Bob Kuzelka of ProRail Nebraska speaks at a town hall co-hosted by State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha in North Platte. It’s the third of five town halls she and the organization are holding to educate and to gauge interest Nebraskans have in expanding passenger rail in the state. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Railroads built Nebraska and helped usher in some of the state’s earliest economic benefits, ProRail Nebraska leader Bob Kuzelka told a group gathered Tuesday night at the town’s public library.
“And now they can do it again,” he said, advocating for expanded passenger rail in the state to increase transportation options and grow tourism and commercial development along rail routes. “At every stop, lots of people get on, people get off.”
Kuzelka was among a trio of speakers on the third leg of a five-stop town hall tour organized by State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha and ProRail to educate Nebraskans on the possibilities and benefits of passenger rail options, gauge interest and broaden support. ProRail is associated with the Rail Passenger Association and seeks improved passenger rail and other forms of surface public transportation serving Nebraska.
The feedback the group and Juarez seek is for a legislative interim study also evaluating existing passenger rail infrastructure in Nebraska. Juarez and other advocates say they recognize the cost and that resistance by some, including state officials, signals a tough road ahead for expanded passenger rail options.
Dan Bilka of All Aboard Northwest was among a trio of speakers at a town hall Tuesday in North Platte aimed at gaining momentum for extended passenger rail in Nebraska. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
The Nebraska Department of Transportation has told the Nebraska Examiner that passenger rail currently is “not viable in the state, because the development of such a route would pose a significant cost, and there is currently no mechanism to pay for such a project with existing state revenue.”
Speakers told the group of nearly 10 people at the North Platte Library that they hope the series of town halls will shed a positive light on passenger rail. A Lincoln town hall Friday drew about 60 people. The next one is at 6 p.m. Sept 16 at the Grand Island library.
Kuzelka and Dan Bilka of All Aboard Northwest said they hope public sentiment might nudge Nebraska officials to develop a new state rail plan they said hasn’t been updated in a couple of decades.
Bilka said a goal is for Nebraska and other states to become better connected through “true interconnected national rail system.” He and other speakers advocated for Nebraska to rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC) to promote that goal and not get left behind.
Nebraska helped establish the regional commission, but it withdrew years ago under a legislative proposal that said membership benefits “do not outweigh the expenditure of tax dollars on dues.”
State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island has introduced legislation to rejoin the commission. Juarez told the North Platte meeting she would attend a regional passenger rail conference later this week. She said that even though Nebraska is not a member, she was invited to attend and plans to stay updated on the issues.
State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha co-hosted a public meeting Tuesday in North Platte as part of her effort to expand passenger rail in the state. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
“We want to do more for getting Nebraskans on track,” said Kuzelka, sporting a shirt that says, “I’d rather be on the train.”
Bilka referred to the “three E’s” in laying out what he saw as benefits of passenger rail: economic, environmental and (especially for rural communities) equity.
Though few in number, the group engaged with comments and questions.
Tony Peal said he was retired and enjoyed trips on the Amtrak, which is the limited passenger rail service currently offered in Nebraska. The California Zephyr route stops in Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Holdrege and McCook on its way from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif. Nebraska stops are typically in late night early morning hours, not geared toward workers or a daily event.
But Peal called an expanded passenger rail system through other Nebraska towns such as North Platte a “pipe dream.” It would require use of Union Pacific Railroad tracks, he said, and he didn’t think the company would be involved or take on the liability.
He said he didn’t believe the population base in cities outside of Omaha and Lincoln could support the effort financially.
Macey Schroeder, 28, said she thought expanded passenger rail makes “just really common sense.”
The teacher said passenger rail was the “equity” that western Nebraska deserves. She envisions Nebraskans spending a 45-minute commute reading or working on computers instead of focusing full attention on driving a personal vehicle on a highway.
“Live your life instead of everyone having to drive themselves,” she said.
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