Hotline #288 - March 28, 2003

The Michigan House Transportation Committee on March 27 approved HB4343, by a 12-2 vote. This is Rep. Lauren Hager's bill to lift the legal funding cap on what Michigan DOT can spend on passenger trains. That is important if Amtrak is going to run the International or Pere Marquette beyond March 31 (or May 15, as Amtrak has offered to do). The vote followed a well attended (reportedly standing-room-only) hearing that was generally positive in tone. NARP wrote to each member of the committee in support of the bill.

Earlier in the week, Michigan DOT offered to extend Amtrak's contract to run the two trains another six months (through the end of fiscal 2003, September 30) -- but at a funding level consistent with the legal cap. At the hearing, Amtrak pointed out that it accepted the first six-month contract at a level below what it needed, in the hope that the funding cap would be lifted later.

The Surface Transportation Board has once again ruled in Amtrak's favor in the issue of what running speeds track-owner Guilford should allow for Downeaster service in Maine and New Hampshire. After a multi-year process, the STB ruled on January 31 that Amtrak could run at 79 mph (as opposed to the Guilford-imposed limit of 60 mph) wherever the track is maintained "in accordance with FRA Class 4 track safety standards." STB also ruled that Amtrak had met all previous STB conditions, and that FRA still has jurisdiction over safety matters. Guilford petitioned for reconsideration on February 20, but on March 19, the STB denied that petition.

The newest orders by STB to allow Amtrak to run at 79 mph took effect March 25. But the next day, Guilford asked the federal court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit to set aside the orders "on the ground that they are arbitrary, capricious, not in accordance with law and in excess of the statutory jurisdiction of the STB." Guilford has refused to implement the order so far. To get a formal stay of the order, Guilford would need to petition the court. Amtrak and Maine are considering their next steps.

Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express have reached an agreement with CSX over the way that passenger trains are handled in certain weather conditions. Last week, CSX held passenger trains to 15 mph over broad swaths of territory because of flash flood warnings -- while freight trains were allowed to go 40 mph. The new policy lets passenger trains go up to 50 mph, at the engineer's discretion. A 15-mph order will be imposed on both passenger and freight trains only in more localized areas where high water has been observed or is believed to be imminent.

According to the Washington Post, CSX also has agreed to install new switch heaters on the Alexandria-Fredericksburg route to facilitate commuter service during winter storms, and will have a new policy, within a few weeks, on heat-related speed restrictions.

Until this week, Acela Express reliability had dramatically improved, with missed trips down to one in 150 (compared with one in 30 last July). However, cancellations rose this week and, next week, several Acela Express schedules are likely to run with Metroliner train sets.

A Coast Starlight detour was discussed here two weeks ago, but some changes have been made. The current situation is that the southbound train (11) will run on its normal route and miss no stops during the entire work period. The northbound train (14) may run on the detour route at certain times -- trains that originate in Los Angeles March 31-April 9, April 15-22, and April 26-May 7, but only if the train is already operating 45 minutes late (or more) that day. The detour between Sacramento and Klamath Falls results from an extensive Union Pacific concrete tie project.

As wartime travel jitters and rising fuel costs eat into airlines' already thin finances, airlines are facing tougher times. The Air Transport Association has projected "war-related" losses of up to $13 billion. The group says that airline travel dropped 23% for the week ending March 23, mostly for international travel. Domestic travel was down 7%. Some Members of Congress are already promoting up to $13 billion in relief, including a "holiday" from paying federal fuel taxes and reimbursement for increased security costs.

With declining airline finances and with more general-fund money going to the aviation system, it is harder for rail critics to isolate Amtrak as the only "unprofitable" mode of transportation enjoying government largesse. Yet the pot of general-fund money available arguably gets smaller.

The Oklahoma Senate Transportation Committee approved HB1385, a bill to ask voters in 2004 whether to raise the state gasoline tax, on March 25. The bill, to raise the tax five cents, already has House approval. Non-highway projects, including passenger rail, would get 40% of the revenue raised.

Indiana House Bill 1489 may be voted on in the Senate on March 31 or April 1. It would require the state DOT to spend at least 10% of the federal funding Indiana gets for planning and research for development of high-speed rail. That is would be up to $1.3 million annually. Indiana residents should tell their state Senator to support this bill.

The Florida House Transportation Committee approved a bill on March 26 that would ask state voters to repeal the 2000 constitutional amendment that requires the start of construction of a state high-speed rail system by fall 2003. Gov. Jeb Bush (R.) supports the repeal, in the belief that voters did not understand that a rail system would have a significant cost.

Former New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan died March 26 in Washington. He was 76. Moynihan served in the Senate for 24 years, until 2001. He was an important figure in transportation policy and served as chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Surface Transportation Subcommittee during formation of the landmark ISTEA legislation in 1991. Moynihan was the author of ISTEA's flexible funding provisions -- including for intercity passenger rail, though House conferees later stripped passenger rail from flexible funding.

NARP awarded Moynihan its George Falcon Golden Spike Award in 1998 for his role in ISTEA, for his help in getting additional capital funds for Amtrak in 1997, for his role in helping preserve Washington Union Station, and for his work in promoting "an architecturally significant" Amtrak station for New York. In fact, yesterday Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki said the new facility, to open in 2008, will be named for Moynihan.

Amtrak will begin using rebuilt turbotrains on some Albany-New York runs in mid-April, according to the Schenectady Gazette, on a trial basis, before making permanent assignments.

Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette announced on March 26 a US$296-million transportation package for southern Ontario. This includes improvements to GO Transit's commuter rail network and to the "Quick Start" phase of the York Region Rapid Transit Plan. Track capacity and train frequency will be increased, some grade crossings eliminated, and enhancements to connecting VIA Rail service will be made. "This urban strategy demonstrates the federal government's commitment to a balanced and integrated transportation system for the economic prosperity of this region," Collenette said. "This will enable more commuters in [Greater Toronto] to leave their cars at home and take advantage of the excellent service provided by GO Transit."

NARP Region 5 meets on March 29 in Fayetteville, N.C., Region 7 meets in Lake Delton, Wis., Region 10 meets in Denver, and Region 12 meets in San Diego.