Advocates for reinstating passenger rail service to Eastern Oregon are gathering signatures to show support from community members.

Sheets to collect signatures are available at businesses around Baker City, said Jen Albright, who is working with Jo Marlette and other residents to lobby for the rail service.

“We want to get as many people as possible to sign it,” Albright said.

The pair held a public meeting in early December where more than 40 people showed up to learn more about the effort to get Amtrak’s Pioneer Route back to Baker City, which ceased in 1997.

The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, passed in 2021, is designed to invest $66 billion for reopening closed corridors of rail service, but community input is needed so state and federal agencies know it is wanted and needed, Albright said.

A group from Halfway called the Panhandle for Passenger Rail started advocating for rail service in 2019. City councils in Halfway and Baker City have supported the initiative.

Supporters presented their ideas Tuesday night to the Baker City Council. Signatures gathered in January will be sent to Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration and Oregon legislators.

Also, the Federal Railroad Administration is conducting an Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study, and comments can be made online at fralongdistancerailstudy.org/ or find the link through bakertrain.com.

In addition to the local groups, the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates is a nonprofit citizen advocacy group working to “educate the public about the need for safe, fiscally responsible, environmentally sound transportation.”

More Information

To learn more, visit

www.aortarail.org.

Another advocacy group is All Aboard Northwest, allaboardnw.org.