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Some early reflections on the election
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
There’s no question that, by all indications, including their Senate records, Obama/Biden hold the greatest promise for improving America’s passenger train system. And the environment in which they are operating is more supportive of trains than was the case in the 1990s, when close ties between the Clinton White House and the Amtrak Board prevented Amtrak from even requesting the full amounts authorized for it.
At the same time, the number of other urgent issues crowding the national agenda is greater—greater even than it was a few months ago. So we have to remember the words of FDR to his supporters: “You’ve elected me, now organize a movement to make me do what you want.”
Having supporters in the White House and Congress is no guarantee of success. Those supporters still have the same budget numbers and the same set of rules that were in place prior to the election. And, right now at least, lower gasoline prices are cited as a major reason for defeat of a Kansas City light rail ballot measure. Longer-term, the declines in energy investment now happening in response to those lower prices, could set the stage for another dramatic price rise—and still more pressure for passenger trains.
Right now, the task is to keep that pressure on in spite of low gas prices. Some of the strongest potential supporters may be Democratic legislators who initially were not thought to have a serious chance of winning and who, as a result, may not have been vetted (or “re-grooved”) by highway interests to the same extent as “strong” candidates were, and who therefore may come into office with more sympathy for our cause.
For the nation as a whole, it may be a good thing that Democrats did not achieve the 60 votes they need to cut off debate without Republican help. This lessens the temptation for Democrats to run roughshod over their colleagues, at the risk of paying dearly in future elections. But for passenger trains, it is not good that Capitol Hill Republicans as a group likely will be even less supportive in the next Congress than in the current one. It is a reminder that the new law contains many report requirements, most of which look like they were designed by people who don’t like passenger trains (or at least long-distance passenger trains). By the way, there will be many changes in key Republican positions…there will be a big shuffle as a result of the defeat of Rep. Joe Knollenberg (MI), top Republican on the House appropriations subcommittee. The same is true on the Senate side if Ted Stevens (AK), top Republican on the appropriations defense subcommittee, is not elected or does not continue to serve.
When David Gunn headed Amtrak, he used to nod towards Capitol Hill and say, “Those folks aren’t going to kill the trains. It’s the railroads growing inability to handle all their traffic.” Well, the railroads have made great progress in dealing with capacity and with dispatching passenger trains, thanks in part to the on-time performance ruckus NARP raised two years ago, and to the way Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Boardman and indeed Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters picked up that issue and ran with it.
Today, the greatest threat to the long-distance trains may be the age of the equipment, most dramatically illustrated by Amtrak’s inability or unwillingness to put full dining cars on the Lake Shore Limited. The real test for the national network will be whether Amtrak continues to push hard for new equipment for the long-distance trains and whether that push produces results.
For now, be sure to congratulate your new legislators on their victories and work hard to get our agenda in front of them, including full funding of the new law, and acquisition of the equipment needed to expand and update the long-distance trains. And press appointment of transportation officials who recognize the value of a more balanced transportation policy--one with a broader role for passenger trains, to improve overall record of U.S. transportation regarding safety, energy efficiency, and provision of good choices to citizens.
--Ross Capon
Posted by NARP
Tags: amtrak, congress, oil, presidential election, price of oil, usdot(2) Comments
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