanding to Fargo/Moorhead and north-south connections
Oregon
- Rail Caucus in development
Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota
- Legislative hesitancy due to historical rail service cuts
- Joint ND, SD, MT, WY, & ID DOT Corridor Identification & Development Program RFI response. Interest in passenger rail for our region; rural America
Colorado
- Focusing mainly on Front Range service
Northwest Must Take Advantage of Opportunities
- Unprecedented federal funding available for transportation alternatives
- Growing state and local interest in rail and active transportation
- Climate, local economic development, and equity pressures
- Existing rail, road, and urban infrastructure available
Why is Rail Important? A Vision
Thousands of rail advocates – even people like Jim Hamre and Zack Willhoite, who sacrificed their lives – believe in a vision of a national transportation network that
- Provides seamless, door-to-door connectivity to everyone in the region; and
- Offers economic, environmental and equity benefits to all, including low-income, tribal, disability and rural communities, locations where transportation alternatives are limited, and those who cannot drive
Needed To Achieve the Vision
- Identify champions in state capitols and local communities
- Accelerate passenger rail, active transportation, and public transit programs
- Establish reliable funding sources for alternative transportation modes
- Support projects that achieve our goals and realize our vision
The Challenges
1. Engage Local Communities
- Conduct community meetings
- Solicit support letters
- Recruit membership in regional entities
Engage Local Communities: Outreach
Outreach to local leaders, support letters, membership in regional entities
Salmon - Counties
Green - Tribes
Train Treks
- Region-wide series of meetings to share the benefits of rail
- Solicit local activists and donations
- Generate media coverage
Publicity Event: Billings Special Train
- Travel between west coast and Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit in August 2022
- Generate publicity and support similar to the Gulf Coast Inspection Train in 2016
2. Educate and Energize Elected Officials, Business & Local Leaders
Advocate for interactivity between rail and all other modes through engagement with
- Local communities
- State legislatures
- Regional groups
- Congress
Whistle Stops
- Annual gathering of Legislative Rail Caucus members
- Olympia, WA and Salem, OR events planned for 2022
Northwest Rail Forum at Pacific Northwest Economic Region Summit
- 2021 event at Big Sky, MT
- 2022 event scheduled for Calgary, AB
Success:
Facilitated the Northwest Rail Forum
"Thank you for speaking at the PNWER 30th Annual Summit in Big Sky during the Pacific Northwest Passenger Rail Forum! Hundreds of participants from across the region joined us in Montana and online and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Events like the Summit are successful because of people like yourself sharing your knowledge and expertise. You played a major role in ensuring our work remains relevant, effective, and timely!"
— Betz Mayer, Program Manager, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER)
Success:
Connections with Local Leaders
- "Our community fair is Labor Day weekend when I typically see our local representatives at our local parade and Fair. I can use that opportunity to give them more information about [your organization] too."
— Eastern Washington City Treasurer - "We are looking forward to your visit on the 21st. The following are confirmed....County Commissioner; CEO, Chamber of Commerce; Executive Director, Business Development Organization...I plan on extending an invite to the City Council."
— Central Washington City Mayor - "This is a great story on your recent release of a rail vision. Can you send us the map and any other materials you guys have on this?...[We are considering] including a recommendation on advancing such service, the map image and information will be helpful."
— State Agency Executive Director - “What you are working on is pretty amazing to think about. It is hard to believe that there is such an enormous gap in rail service and that such a large population is unserved. Town Council will…forward a letter of support to you…Thanks again.”
- Northern Wyoming City Manager - “I enjoyed our visit. I plan to share this with our Council and think they’ll be supportive as well. This is exciting.”
- Central Wyoming City Administrator - “ ‘PEOPLE LIVE HERE…’ That sums it up for me, Dan! I love what you're working on here… I'd love to be involved in this at any level. This is the sort of economic development initiative that could be a real boon to [This City] as we continue to grow; we are served here by United Airlines, but there's a major difference between 100 passengers in/out a day versus the scale of economy that rail service could provide.”
- Northern Wyoming City Visitor Bureau Director
Success:
Support Letters from Local Leaders
- Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, MT
- City of Ritzville, WA
- DRYVE/TRANS-action, Yakima County, WA
- Yakima Valley (WA) Conference of Governments
- Sweetwater County, WY
- Grant County [SD] Economic Development
- Pennington County, SD
3. Unite Stakeholders on a Regional Level
Enhance coalitions by educating and coordinating activities among a broad group of stakeholder groups
- Environment
- Economic Development
- Equity
- Labor
- Health
- Rail, port, transit and other transportation modes
What All Aboard Northwest Can Do
- Create connections with local, state, and regional leaders
- Solicit letters of support from local communities
- Lead community outreach meetings
- Plan and execute publicity events
The Final Challenge: Identify Funding
- Can you sponsor or donate to us?
- All Aboard Northwest is a region-wide 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization
- This organization supplements, not replaces, existing rail advocacy organizations
Be a Founding Sponsor
- Help us share economic, environmental and equity benefits with underserved communities
- Your logo featured in advertising, email promotion, website, and virtual platforms
- You will be recognized in our online and in-person events
- Complimentary registrations to events and virtual programming
2022 Sponsorship Opportunities
AANW is looking for sponsorships for these projects.
Please Help!
https://allaboardnw.org/support/
(206) 222-3735
Dan Bilka
[email protected]
Patrick Carnahan
[email protected]
Charlie Hamilton
[email protected]