Hotline #174 - January 19, 2001

The U.S. Conference of Mayors on January 17 released a poll that shows strong public support for investing in passenger rail. The poll was conducted in late December among over 1000 randomly selected registered voters in ten metropolitan areas not located in the places with the best developed corridors (i.e., Northeast and California). When asked whether the federal government had the resources to develop a high-speed rail system, 87% said "yes." When asked whether their particular metropolitan area should be part of such a system, 69% said "yes." When asked if traffic congestion has worsened nationwide, 89% said "yes." When asked whether a high-speed rail system would have an effect on reducing traffic, 60% said it would have a "somewhat large impact." When asked if congestion was a good reason to spend public funds to build or improve rail systems, 68% said "yes."

The poll was released at Washington Union Station as part of the mayors' annual Winter Meeting, at which the mayors also renewed their support of the High Speed Rail Investment Act (HSRIA) and had a short ride on an Acela Express train. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R.-Miss.), who last month pledged early action on HSRIA in the new Congress, appeared at the meeting.

We expect a new, Senate version of HSRIA to be introduced early the week of January 22. At the moment, there are 29 Senators who have indicated they would be an originating sponsor, and we hope for more. Please ask your Senators to sponsor; click here for information on contacting Senators.

Outgoing Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater told the press this week that one disappointment from his tenure was the failure to enact the HSRIA. "Perhaps we could have exerted greater pressure on Capitol Hill," he said, "but I am not prepared to do a lot of second-guessing because we have made record investments in transportation infrastructure in the past eight years and I think that Congress will recognize that we do not want to leave America's passenger rail system behind." The confirmation hearing for Slater's successor, Norman Mineta, will be before the Senate Commerce Committee on January 24.

The Senate Finance Committee is getting its biggest turnover in members in years (including an even division between parties). The new chairman is expected to be Charles Grassley (R.-Ia.), who replaces HSRIA supporter Bill Roth (R.-Del.).  Other new members (those who were HSRIA sponsors last year denoted with asterisks) are Senators Daschle* (D.-S.Dak.), Torricelli* (D.-N.J.), Kerry* (D.-Mass.), Lincoln* (D.-Ark.), Bingaman (D.-N.Mex.), Snowe* (R.-Me.), Kyl (D.-Ariz.). The new ranking Democrat is Max Baucus* (Mont.), replacing Daniel Patrick Moynihan* (N.Y.). Baucus is giving up his seat as ranking Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over highways and transit. A reintroduced HSRIA likely would be referred to the Finance Committee as it involves tax matters.

New members of the Senate Commerce Committee are Boxer* (D.-Cal.), Edwards* (D.-N.C.), Carnahan (D.-Mo.), Smith* (R.-Ore.), Fitzgerald (R.-Ill.), Ensign (R.-Nev.), Allen (R.-Va.) -- again, those who sponsored HSRIA are denoted with asterisks. Commerce has jurisdiction over railroads, aviation, and maritime issues. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R.-Tex.) will not be returning as Surface Transportation Subcommittee chair.

The Michigan State Transportation Commission on January 17 approved a $5.7-million operating contract between Amtrak and Michigan DOT for fiscal 2001 (same as federal fiscal year) for the Pere Marquette and International. Some minor details remain to be worked out, but problems are not expected.  The contract includes an agreement for the DOT and Amtrak to meet quarterly with freight railroads with the aim of improving on-time performance.

Florida legislators are divided over what to do about the high-speed rail constitutional amendment approved by 53% of voters in November. Some want a repeal of the amendment, which would have to be approved by two-thirds of both houses and then by voters in 2002. Some want to sue amendment backer C. C. Dockery for not including in the amendment the costs of beginning construction of a 120+ mph system by the end of 2003. Some are resisting Dockery's call for a state high-speed rail authority and spending $70 million a year on high-speed rail, as was state policy before the FOX project was cancelled by Governor Jeb Bush in 1999. Bush has said he will recommend no high-speed rail money in his budget proposal, which would seem to place him in the unconstitutional position of not moving forward on a project approved by the voters.

The Hiawatha light rail line in Minneapolis had its groundbreaking January 17, at the site of the proposed shops near downtown. Participants included Gov. Jesse Ventura, Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg, and Rep. Martin Sabo (D.). Completion of the 11.6-mile, $675-million line from downtown to Fort Snelling is due in 2003, with extension to the airport and Mall of America in 2004. Ventura said, "[This ceremony] is happening today because the public demanded more transportation choices and because so many have worked hard and kept their sights focused. Now the reality of the Hiawatha Line will make the Twin Cities and Minnesota more competitive in the 21st century."

Houston officials had planned to break ground January 25 on a 7.5-mile light rail line. However, a state judge has issued a restraining order against this after a lawsuit requesting a referendum on Metro's use of city streets. Metro and city officials say Metro is a government entity and does not need such a referendum.

Two maglev-project finalists were named January 18 by the Department of Transportation, under terms of the TEA-21 legislation of 1998. Of the seven semi-finalists, a 40-mile, $3.4-billion Baltimore-Washington project and a 47-mile, $2.7-billion Pittsburgh-area project remain. The two projects will get a total of $14 million this year for environmental impact studies and preliminary engineering.