The Daily Barometer OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY • CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013 • VOLUME CXVI, NUMBER 39
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Advocating for rail through Corvallis n
Open house for passenger rail line provides information for residents, commuters By Emma-Kate Schaake THE DAILY BAROMETER
Rail advocates filled LinnBenton Community College on Thursday night to hear the details of the Oregon Department of Transportation passenger rail study, and to provide their feedback on the potential projects. Corvallis residents are passionate about not being overlooked in the potential plans, no matter how unlikely a route directly through Corvallis may seem. “We are sort of the underdog,” said Cascade Pacific Rail Associate chief advocate Lawrence Plotkin. “We have nothing to lose by making a lot of noise. … We need to be the squeaky wheel.” Last spring, ODOT conducted studies to develop a rail route to instigate discussion and analysis of possible rail expansion from Eugene-Springfield and Portland. The four current route options, called preliminary alternatives, met the initial project criteria and made it through the initial screening process. The objectives of the project
are to improve passenger rail mobility, protect freight capacity, create a cost-effective plan, provide affordable transportation, maintain compatibility with rail plans in Washington state, promote quality of life and protect the environment. The four routes are delineated by their location and labeled for study purposes with a color. Each of these routes have several different connection options, in order to best utilize the space and existing infrastructure, as well as provide transportation to the greatest number of people. Each route was evaluated against the project goals and assessed based on overall performance and potential costs. The lines were evaluated in three sections: Eugene-Springfield to North of Albany, North of Albany to North of Wilsonville, and North of Wilsonville to Vancouver, Wash. The blue line would generally follow the current Amtrak route and use the existing stations with potential additions to the track south of Salem, or near Portland’s Rose Quarter. The red would run along Interstate 5 on a completely new track dedicated to intercity rail passenger services and would bypass stations in Eugene, Albany, Salem and the southern Portland
metro area. The purple would use the existing Oregon Electric line, with two new connections south of Albany and south of Donald. Of most interest to Corvallis residents is the fourth alternative route, the yellow, which scored comparatively low on both the scales of project goals and economic viability. This line would go through a new connection and station in Corvallis before connecting up with the blue line to the north. Plotkin and others voiced concerns that if a route like the red line is chosen, it will leave out Albany, Salem and Corvallis, decreasing the potential for ridership. “Humans love convenience,” Plotkin said. “If you have something even slightly inconvenient, they won’t use it.” Albany City Councilman Dick Olson said the city is working on improving its bus system to further facilitate commuters, especially students from LBCC and OSU. “We think a centrally located station makes more sense than having a stop in Corvallis,” Olson said. Michael Holtoff, the environSee RAIL | page 4
EMMA-KATE SCHAAKE
| THE DAILY BAROMETER
Corvallis rail advocate Lawrence Plotkin discusses the rail options with ODOT environmental project manager Michael Holtoff at the LBCC forum Thursday.
Watermelon Bash: New season, same cause A safe bet n
Normally held in spring, philanthropy hosted in fall, hope to raise at least $15,000 By Courtney Gehring THE DAILY BAROMETER
Typically, the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity hosts its annual philanthropy, the Watermelon Bash, each spring as the sun begins to shed its warmth over Corvallis and grocery stores fill with plump, juicy watermelons. But this year, the famous spring philanthropy known for raking in thousands for Community Outreach, Inc. suddenly took a change of season. For the first time ever, the Lambda’s swapped spring for fall and commenced their Watermelon Bash event this week. Community Outreach, Inc. is a local shelter in Corvallis that has been providing for the needs of the mid-Willamette homeless and poor community since 1971. Last spring’s Watermelon Bash raised $12,000 for Community Outreach, Inc. “Our main goal is to raise as much Vinay BIKKINA | THE DAILY BAROMETER money for the facility as we can,” said Sorority women cheer on as participants eat watermelon. Kappa Alpha Theta Mikayla Knight (right) is a watermelon-eating contestant and is a junior majoring in psychology. See BASH | page 4
every night n
SafeRide numbers up, with more plans for improvement By Tori Hittner
THE DAILY BAROMETER
One phone call. That’s all it takes to receive a free ride at night to or from campus, thanks to the services provided by SafeRide. As a student-fee-funded organization, SafeRide offers complimentary pick-up and drop-off services to Oregon State students, faculty and staff after 7 p.m. every night. SafeRide services are provided within a large perimeter that extends miles past campus boundaries — and more students than ever are taking advantage of the opportunity. According to SafeRide Director Terence Brasch, the number of calls this year has “nearly doubled” last year’s averages. Nightly reports showed an average of 91 calls per night last week, excluding the outlying numbers gathSee SAFERIDE | page 4