Reconnect America Podcast & Blog

2016FinalLogoRoundTrans-DONATE.png


How can railroads reduce political polarization—and facilitate a renewable energy revolution?
Reconnect America is the new podcast from Solutionary Rail that presents a creative yet common sense vision for U.S. railroads. It weaves together the genius of community and technical experts, workers and policymakers, advocates and scholars.

Reconnect America reflects a decade of research, writing, and advocacy aimed at illuminating the ways in which the U.S. rail system can be harnessed to better service public interests and to address 21st century problems. The podcast is hosted by Bill Moyer, co-author of the book Solutionary Rail: A People-powered Campaign to Electrify America’s Railroads and Open Corridors to a Clean Energy Future.

This work depends on individuals like you. Please help keep this podcast happening without paywalls or ads by making a tax-deductible donation HERE.

Listen/Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Substack, Spotify, or watch this page for New Episodes.

Please help us spread the word with this Promo Toolkit.

SR Director Bill Moyer's Appearance on KunstlerCast Podcast

From SR Director Bill Moyer:

I had a great conversation recently with James Howard Kunstler on his KunstlerCast podcast. Over the decades, I have been fascinated by Kunstler’s work envisioning community resilience, localization of supply chains, and the revitalization of Main Street economies. In our conversation, we discussed how the U.S. rail system could help make that vision a reality by restoring freight and passenger service to places that have been left behind. I hope you will check it out!


Episode 2. From Bloom to Bailout: A History of US Passenger Rail (Part 1)

If you have ever wondered what happened to our once-great passenger rail system—or how the U.S. became so car-dependent that many Americans today ride trains for the first time when they travel abroad—then this episode is for you.

With the help of our truly brilliant guests, we piece together a story that absolutely must be understood today, as we strive to create a transportation system that works for all of us, without polluting communities and the environment.

Our guests in this episode include three book authors, two board members for the country’s largest passenger rail advocacy group, a railroad industry veteran, and an award-winning policy analyst. We are so grateful to each and every person who took the time to share their voice and expertise with us.

Reconnect America is hosted by Bill Moyer, co-author of the book Solutionary Rail: A People-powered Campaign to Electrify America’s Railroads and Open Corridors to a Clean Energy FutureCheck out the essays and supplemental posts that complement this podcast HERE.

Learn more, get involved and pitch in to support the work of Solutionary Rail at SolutionaryRail.org. Keep the podcast ads-free and without paywalls by making a tax-deductible donation HERE.

Read more

Senator Markey Sponsors All Aboard Act

Senator Markey and Representative Deluzio just introduced the All Aboard Act that will lay the tracks to a more sustainable, connected future with expansive, efficient, electrified rail service—all built with union labor.

Solutionary Rail was honored to be a contributor and an endorser of this legislation that will help reconnect America by making rail the status quo for freight and passenger transport.

Read more

White House Releases US Rail Action Plan

Last week the Dept of Energy (DOE) released a significant Rail Action Plan. Solutionary Rail was quite involved in its creation, and there's A LOT of our work in this - especially in the full report. 

actionplanforrailenergy_emissions_innovation.png

Read more

Volts Podcast Interview with Bill Moyer

Preview:

Read more

Episode 1. Reconnect America

Reconnect America is the new podcast from Solutionary Rail that presents a creative yet common sense vision for U.S. railroads. It weaves together the genius of community and technical experts, workers and policymakers, advocates and scholars. Reconnect America reflects a decade of research, writing, and advocacy aimed at illuminating the ways in which the U.S. rail system can be harnessed to better service public interests and to address 21st century problems.

Reconnect America is hosted by Bill Moyer, co-author of the book Solutionary Rail: A People-powered Campaign to Electrify America’s Railroads and Open Corridors to a Clean Energy Future.

This work depends on individuals like you. Please help keep this podcast happening without paywalls or ads by making a tax-deductible donation HERE.


"On the Side of the Angels" - How Warren Buffett Could Help Transform America's Transport & Energy Future

The "two-fer-one" deal with Berkshire Hathaway that would transform US rail service - AND create a national SuperGrid for renewable energy.

Video of my proposition and their responses are captured here by Yahoo News. The painfully slow pace of my question was due to the crazy-making echo in my monitor.

Read more

Rail Network Transformation Offers Many Opportunities for Justice

For rail workers, trackside communities, native tribes and rural areas

Railroad Workers United

Read more

Solutionary Rail testimony to the Surface Transportation Board on Rail in the Public Interest

From SR Executive Director Bill Moyer:

On Friday, I returned from a mind blowing few days in Washington, DC. While my work over the last two decades has taken me to DC several times each year, this was both my first time testifying at a Surface Transportation Board hearing AND my first meeting inside the White House compound.

These, along with three meetings with Senate staff working on rail, were arm-in-arm with a crew of kickass allies from the Moving Forward Network.

I would say that this is the culmination of a lot of research and work, but there's no end in sight. The learning curve is steep and humbling. That said, the details of the Rail System We Have - VS - the Rail System We Need are coming into focus. The limitation of greatest consequence is our capacity to imagine a pathway from one to the other.

My statement to the STB is meant to be agitational. I refuse to accept that the status quo is inevitable or that we shouldn't dream big. Of course we should dream big. Our future depends upon it. There are no easy answers, but common sense and honest conversations are being impeded by an imbalance of power and misalignment of incentives. That's unacceptable.

I look forward to continuing to learn from the genius of friends and allies working to put US railroads in service of public interests and to sharing those lessons with you. My team and I could not do this work without the generous support of people like you. Thank you for supporting Backbone Campaign and our Solutionary Rail campaign.

Forward Together!

Bill Moyer

Read more

Four Key Federal Priorities to Make Railroads Serve the Public Interest

For freight mode shifting and electrification

Read more

Pitch In Join the Team Reconnect America