Hotline #161 - October 20, 2000

The critically important High Speed Rail Investment Act (HSRIA) can still pass, but time is running short as Congress prepares to leave Washington.

Republican leaders are putting together a ten-year, $260-billion tax proposal. The Associated Press quoted Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R.-Miss.) - "We're going to have a tax package the President will sign. We're trying to hold it to the things that have had broad bipartisan support." Certainly, that applies to the HSRIA, but it's too soon to say if the HSRIA will be part of any final package.

The three men who can have greatest impact right now are Lott, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R.-Ill.), and House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Archer (R.-Tex.). Tell your Members of Congress and the White House (again) that the HSRIA must be part of whatever tax bill Congress passes in the next few days. If you are represented by a Republican, urge him or her to urge Lott, Hastert, and Archer to be sure HSRIA is included.  See our web site for ways to make contact.

Last last Friday (October 13), White House officials sent a letter to Senate leaders endorsing the High Speed Rail Investment Act (S.1900, the language of which is now also in S.3152, the Senate version of the Community Renewal and New Markets Act). This is a big step forward, as open White House support is thought to be a key to final passage of the High Speed Rail Investment Act.

Amtrak President George Warrington announced October 18 at Washington Union Station that Amtrak had officially taken delivery of the first of 20 Acela Express high-speed train sets. The train also has cleared its safety certification by the Federal Railroad Administration. An official inaugural run on November 16 will feature non-stop runs from Washington to New York and from New York to Boston. Ticket sales will begin November 29, and the first revenue service will be December 11.

The first revenue service will be a 5:00 am departure from Washington, arriving Boston 11:30 am; and a 5:12 pm departure from Boston, arriving Washington at 11:43 pm.

More services will be added as more train sets are delivered -- so look for frequent Northeast Corridor timetable updates throughout the winter. Travel time for the initial service will be 2:44 hours between Washington and New York (top speed 135 mph) and 3:23 hours New York-Boston (top speed 150 mph). The second increment of additional service will feature a Washington-New York non-stop trip, taking 2:28 hours.

The key guest speakers at the October 18 event were Senate Finance Chairman Bill Roth (R.-Del.), Senate Transportation Appropriations Ranking Democrat Frank Lautenberg (N.J.), and Senate Finance Ranking Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan (N.Y.), who drove down track 19 in the cab of the new train. The event was very upbeat, with several expressions of hope about passing the High Speed Rail Investment Act by the time Congress recesses this weekend, about the beautiful train set itself, and about the step forward that the train represents for passenger service in the Northeast and -- we hope -- for corridors across the U.S.

The NARP Board of Directors is meeting in Pittsfield, Mass. Paul Weyrich, Vice Chairman of the Amtrak Reform Council (ARC), addressed the Board today, saying long-term capital funding is vital for Amtrak's success. He said the ARC will be looking at ideas on how to do that. Tomorrow, Amtrak Board Vice Chairman and former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis will address the board.

A groundbreaking ceremony at Main Street Station in Richmond was held October 17. Work will finally begin on turning the historic building into a downtown intermodal terminal that includes intercity passenger rail. The first phase involving Amtrak will be for Newport News trains that currently pass the station to also stop there.

A commuter rail demonstration train sponsored by the Utah Transit Authority ran on October 17. Local public officials were carried from the Salt Lake City Amtrak station to Ogden Union Station in a set of equipment belonging to Sounder, the new Seattle-Tacoma commuter service. The train set was on public display in Ogden yesterday and today; and will be at Salt Lake City tomorrow (10:00 am - 6:00 pm) and Monday, October 23 (12:00 noon - 8:00 pm).

The transit strike in Los Angeles that began September 19 was settled by negotiators on October 17. Union ratification soon followed, and transit service resumed October 19.