Hotline #214 - October 26, 2001

The legislative timetable reported in last week's hotline has slipped. The earliest Amtrak's $1.77 billion safety/security package could be on the Senate floor is Tuesday, October 30.

At John McCain's (R.-Ariz.) insistence, the bill passed by the Senate Commerce Committee (S.1550, Rail Security Act of 2001) had nothing for capacity -- just safety and security. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R.-Tex.) is expected to offer an amendment that would provide money for returning to service outside the Northeast Corridor a number of cars that have been sidelined in recent years, either by redirecting some of the money already in the bill, or by adding funds to the bill.

Meanwhile, on November 1, the Senate Commerce Committee may hold a hearing on Senator Hollings' more expansive "RAIL-21" bill (S.1530, October 12 hotline).

Regarding the immediate floor action, Senators need to hear support for both the overall bill (S.1550, Rail Security Act of 2001) and the Hutchison "capacity" amendment. Tell your U.S. Representative you are following Senate action with interest and expect the House to be supportive when the measure gets to conference.

In addition, urge that more be done for passenger rail before Congress adjourns for the year -- enactment of the High Speed Rail Investment Act (probably as part of the "stimulus" package) -- is the absolute minimum. Enactment of RAIL-21 is what we really need.

Managers of five agencies in California that provide passenger rail service (Caltrans and Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority for intercity corridors; and the three agencies responsible for Coaster, Caltrain, and Metrolink) submitted testimony to the Amtrak Reform Council after cancellation of the ARC's September 20 Los Angeles hearing. Here are some quotations:

"It is the collective position of these passenger rail providers that it is in both the national and regional interest to preserve, improve and expand the national passenger rail system. Each of the above listed entities maintains contracts with Amtrak, and we believe these contractual arrangements are mutually beneficial, both to our respective organizations as well as to the traveling public.

"We must convey our disappointment that the most recent ARC Report failed to recognize growth in passenger rail ridership in the West in general, and in California in particular. Additionally, little, if any mention was made of the potential for continued growth of these present and planned services, nor of the opportunity for interconnectivity between our regional, commuter and state supported passenger rail services with Amtrak's long-distance inter-city services ...

"... Currently, the 3.6 million Amtrak intercity passengers carried in California generate nearly 400,000,000 passenger miles annually. The regional rail and commuter rail services provided by Amtrak under contract to local California authorities represent almost 600,000,000 passenger miles in California, for a total of nearly one billion annual passenger miles ...

"Certainly a state, and/or local commitment of funding (capital and operating) is an element of the California success (and successes elsewhere). However, we believe that the ARC's work needs to include the policy, organizational and managerial elements in existence at these various locations, so that they can be evaluated for possible application elsewhere in conjunction with provision of Amtrak services ...

"California's massive investment in passenger rail has been made with a reliance upon the continued existence and viability of Amtrak. The continuity of this investment in facilities and in Amtrak operations is essential for effective passenger rail transportation management in California."

Navi-Hopi Tours, a bus company that has provided Thruway connections with Amtrak for many years in Arizona, has ceased operations. To reach the Grand Canyon, the remaining option is the Southwest Chief's relatively new stop at Williams Junction and a free shuttle between the Amtrak station and the Grand Canyon Railway's station in Williams.

Amtrak's October 28 timetable shows the Kentucky Cardinal as coach only but in fact the sleeper will resume service on this run.