(The following story by Eric Florip appeared on The East Oregonian website on February 12, 2009.)
PENDLETON, Ore. — The push to bring Amtrak back to Eastern Oregon hasn’t garnered any official announcement yet, but count two more visible Hermiston names on board.
Hermiston Mayor Bob Severson and chamber of commerce Board President Dee Strawick both sent letters to Amtrak Government Affairs Director Jonathan Hutchison endorsing the idea in January. Both pointed to the potential benefit for local citizens from restoring the old Pioneer route, which was canceled in 1997.
“I think with everything that’s happening now with the economy the way it is, a lot of people just can’t afford to travel,” Severson said. “A train would do it for them.”
Severson said the move would boost the local economy and help business in the area, while making it easier for people to travel. He’s also contacted the offices of U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, along with Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
Many residents have long lamented the cancellation of the Pioneer route, which ran between Portland and Boise, then continued as far as Omaha and Chicago. But the idea of bringing it back has gained steam during the past several months. Wyden publicly pledged to work toward that end at a town-hall meeting in La Grande last summer.
Last October, Congress approved a measure allocating billions of dollars toward rail expansion. Severson and others later jumped at the opportunity to speak out.
“We thought it would be a good time to do something with it,” he said.
Strawick hasn’t heard anything since sending the letter to Amtrak, she said. Like Severson, she said the idea is simply gather support while the proposal is still up in the air.
“I hope they’ll realize that our town would support such a facility, bringing it back here,” Strawick said.
Amtrak hasn’t made any public announcement on the subject. An Amtrak spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.