Hotline #970 - February 21, 1997

More bad news from the Clinton Administration. We have learned that the President's proposal for ISTEA reauthorization will not include Amtrak authorization language. More importantly, it will not include any funding mechanisms for Amtrak.

This is a big problem, because the President's 1998 budget proposal, released February 6, assumed that all Amtrak funding -- operating and capital -- would come from the Highway Trust Fund. But to make that happen legally, the President also has to propose changes to ISTEA to that effect, because ISTEA is the law that governs what is done with the Highway Trust Fund. In effect, the President is proposing to de-fund Amtrak for 1998.

The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Frank Wolf (R.-Va.), will hold "public-witness" hearings on February 25 and 26 on 1998 transportation funding. NARP Executive Director Ross Capon will testify on Amtrak funding on February 25 at 10:30.

A second hearing that day, on Amtrak in the Railroads Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has been postponed, apparently because so many subcommittee members won't be back from the Presidents' Day recess.

Amtrak reportedly is working on mail and express initiatives to preserve both the Texas Eagle and Pioneer. Since such efforts are not likely to bear fruit by the May 10 train-off date, several Texas mayors are asking state legislators to approve a two-year, $5.6-million loan to Amtrak, aimed at keeping the Eagle in service between May 10 and the time when significant mail and express business is developed. Texas passenger rail supporters, please urge your state legislators to work for this legislation.

The Arkansas Association of Railroad Passengers has worked to get Amtrak street signs set up in Little Rock, Walnut Ridge, Arkadelphia, and Malvern.

Amtrak President Tom Downs announced last week that Amtrak's national operations center will be consolidated and moved to Delaware. This affects 80 Amtrak employees in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, with by far the highest number coming from Philadelphia. The State of Delaware is providing an assistance package worth about $11 million, which includes renovating a warehouse where the operations center will be located.

Rodney Slater officially became Transportation Secretary on February 14, at a swearing-in ceremony at the White House.

Governor Rowland of Connecticut last week proposed drastic cuts in commuter service there. He said all Shore Line East service, which runs from New Haven to Old Saybrook and New London, should end, as well as all Metro North service on the Danbury and Waterbury branches.

According to various sources, Amtrak may be close to announcing a resolution for each of the three stations in Ohio that used to be Broadway Limited stops, but which are now skipped by the Three Rivers. They are Youngstown, Akron, and Fostoria. There is no news about a fourth stop, the one at Garrett, Ind. Additionally, there is some support, including from a local Amish community, for a completely new stop at New Castle, Pa.

The RegioSprinter diesel light rail car has been in demonstration service in Austin, Tex., for the last week. Next, it goes to Tampa, Fla., for displays and demonstration service March 1-30.