Hotline #64 - December 11, 1998

An invitation from Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater for states to comment both on what additional high-speed rail passenger corridors should be designated and on where hazard-elimination funds should be spend on already-designated corridors appears in today's Federal Register.

Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew is considering agency appeals on the fiscal 2000 budget that is nearing completion. While the Administration has long been committed to $571 million for Amtrak, nationwide corridor development is in doubt. The ideal funding request would include $20 million for planning, $35.25 million for hazard elimination, and $34 million for technology development. These figures include funds authorized for 2000 plus 1998 and 1998 funds that were authorized but not requested or appropriated. The White House comments line is 202/456-1111. The White House e-mail address is on the NARP web site.

Georgia Gov.-elect Roy Barnes (D.) gave his first major address to a legislative panel on December 8. The main topic was his plan for major transportation reform and his full commitment to regional rail not just for the Atlanta area, but the whole state of Georgia. He will be pushing the legislature to create a new statewide authority to oversee all transportation planning, and he is lining up his political supporters in the legislature and business and civic communities to help him achieve his goal. Of course, the Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers will be supporting Gov. Barnes' efforts.

Amtrak says that the Cardinal will not carry package express and the Piedmont will not handle checked baggage through December 31 (except for passengers connecting to the Silver Star). Amtrak reminds passengers that the Silver Star does not handle checked baggage at Alexandria, because there is no second conductor between Washington and Richmond.

A new Thruway service starts December 15, allowing passengers from Silverthorne, Vail, and Eagle, Colo., to connect to the westbound California Zephyr at Glenwood Springs. Right now, only the opposite direction is possible.

Two more Thruways are starting up January 12. One will connect at Pittsburgh with the Pennsylvanian to and from the west, serving Hagerstown, Frederick, and Washington. Another will connect at Atlanta with the Crescent to and from the north, serving Macon.

Also January 12, an existing Thruway bus will be changed. Right now, there is a bus running from Atlanta to Columbus and Montgomery. Replacing that will be one bus running just to Columbus, and another running to Montgomery and Mobile. This restores Mobile Thruway service dropped earlier this year. These Thruways are run by Greyhound, and so are largely dependent on Greyhound's schedules. Also, all the Thruways serving Atlanta stop at the Greyhound station, not the Amtrak station. Amtrak provides station-to-station transfer.

During the last half of January, the San Joaquins will not run south of Fresno, due to extensive track work. There will be bus replacements.

The long-stalled proposal for light rail between the growing employment centers of Bethesda and Silver Spring, Md., got a boost when the Montgomery County Council on December 8 voted 6-3 to ask the state to complete its environmental review. Even more notable was a request yesterday by Count Executive Doug Duncan for the same thing.

According to wire stories, VIA Rail Canada has hired a British company, Hambros Bank, to advise it on the possible sale of stock to the public in order to raise money to allow VIA to improve service.