Hotline #136 - April 28, 2000

S.1144, the flexibility bill that would give states the choice to spend some federal surface transportation funds on intercity passenger rail capital items, could come to the Senate floor the week of May 8. It depends on Senate Majority Leader Lott and Minority Leader Daschle getting enough pressure from their colleagues to bring the bill up. Speaking at the NARP Annual Washington Reception April 27, bill sponsor Senator Voinovich (R.-Ohio) -- who received the George Falcon Golden Spike Award -- urged people to ask their Senators to send notes about this to Lott or Daschle. He noted the special need for people in Missouri to press Senator Bond and in Alabama to press Senator Shelby to agree to this as well. The bill has been stalled by these two Senators.

A possible Smith (R.-N.H.) amendment to S.1144 would give the intercity bus industry unacceptable veto power over any state trying to use the flexibility granted to them by S.1144. Senators should be told to oppose any anti-rail amendments to S.1144.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D.-N.J.), who is retiring after 18 years in the Senate and who has been just about the best friend to railroad passengers imaginable, also received a Golden Spike Award. His High-Speed Rail Investment bill, S.1900, has 40 sponsors, "But we need a few more to prove to the doubters that this will happen," he said. He thanked NARP for its work.

The Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Award went to Allen Thomas, a chef on Amtrak's City of New Orleans, for his work in promoting safety programs in communities along his route and among his co-workers.

Amtrak President George Warrington addressed the NARP Board today. He pointed out that while highways are set to get $33 billion in 2001, aviation $13 billion, and transit $6 billion, a national rail system still must fight for a half-billion. The need for capital is, and will be, crucial, Warrington said, "Yet there is a momentum building for better passenger rail."

The fiscal 2001 transportation funding bill seems to be moving toward fast action in May. Tentatively, the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Frank Wolf (R.-Va.), is scheduled to have a "mark-up" (approval session) on May 9; the full Appropriations Committee, chaired by Bill Young (R.-Fla.) on May 18; and a floor vote in the House on May 25. If that schedule holds, the focus would shift to a Senate bill and the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Richard Shelby (R.-Ala.), perhaps in June after the Memorial Day recess.

Federal agencies must implement "commuter choice" programs for their employees, according to an executive order signed by President Clinton April 21. By October 1, all agencies must provide pre-tax incentives and non-monetary incentives to encourage transit and vanpool use. Up until now, only some agencies offered this on a piecemeal basis; private businesses likewise have had the choice to offer the benefits.

The Great American Station Foundation on April 25 presented grants to two station projects on the Heartland Flyer route. Ardmore, Okla., got $10,000 and Gainesville, Tex., got $25,000.

A groundbreaking for a new Seattle maintenance base to be shared by Amtrak and the Sound Transit commuter service was April 26. The state is paying $22 million of the cost, with Amtrak paying another $21 million.

A groundbreaking for the renovation of the Kemper Street station in Lynchburg, Va., was April 25. Amtrak has contributed $200,000 towards the $3.1-million project, with other funding coming from federal, state, and local sources. The station was bought by the city and will include intercity and local bus service. In the early 1990's, the station was in danger of abandonment, with Amtrak looking for alternative sites, but happily the old station will now be retained and improved.

Speech-recognition technology is coming to Amtrak's "800" reservations and information phone number (800-USA-RAIL), in a deal announced this week between Amtrak and SpeechWorks International. By September, a speech-recognition engine will let callers request travel and fare information verbally. By December, callers will be able to make reservations and credit-card payments using voice commands.

Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura (I.) has said he will veto any bill sent to him by the legislature that kills or stalls a light-rail project proposed for Minneapolis. Three bills passed by the House that were in conference as of April 21 contain such language.