Hotline #294 - May 9, 2003

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta appeared before the House Transportation/Treasury Appropriations Subcommittee on May 6. He said the Bush Administration wants to expand the surface transportation program, simplify the transit program, and provide a seamless national transportation network.  Mineta said the Administration won't raise or index (for inflation) the gas tax. That displeases most Capitol Hill transportation leaders from both parties. That could increase chances that this Congress will produce only a two-year highway/transit authorization, with legislators hoping that the White House will look more favorably on gas tax increases two years from now, regardless of who wins next year's election.

The hearing also featured strong attacks on Amtrak from both Chairman Ernest Istook (R.-Okla.) and ex-chairman Harold Rogers (R.-Ky.). Their comments underline the need for citizens to contact their Senators and Representative in support of the $1.8 billion Amtrak has requested for 2004. Point out that the current Amtrak system is the bare minimum that can pass for a nationwide network, and pulling out any individual route could set in motion a domino collapse of the rest of the system. Click here for ways to make contact.

Rogers expressed concern that the Administration's passenger rail proposal would require a significant amount of resources to fund Amtrak routes and require cash-strapped states to subsidize a national passenger rail system at the expense of resources currently being allocated to short-line commuter and local rail systems. Rogers was displeased to learn from Mineta that the DOT approved this quarter's request from Amtrak for funding the nationwide system, because it included the 18 long-distance trains.  Rogers asked Mineta if DOT has asked Amtrak to close any lines. Mineta said he had not gotten to that point yet, but that Amtrak has sent them analyses and DOT intends to ask Amtrak to push for more state involvement. [Amtrak already has converted one of the routes to a short-distance route, and is eliminating another.]

Istook criticized Amtrak for "luring" Senators and Congressmen into providing money for unprofitable routes that cut through the districts of key Members, creating what he called a costly and unprofitable network. He cited the Texas Eagle as an example. Mineta said it was Congress that was really the instigator of Amtrak's route design.

Mineta told the subcommittee about his briefing many months ago with President Bush, where Bush asked Mineta if he remembered what Bush's previous job was and asked him what would happen if a state did not participate, to which Mineta replied the train would not stop in that state. (When he was Texas governor, Bush wrote to Amtrak, saying "a national rail service was the responsibility of the federal government.")

A lumber truck drove in front of Amtrak's southbound Silver Star early on May 6, derailing it and injuring 22 passengers and 5 crew. One crew member, the engineer, died of his injuries on May 7.  Larry Edenfield had 30 years' railroad experience (17 at Amtrak). The truck driver was killed instantly.  The accident occurred at a crossing with only crossbuck signs near Hinesville, Ga., about 35 miles southwest of Savannah. The train remained upright, but some of the cars were jack-knifed. That day, Auto Train service was annulled and passengers on other trains were put on buses between Savannah and Jacksonville.

The International will be disrupted by a major, long-lasting Canadian National track project. The train will not run between East Lansing and Port Huron on any weekday from May 12 through August 15. Amtrak will provide a bus bridge between the two points. The westbound train will run 30 minutes later than what is shown in the timetable between East Lansing and Chicago (including the Saturday train, which is not otherwise affected by the track work).

Separately, operation of both the International and Pere Marquette beyond June 30 remains uncertain, as no progress has been made in getting an operating agreement between Amtrak and the state. While the state House Transportation Committee approved HB4343 (the bill to lift the legal funding cap on what Michigan DOT can spend on passenger trains) on March 27, the bill was then referred to the Appropriations Committee on April 2, where it still sits. It is possible that no further action will be taken unless Michigan citizens speak up.

The Capitol Corridor has a couple schedule changes that are not reflected in the new Amtrak timetable that came out April 28. Weekday train 540 runs five minutes earlier than the times shown in the timetable, leaving Oakland at 4:50 pm. Weekday train 542 runs 25 minutes earlier, leaving San Jose at 4:05 pm and Oakland at 5:30 pm.

The NARP board of directors approved a motion to endorse a report issued January 16 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The report, "Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation," expresses support for both corridor and long-distance passenger rail services. It was AASHTO's first report ever on the topic. The NARP vote, which was unanimous, was May 2 as part of the spring board meeting in Washington.

Indiana DOT now must spend at least 10% of Indiana's federal planning and research money on development of high-speed rail, as Gov. Frank O'Bannon signed H.B.1489 into law on May 1.

A new weekend-only Thruway service connects Amtrak's Downeaster trains at Portland with Freeport, Me., an important outlet shopping center. Buses run by VIP Tour & Charter connect from the first two trains from Boston (681 and 683) and return to connect to the last two trains (684 and 688). The service, which will run through December 31, is available through Amtrak's reservations line, and also soon on Amtrak's web site.

Amtrak is conducting an "American Canvas Sweepstakes." Going to Amtrak's web site and signing up through June 15 will make you eligible to win one of several prizes, including rail tickets.