Hotline #36 - May 29, 1998

The Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Richard Shelby (R.-Ala.), will meet next week to approve a fiscal 1999 transportation funding bill. The meeting has been moved up by two days, and will now be June 2 -- almost immediately after Senators arrive back from their Memorial Day recess.

Because of Shelby's previous comments on Amtrak funding, there is great danger that he will give nothing at all to Amtrak in 1999. This is a great risk. Please call your Senators right away -- especially if one is on the Subcommittee -- and tell them that:

1. Amtrak has funding needs in 1999 beyond the money approved in last year's Taxpayer Relief Act;
2. Amtrak needs the full $621 million request for capital;
3. The bill should clarify Amtrak's right to spend appropriated capital on maintenance, as is already the case for transit.

The Surface Transportation Board today released its decisions both on the Amtrak Boston-Portland service and on the express initiative. Amtrak released a statement saying, in part, "We are gratified that most issues were resolved in Amtrak's favor. However, we are concerned with the Board's resolution of some issues, particularly in the area of liability. These issues are complex and very technical in nature and we will need the opportunity to fully review and analyze the substance of the decision before commenting later." Guilford issued an upbeat release that suggests they plan no appeal. Amtrak praised the Board's express decision, which Amtrak says upholds the historic role of passenger trains carrying express shipments. George Warrington said the decision allows Amtrak to continue steady growth of the express business.

Here are a few more points from last week's discussion of the end of ISTEA, which now is called the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21. The Senate-passed Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) did survive. It means Florida could receive a $2 billion loan for Florida Overland Express. The bill also identifies the Farley Building project in New York City and the Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River below Washington as possible TIFIA beneficiaries. Conferees also approved a loan guarantee program for railroads. Total loans outstanding are capped at $3.5 billion, with $1 billion reserved for non-Class I (smaller) freight railroads.

For general high-speed rail programs, conferees approved $5.25 million a year in contract authority -- that's real money -- for grade-crossing work. In addition, the House's high-speed authorization survived but will depend on future action by appropriators.

There will be a ceremony to rededicate Tampa Union Station on May 30 at 10:00 am. It has been restored with funding from ISTEA sources and the Florida DOT.

A similar ceremony will be May 31 at the Kingston, R.I., station, with festivities from 10:00 am to mid-afternoon to rededicate the rebuilt station. Politicians will speak at noon. A steam train will be towed at 30 mph from Old Saybrook to Kingston. The Genesis diesel will uncouple west of Kingston so the train can enter the station under steam power. The train will return from Kingston at about 2:00 pm.