NARP April 2001 Hotlines

#185 - April 6, 2001
#186 - April 13, 2001
#187 - April 20, 2001
#188 - April 27, 2001

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The new nominee for Federal Railroad Administrator is Allan Rutter, named by President Bush on April 3. Rutter has been transportation policy director for the Texas governors since 1995. He served under President (then Governor) Bush until December 2000, then under Governor Perry, Bush's successor. He was deputy executive director of the Texas High-Speed Rail Authority from 1990 to 1995. Rutter's nomination goes to the Senate Commerce Committee for consideration.

The Senate version of the High Speed Rail Investment Act, S.250, gained two more sponsors this week for a total of 56. The new ones are Nelson (D.-Fla.) and Cantwell (D.-Wash.). Though a week ago we said the House version could be introduced this week, this now appears to be more likely for after spring recess. The Congressional recess starts today. Contact your Representative to ask him or her to be an originating sponsor of this bill; click here for ways to make contact.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on April 4 held a hearing on "Transportation Congestion." The chairman, Don Young (R.-Alaska) said, "Congestion is a national crisis. Anyone who flies, drives, takes a train, takes a train, or ships goods knows that our transportation system is overburdened. [The only way forward] is to increase capacity. That may mean building more highways, transit systems, runways, and making all systems more efficient ... We need to improve short line railroads and also look at ways to improve high-speed rail, and also our Class I railroads."

Ranking Democrat James Oberstar (D.-Minn.) also favored streamlining, but only if "due and fair consideration is given to local communities." He added, "High-speed rail is another option ... O'Hare could be relieved by taking off about 15% of O'Hare's traffic, the short haul flights, to give space for better revenue yielding long-haul flights." Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta was the only witness. In his opening statement, in addition to calling for more airport capacity and a look at peak-period pricing for aviation, he said, "Many states are turning to high-speed rail service to ease congestion between cities. Our FRA and Amtrak are working with the states that comprise the ... designated high-speed rail corridors."

The Bush Administration on April 9 will release its full budget proposals for transportation, expanding upon the "budget blueprint" it released on February 28. While the previous document already contained the proposed Amtrak figure -- $521 million in fiscal 2002 to be paid at the beginning of the year -- the April 9 release will tell more about other programs that were not detailed earlier, such as the high-speed rail program.

Transportation Secretary Mineta announced that the new budget proposal will not include new funding for the Seattle Central Link light rail project, but that future funding could be available if Sound Transit and the Federal Transit Administration address problems outlined in an April 4 DOT Inspector General's audit report on the project. FTA and Sound Transit signed a full-funding agreement for the project on January 19, but the audit report suggests that some cost estimates were not satisfactorily thorough at that time.

The next round of new Acela Express service starts April 29, with the addition of two weekday Boston-New York trains (leaving 7:12 am, 3:12 pm); two weekday New York-Boston trains (leaving 7:03 am, 5:00 pm). Also, the first weekend services begin:  two Boston-Washington trips (leaving 8:00 am, 4:00 pm); one New York-Boston trip (leaving 8:03 am); one Washington-Boston trip (leaving 1:00 pm). The weekend services will allow use of the NARP travel discount.

Other April 29 changes include cutting 30 minutes from Kentucky Cardinal southbound, Indianapolis-Jeffersonville (and 15 minutes from the Indianapolis dwell); Crescent northbound runs 20 minutes later New Orleans-Alexandria (and up to 44 minutes later to New York); California Zephyr eastbound runs about 25 minutes earlier east of Sparks; California Zephyr westbound runs about 50 minutes earlier throughout; Southwest Chief eastbound leaves Los Angeles 20 minutes earlier and arrives Chicago 21 minutes later.

The biggest change is the Texas Eagle. Northbound, it leaves San Antonio two hours earlier and arrives Chicago about three hours earlier, reestablishing a connection to the westbound Empire Builder. But southbound, it swaps time slots with train 305, leaving Chicago at 3:30 pm, breaking the connection from the Empire Builder (no word yet on any Columbus-Springfield connecting van), and arriving San Antonio 9:00 pm.

Michigan train 355 is restored to the earlier slot it had two years ago. All Chicago-Detroit schedules are cut 15 minutes with assignment of higher-horsepower locomotives.

Amtrak expanded its popular "quiet car" program on the Northeast Corridor on April 2. Those trains that now have them (new ones designated with "*") are southbound Metroliners 107, 109*, 111*, 113*, 115, 117*, 125*; southbound NortheastDirect 151, southbound Acela Regional 177*; northbound Metroliners 104*, 106, 108*, 110*, 112*, 114, 116*, 124*, 128*; northbound Acela Regional 170, 190*. On all trains, the designated car is the first car, nearest the locomotive.

The Oklahoma Senate on April 3 approved H.B.1173, a bill that would move about $60 million in motor vehicle registration fees from the general fund to transportation programs. The bill had earlier been approved in the House with a provision for $16 million annually for rail (including passenger rail), where the Senate version has none. The bill now goes to conference, where the best outcome would be retention of the House version’s pro-passenger-rail language.

Amtrak changed the location of its Thruway stop at San Francisco's Ferry Building slightly, April 2. The old location (31 The Embarcadero, Suite 140) was at the north end of the Ferry Building. The new location (101 The Embarcadero, Suite 118) is at the south end of the Ferry Building, and continues to offer ticket sales and checked baggage.

Although Congress will be on spring recess for another week, legislators' offices are open and accepting mail you may write in favor of the High Speed Rail Investment Act. We urge regular mail (or fax) when possible, as legislators' offices are flooded with e-mail and may not give it as much attention. See our web site for ways to reach your Representative and Senators. See our web site for a current list of co-sponsors on S.250, the Senate bill. The House bill should be introduced later this month.

President Bush released the details of his fiscal 2002 budget proposals on April 9, building on the "budget blueprint" released February 28. As indicated in February, the budget proposes large increases for highways, aviation, and transit -- not surprising given the guaranteed, firewalled nature of these programs. Also, as before, the proposed Amtrak funding is $521 million -- same as this year, but all to be received at the start of the fiscal year. That is in contrast with recent years, in which Amtrak got 40% in year one and 60% a year later. The President proposes $20 million for the Penn Station/Farley project in Manhattan (same as this year) and $25 million for the high-speed ground transportation program (same as this year).

Amtrak President George Warrington visited Nashville on April 10, meeting with Mayor Bill Purcell, Gov. Don Sundquist, Rep. Bob Clement, and others about the prospects of returning to that city. Amtrak is studying a proposal to extend the Kentucky Cardinal from Jeffersonville, Ind., to Nashville (it likely will be extended the short distance from Jeffersonville to downtown Louisville this fall). Warrington told officials the study could be done by the end of the year and -- if it's favorable -- the train could reach Nashville in another year (early 2003). Clement said he also was encouraged by Virginia's plans for passenger rail service from the east to Bristol, on the Tennessee border.

Ridership on the Capitol Corridor in California reached a record level of 93,584 in March. That's 44.5% more than March 2000, and 1.1% more than the previous busiest month (November 2000). March 2000 was the first full month of the current service levels on the corridor. Revenues were up about 30% over the year before.

Amtrak's Vermonter has been disrupted by a track washout and freight derailment south of Bellows Falls, Vt., since the beginning of the week. Buses have been ferrying passengers between White River Junction, Vt., and Springfield, Mass. The line's owner, New England Central, expected to reopen the line today. The line runs alongside the Connecticut River.

Flooding also my be affecting the Empire Builder, due to high water on the Mississippi River between Red Wing and La Crosse. The river was expected to crest as early as today, and passengers were bussed from St. Paul to the east this morning. Flooding also would affect the traditional detour route via Burlington Northern Santa Fe on the Wisconsin bank of the river. Check with Amtrak before traveling. If the Red River in the Grand Forks area rises enough, it could also force a detour between Fargo and Minot (albeit over a route more direct than the normal one).

A media-only trip was scheduled for today over the portion of the Boston-Portland route that is Guilford-owned (the part in Maine and New Hampshire). Guilford said the trip is meant to educate the public about public safety through the invited media guests. But the exclusion of public officials left some wondering how that message would be colored, given the on-going dispute between Guilford and the Northern New England Rail Authority over what train speed can be supported by the tracks safely. Highway crossings are another area of concern, and Guilford and the Authority spent two days this week jointly inspecting crossings and markers. Some station platform work may begin in the next few days with a goal of being completed by June 15.

VIA Rail Canada's westbound Ocean derailed yesterday at Stewiacke, N.S., 47 miles north of Halifax, injuring 24. Investigators are looking at a switch immediately before the point of derailment. The train was headed for Montreal and was passing through the center of town at about 50 mph. Some cars plowed through the warehouse of a feed store, and a dining car was severely damaged.

National Geographic's Traveler magazine web site in June 2000 set up an on-line forum that asks, "Should your Taxes Pay for More U.S. Trains?", followed by text referring to Amtrak in particular. To see it, click here (and scroll down to the appropriate question). The site is still accepting new comments (at the end at "Post a Message").

Transit ridership in the U.S. rose by 3.5% in 2000, according to the American Public Transportation Association. This is the fifth straight year of growth, and, significantly, the third straight year transit grew faster than highway use. The Federal Highway Administration reported that highway use grew by just 0.047% in 2000 (measured in vehicle-miles). All major modes of rail transit grew -- heavy rail (subways/metros) was up 7.6%, light rail was up 5.3%, commuter rail was up 5.2%. Some individual rail systems had great growth due to system expansions in 2000 (like the Los Angeles Metro and Dallas' Trinity Railway Express), but others without system expansion also grew (like Virginia Railway Express, 19.6%; Caltrain 14.2%; BART, 12.8%; Los Angeles Metrolink, 11.5%; Miami Tri-Rail, 10.0%; PATH, 9.6%; Washington Metro, 7.7%; New York subways, 7.6%; Philadelphia subways, 7.3%). Several systems are straining to meet the added demand.

Despite that good news, one item in President Bush's fiscal 2002 budget proposals released last week was a provision to decrease the federal share of funding for transit "new start" projects. While the ISTEA and TEA-21 laws put new transit projects on a more even playing field with highways by allowing an 80% match for both, President Bush would cut the federal share for transit new starts to 50% starting in 2004. The Administration says this would make money available to more projects and weed out "bad" ones, but it also could have the result of making highway projects more attractive to local and state officials than new transit projects. The Administration is not proposing a similar cut-back in the federal share for new highway projects.

Now would be a good time to write a general letter-to-the-editor to the publication of your choice (local or national) indicating your support for passenger rail and Amtrak. Jim Norton of the Alabama Association of Railroad Passengers has been urging passenger rail supporters to write such letters now, so they can call attention to Amtrak's 30th birthday (May 1, 2001). Newsweek might be one target -- they just ran a story on solving aviation gridlock that did not mention rail.

Congress will return from spring recess April 24. We are still looking for originating co-sponsors for a House version of the High Speed Rail Investment Act. Please be sure you have asked your Representative. For ways to contact them, see our web site.

The Empire Builder was annulled east of St. Paul starting April 13 due to high water on the route along the Mississippi River between there and La Crosse, Wis. This will continue until the water recedes and tracks can be inspected. Buses are provided between St. Paul and Chicago. Delays also were encountered in North Dakota due to high water in places and "frost heaves," mostly between Grand Forks and Devils Lake -- this could continue into May with possibility of detouring over the direct route between Fargo and Minot.

A derailment and collision involving two Norfolk Southern freight trains near Kendallville, Ind., April 18 disrupted Amtrak operations for a couple of days. Some trains were detoured over CSX between Hammond, Ind., and Deshler, O. (route of the Three Rivers), then north to Toledo. There were significant delays to these trains.

Governor Locke of Washington on April 18 signed a bill authorizing the state Department of Transportation to proceed with renovation and restoration of Seattle King Street Station, in conjunction with a non-profit corporation set up for that purpose. A temporary Amtrak station should be ready this summer, with the entire project expected to be completed by mid-2003.

Metro North has begun replacing its elderly catenary system from New Haven west to the New York state line, according to Railway Age magazine. A similar Metro North project in New York State several years ago allowed Amtrak trains to increase in speed from 70 to 90 mph from the state line west to New Rochelle. Increasing speeds on the much longer Connecticut section will allow noticeable improvement in New York-Boston travel times. Work will take up to ten years and cost $300 million.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has deactivated the grade-crossing arrestor nets it was testing in three locations. The Department determined that the nets were not reliable enough. They fell on several cars and activated at the wrong times, according to Associated Press.  Equipment had to be shut down multiple times and required about $5,000 in maintenance every month. The testing began in 1999 to see if the technology -- similar to those used on aircraft carriers -- would be helpful in making crossings safe for future high-speed train service. The test locations were at Chenoa, McLean, and Hartford, all on the Chicago-St. Louis route.

Denver's Regional Transportation District on April 17 approved a plan to buy Union Station and make it a transit hub. The RTD approved spending up to $60 million. Other agencies, such as the City of Denver, the Denver Regional Council of Governments, and Colorado DOT could contribute about half of that total. A final purchase price won't be available until the building and 18-acre site are appraised. Amtrak's daily California Zephyr and the Ski Train serve the building now; light rail is under construction and intercity and local bus service could be added.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police charged a teenaged boy with mischief endangering life in connection with the April 12 derailment of VIA Rail's Ocean at Stewiacke, N.S. Two other boys were arrested and released. Police believe a lock on a switch adjacent to the derailment site was either broken or removed just prior to the derailment, but likely after the train passed the last previous signal. Twenty-four people on the train were injured and a feed-store warehouse was destroyed.

S.250, the Senate version of the High Speed Rail Investment Act (HSRIA), this week got its 57th sponsor, Daniel Akaka (D.-Hawaii). It would be tremendous to get 60 soon -- see our web site for a full list and ask your Senator to sponsor if he or she has not (see our web site for ways to make contact). Also, it's still important to ask your Representative to be an originating sponsor to the anticipated House version of HSRIA.

The 30th anniversary of the start-up of Amtrak is May 1. The best birthday present that passengers could get in 2001 would be passage of HSRIA and adequate capital appropriations, bringing American passenger rail out of an era of stagnation and into an era of growth and increased relevance and utility. It can happen, but it will take much more work from all of us.

The NARP Board of Directors is meeting in Washington this week. A highlight has been today's visit by Norman Y. Mineta, who is the first Secretary of Transportation to address the NARP board. Also appearing have been Sen. Max Cleland (D.-Ga.), Amtrak President George Warrington, and Amtrak Reform Council Vice Chairman Paul Weyrich. NARP Executive Director Ross Capon was recognized for his 25 years of service in that position.

Last night was NARP's annual awards reception at Washington Union Station. The George Falcon Golden Spike Award was presented in memory of NARP's late and long-time president, John R. Martin. His wife, Faye Mounce Martin, of Atlanta, accepted the award and was joined by several other family members. The first annual John R. Martin Passenger Rail Advocacy Award was presented to Leif Erik Lange, of Elk Grove, Cal., for his long-time and instrumental role in improving passenger rail service in California. These efforts included his assistance in passage of about $3 billion in passenger-rail bonds in 1990, the benefits of which passengers enjoy today. The Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award for 2000 was presented to Damian Garden, of Yalesville, Conn., an Amtrak maintenance-of-way supervisor. He directly contributed to many of the infrastructure improvements that support Amtrak's high-speed rail service in New England.

The White House has nominated Jenna Dorn to the post of Federal Transit Administrator. She is currently president of the National Health Museum, but held a variety of posts in the Reagan DOT under then-Secretary Elizabeth Dole. She also served in the Bush Labor Department, then at Lockheed Martin, then (with Dole) at the American Red Cross.

Amtrak continued using substitute buses to move passengers between Chicago and St. Paul this week as flooding slowly subsided on the upper Mississippi River. Canadian Pacific had been allowing a minimal number of freight trains through early in the week, but those trains faced substantial slow orders. Now forecasters are expecting a second crest of the river in that area, making it unlikely Amtrak will be allowed to return the Empire Builder to through-service until the week of April 30.

A CSX derailment east of Point-of-Rocks, Md., the evening of April 24, disrupted passenger service the rest of the week. One track was reopened early April 26, leading to restoration of some freight trains and Amtrak's Capitol Limited, but MARC's weekday service won't be restored until April 30 due to continuing delays.

Amtrak will operate a special, public train between New York and Dover, Del., June 3, to serve an event at the Dover Downs NASCAR Raceway. Trains 935 and 936 (Monster Mile Express) are available for sale in Amtrak's Arrow reservations system (but not, apparently, on the web site). The all-reserved train will stop at Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, and Wilmington only to pick up for Dover (and vice-versa). There will be a food-service car and a shuttle bus in Dover from the train to the Raceway. Connections are available at Wilmington to/from the south. NARP and most other discounts are not honored on this train. Call Amtrak for more information (if the agent is unfamiliar with this, refer to code "G/PRO/DVR").

Amtrak will change Sunset Limited days of operation at the end of May. Eastbound, starting May 30, trains will leave Los Angeles Wednesday (not Tuesday), Friday, Sunday. Westbound, starting June 3, trains will leave Orlando Sunday (not Saturday), Tuesday, Thursday.

Effective April 29, the Washington-New York non-stop Acela Express weekday round-trip that was introduced on March 5 will begin stopping in Philadelphia, and will run two minutes slower overall. The northbound trip will leave Washington at 7:20 am (a change from 6:50 am); the southbound trip continues to leave New York at 3:50 pm. This had been the fastest-ever scheduled Washington-New York trip, but "demand was light," according to the Washington Post. The new schedule of 2:30 is identical to a Penn Central Metroliner in 1969-70 (which was very unreliable) and an Amtrak Metroliner in 1991 (which also had light demand). Further speed reductions likely will have to wait for major projects like catenary renewal (as funding permits).

The village board of Sturtevant, Wis., on April 16 unanimously approved a $2.1-million project to replace the old Milwaukee Road station in the center of the village with a new station on the village's north edge. Construction on the station, served by Amtrak's Hiawathas, could start in June and finish in November. The original cost estimate of $1.2 million was increased to provide a pedestrian walkway under the double-track line and was requested by Canadian Pacific. The station is in an industrial park the village has been developing. The village said it would apply for an $800,000 Congestion and Mitigation of Air Quality grant from the Federal Highway Administration to help pay for the station. The station will have ticketing machines and parking for 170.