Hotline #51 - September 11, 1998

The House came back from summer recess this week, but has not yet named its conferees for the 1999 transportation appropriations bill, H.R.4328. However, they are likely to include the Transportation Subcommittee and full committee ranking members. They are Republicans Livingston (La.), Regula (Ohio), Rogers (Ky.), Wolf (Va.), DeLay (Tex.), Packard (Cal.), Callahan (Ala.), Aderholt (Ala.), and Tiahrt (Kans.); and Democrats Obey (Wis.), Sabo (Minn.), Torres (Cal.), Olver (Mass.), Pastor (Ariz.), and Cramer (Ala.).

The Senate named their conferees in July, most of whom are on the Transportation Subcommittee there -- they are Republicans Shelby (Ala.), Domenici (N.Mex.), Specter (Pa.), Bond (Mo.), Gorton (Wash.), Bennett (Utah), Faircloth (N.C.), and Stevens (Alaska); and Democrats Lautenberg (N.J.), Byrd (W.Va.), Mikulski (Md.), Reid (Nev.), Kohl (Wis.), Murray (Wash.), and Inouye (Hawaii).

As was true all through summer recess, the message these conferees should be hearing from their own constituents -- and from other Members of Congress -- is to adopt the higher House figure for Amtrak funding, and the Senate language on Amtrak capital flexibility.

In August, it seemed that the conference committee would take up the bill fairly quickly, as the transportation appropriations bill is one of the less controversial ones. However, now that the Independent Counsel report has arrived at the House, it's hard to say what sort of work schedule will be observed during September. There is more talk of at least a short continuing resolution.

Amtrak yesterday submitted testimony to a Senate committee examining the issue of computer reliability in 2000, the so-called "Y2K" problem. Amtrak said that its Y2K efforts began in October 1996 and that an inventory and assessment of its computer systems has been completed. A pilot program was completed successfully in May for the Amtrak Travel Agency Processing System, so Amtrak can takes its conversion methodology and apply it to its other business systems -- particularly the sensitive safety and reservations areas. Amtrak projects that the whole project will be complete next June, on-time and within budget.

Similarly, the Union Pacific said last week that its Y2K project would be complete by the end of this year, and that it was working with its clients on their efforts. UP said it was employing 100 people full-time on the effort.

The MAX light-rail West Side extension in Portland, Ore., opens tomorrow. The new segment runs 15 miles from the west edge of downtown to Beaverton and Hillsboro, including a long tunnel section. The opening coincides with the annual RailVolution conference, which is in Portland this year.

Amtrak added baggage cars on September 7 to the Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express that can carry 20 unboxed bicycles, or skis and snowboards. These are similar to the baggage cars already on the Vermonter. The fee for a bike is $5.

The pilot strike at Northwest Airlines seems to be winding to a close. Amtrak ridership was up in the Chicago-St. Paul corridor, where two or three coaches a day have been added to the Empire Builder. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune said today that about 100 additional passengers had been boarding there each day, though it was hard to say how many of them will stay with Amtrak after the strike.