Dear Friends,

Nine years ago, when we published our book Solutionary Rail about rail electrification, mode shift, and transmission on BNSF's Northern Transcon, I had no idea that our work would grow into a national campaign defining a vision for the future of U.S. rail. I had no idea that we'd be researching, developing, and proposing rail solutions or become a leading voice for rail in the public interest. But that's exactly what has taken place. 

Today, I am proud to report on our recent achievements and invite you to invest in our future.

As we enter our tenth year, the tireless work to expand our coalition and develop the Solutionary Rail vision is bearing fruit. We are making unprecedented strides on every front. Our ideas and expertise are shaping key legislative, policy, and research initiatives.

This has only been possible because we took a chance on growing and brought on Sasha Elenko as assistant director. Sasha’s skilled collaboration, intellect, and energy has proven critical to our growing success.  

Last year, amid the increasingly dangerous polarization of our national politics, it felt even more urgent to harness the potential of a vision for a better rail system to transcend these growing divides, create common cause, and address the sense of grievance in places that have been left behind. 

In order to develop and articulate this vision, we launched the Reconnect America podcast. Weaving together the voices of dozens of allies, old and new, across a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, Reconnect America is a movement-building tool aimed at uniting unconventional allies around the shared goal of putting railroads back in service of public interests rather than Wall Street vultures. The result is a growing curriculum that makes accessible the complex history, present predicament, and future potential of this critical national infrastructure in an accessible, compelling, and enduringly relevant manner.

While we continue to build out this vision, we are already putting the lessons learned into practice. In Southeast Washington, in order to protect native salmon and the species and cultural practices that depend on them, lawmakers and officials are considering removing four dams on the Lower Snake River that support the barging of wheat to West Coast ports. SR’s proposal to restore rail connectivity and competitive service in the region ensures that breaching the dams would not come at the expense of the economic resilience and vitality of agricultural communities. In August, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) updated its transportation alternatives study to include key components of our proposal.

In May, SR and our allies in the Rail Can’t Wait Coalition made a splash by getting a bill passed to expand the frequency and improve the reliability of the Amtrak Cascades service between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, and Portland, OR. Our success was largely thanks to the unprecedented level of action you took, emailing and calling legislators. At one hearing, over 2,000 supporters propelled legislators to take action, passing HR 1837 into law. This victory continues to inspire similar initiatives across the country. With another bill in the pipeline for the 2026 legislative session, and a slew of preparatory meetings with officials and representatives in the state, the momentum continues to build.

Finally, at the federal level, our leadership and interventions continue to make a difference in the fight to preserve the legitimacy and independence of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and its ability to protect the public's interests in rail transport. With the largest rail merger in U.S. history about to come before the STB for consideration, the independence of this adjudicatory body has never been more important, nor more under attack. 

The illegal firing of Robert Primus, the sole African American member of the Board, is a prime example of the disregard for the rule of law and balance of powers by the Trump Administration. It is also part of a pattern of racially discriminatory attacks on African American members of independent agencies. The 537 letters you sent through our website supporting Primus’ fight to be restored to his rightful position are helping strengthen the backbones of Senators to stand up for him, and most importantly, the independence of this adjudicatory body.

Solutionary Rail is also proud to be the entity to make public an internal STB email that was leaked to us. This exposed blatantly partisan rhetoric used by STB Chair Patrick Fuchs which offended professional staff at the STB who take their nonpartisan work seriously. We shared the email with the public and with senators on the Commerce Committee. It featured prominently in the November confirmation hearing, enabling Senators Ben Ray Luján and Tammy Baldwin to forcefully interrogate the two STB nominees about threats to the independence of the Board. Board member Michelle Schultz, who is up for a second term, confessed that she feels that she “serves at the pleasure of the president.” The Senators were appalled. We can expect this to motivate future action.

In this critical moment, our small but nimble organization is punching above its weight. Together, we are boldly engaging in ways that few other organizations are equipped or willing to do. That boldness gives others courage. And that is why we can’t stop. 

We need to continue to fight for our values and to grow our capacity. But our boundary-pushing work doesn’t fit easily into grant and foundation parameters. Thus, our growth and success relies upon the generosity of folks like you. This end-of-year appeal is critical for shaping how we show up in the coming year because we don't spend a lot of time fundraising. So, please, dig deep to make a meaningful, tax-deductible, one-time or monthly, sustaining contribution to propel Solutionary Rail into the coming year. 

With gratitude and solidarity,

Bill Moyer
Executive Director
Backbone Campaign & Solutionary Rail

Below is the Washington State Department of Transportation map from their transportation replacement study for the Lower Snake River that features our Rosalia to Pasco Shortline Access Corridor proposal.