NARP Reaffirms Long-Distance Trains as Federal Responsibility

NARP issued a release, “Railroad Passengers Applaud, Criticize Brookings Report” on March 1 shortly after the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program issued its report, A New Alignment: Strengthening America's Commitment to Passenger Rail.  We highlighted the Brookings findings that Amtrak ridership grew faster than the population, travel on other modes, and the economy from 1997 to 2011.  We attacked as completely unworkable the suggestion that Amtrak’s long-distance trains be funded by the states: “It is unrealistic to expect trains that cross so many state lines to gain the support of all the involved states, or to expect all states on a route to agree on schedules, service amenities, and cost allocations among the states.”

Our position on funding long-distance trains is consistent with longstanding federal policy, which was reaffirmed in the 2008 Amtrak reauthorization law.  That law also states, at Section 228,  “Amtrak’s long-distance trains provide an essential transportation service for many communities and to a significant percentage of the general public. … As a result of airline deregulation and decisions by national bus carriers to leave many communities, rail transportation may provide the only feasible common carrier transportation option for a growing number of areas.”