Hotline #195 - June 15, 2001

A fiscal 2002 transportation funding bill was approved June 12 by the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Harold Rogers (R.-Ky.). It contains President Bush's request for Amtrak -- $521 million in capital, "scored" at 100%. "Scoring" refers to the spend-out rate, meaning that Amtrak would get the entire amount at once. Amtrak said in a statement that the amount, if it survives through the remaining steps in the process, would "enable Amtrak to continue to make key infrastructure investments in passenger rail service while maintaining the lowest level of federal funding operating assistance in the company's history." The next step in the process would be approval of the bill (as yet unnumbered) at the full committee level (possibly next week; but certainly by the end of the month.

The Railroads Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has on its schedule a June 21 hearing on maglev; but we are told that Amtrak issues will be discussed as well.

A rail station for the Milwaukee airport took a step forward, as Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum (R.) announced on June 11 that the state will begin a design process, using $100,000 in state aviation funds. However, airline and Milwaukee County officials were quick to criticize the proposal for not being near enough to the airport terminal, and just as quick to say they would not favor helping pay for even the cheaper station alternative on the current railroad route.

Besides offering a south-suburban location for Amtrak passengers, the station would provide another alternative to Chicago-area air passengers by allowing air-rail transfers at Milwaukee. The demand for such a transfer would only increase with implementation of Hiawatha-line improvements envisioned under the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative -- not only because of faster, more frequent service from Chicago, but also because of new service from places like Madison and Green Bay. The state Department of Transportation will hold a hearing on the project early this summer.

Wisconsin DOT also released an environmental impact study that showed that the potential impact on communities from highs-speed rail service between Milwaukee and Madison was not insurmountable.

Amtrak has extended its 30th Anniversary fare (G/PRO/ANV) good for 30% off regular, full adult fares. Travel must be completed by August 31, but the deadline for purchase of tickets using this discount is extended from June 15 to August 24.

Amtrak will issue a new Northeast Corridor timetable July 9 -- both in booklet format and with "walled cards" for individual services. Weekday Acela Express service betwen Boston and New York will increase from four to five (each day, each way), between New York and Washington from three to six (two of them replacing Metroliners). Weekend Acela Express service between Boston and New York will go from two to three; between New York and Washington will remain at two. All Boston-New York NortheastDirect trains will be converted to all-electric Acela Regional -- the only train still using diesels Boston-New Haven will be the Twilight Shoreliner.

Also July 9, the Empire Corridor will have significant changes with the end of the Metro North construction period, as will the Adirondack and Ethan Allen.

To promote weekend Acela Express patronage, Amtrak is offering a "free companion" program, for sale from June 20 through September 20, valid for weekend travel June 23 through September 23. It includes July 4 and Labor Day (September 3 -- but not September 1 or 2). Tickets must be bought at least three days before travel, and are valid both in business and first class.

The Federal Transit Administration has given a proposed light rail line in Cincinnati a "not recommended" rating for federal funding this year. Local planners acknowledge that one problem they face is that no local funding source has been identified yet. Further, the FTA says the project should be shortened and/or ridership projections increased, based on an arbitrary "cost per new passenger" measure. Cincinnati is asking 50% federal funding for the 19-mile proposal from Blue Ash in Ohio to Covington in Kentucky, much less than the 80% highway projects routinely receive.

A prototype solar train made its maiden run, with passengers aboard, June 12 on a short test track in Felton, Cal. The "SolTrain" ran at 10 mph, though proponents hope to reach 50 mph eventually. The train has been under development for a year by the Sustainable Monterey Bay group, with support from the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission and private donors. They hope that a quiet, clean, solar-powered train service along existing tracks from Davenport to Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Seaside (and maybe on an inactive line into Monterey) can one day operate and connect with other proposed rail services. The prototype was made from an electric bus fitted with train wheels and 13 rooftop photovoltaic cells and 22 batteries inside.