Hotline #145 - June 30, 2000

H.R.3700, the High Speed Rail Investment Act (HSRIA), is up to 120 sponsors. We understand six more members not yet listed have agreed to co-sponsor, including Crane (R.-Ill.). Among the latest listed sponsors is Danner (D.-Mo.) -- the first time this year a Missouri representative or senator has co-sponsored either HSRIA or flexibility (S.1144).

Sen. Ernest Hollings (D.-S.C.) became the 48th sponsor of the Senate HSRIA (S.1900). It's still important for these non-sponsoring Senators -- whose states have much to gain from the bill -- to hear strong support for HSRIA from back home -- Abraham (R.-Mich.), Collins (R.-Me.), Fitzgerald (R.-Ill.), Gorton (R.-Wash.), Lugar (R.-Ind.), Santorum (R.-Pa.), and Voinovich (R.-Ohio). It may help to emphasize that funds could only be used for capital, so this bill is not a "plot" to sabotage the self-sufficiency requirement. It does, however, represent the best chance to "re-balance" passenger rail spending between the Northeast and the rest of the country.

Amtrak announced on June 21 that Mayor Tom Carper of Macomb, Ill., and New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial have been appointed Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Amtrak Mayors' Advisory Council.

At Washington Union Station's West Hall on July 6, at 10:00 am, according to Amtrak, "Amtrak employees will introduce their new unconditional Satisfaction Guarantee for guests -- a first of its kind among U.S. travel industry providers ... The company will also introduce its new corporate brand identity to employees and the general public for the first time." The event will include Amtrak Chairman Tommy Thompson, President George Warrington, and Executive Vice President Barbara Richardson.

Speaking at the National Corridors Initiative (NCI) conference on June 26, Deputy Transportation Secretary Mortimer Downey noted that DOT requested comments on March 30 on (to quote the Federal Register notice) "conditions under which high speed rail projects should be eligible for congestion mitigation and air quality (CMAQ) funding." The notice indicated that CMAQ funds already have been made available for high-speed rail improvements "within air quality nonattainment and maintenance areas," and solicited comments on whether improvements outside such areas should be allowed. The notice said, "It may be possible to realize emission reductions ... within [such areas] even if the project is located outside" them. (This was reported in our April 7 hotline).

Downey urged people to "make your voice heard on this issue." The formal deadline for comments was May 1, but comments received now may still be considered until a decision is made. Refer to FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2000-6757 and fax your comments to 202/366-3409. Comments already on the record -- including from Amtrak and Empire State Passengers Association (positive) and American Public Transportation Association (negative) -- can be viewed at the web site of DOT's Docket Management System. Click on "Search the DMS Web," and enter 6757 in the docket number field.

Comments submitted range from unabashed support for the broadening proposal, such as from Ohio Rail Development Commission Executive Director James Seney, to outright opposition, such as from Seattle Transportation Director Daryl R. Grigsby, who worried that giving this flexibility to local officials "will create the political pressure to spread this limited source of funding over even more uses."

Another NCI speaker on June 26 was American Public Transportation Association President William Millar. He said that more than 45% of Amtrak passengers use transit to get to New York Penn Station. Comparable figures elsewhere are almost 40% for Boston South Station, "over a third" for Washington Union Station, and about 10% for stand-alone bus stations. By contrast with the latter figure, 40-45% of intercity bus passengers use transit to reach the buses at intermodal terminals.

Millar said federal law allows an 80% federal match for transit projects, but the nationwide average match now is 52% -- vs. 82% for highways. Most highway programs are 80%, but some narrow categories -- like road-building on federally owned land -- gets 100%.

At NCI on June 27, Washington Post reporter Don Phillips asked Amtrak Chairman (and Wisconsin Governor) Tommy Thompson, "Are you fully satisfied with present management?" Thompson replied what he has said before -- "I think George Warrington is the best thing that's ever happened to Amtrak, the best decision the board ever made. He is my friend. He's doing an excellent job ... Anybody that tells you anything different, please have them call me right away." Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R.-Tex.), on hand to receive an award, said, "I think [Warrington] knows this business better than anyone I've worked with." She also said, "I make it clear to every railroad CEO that I meet with that passenger rail is a very high priority for me."

Correcting a citation in the June NARP newsletter, the big Washington Post story on transit ridership growth was April 30, not April 20.