Hotline #299 - June 13, 2003

There are (as of June 12) 142 signatures on a bipartisan letter circulating in the House, in support of the $1.812 billion that Amtrak has requested for 2004. The goal remains 218. The initial signers were Railroads Subcommittee Chairman Jack Quinn (R.-N.Y.) and Ranking Member Corinne Brown (D.-Fla.); James Oberstar (Minn.), ranking member of the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and Rep. Michael Castle (R.-Del.). Be sure to ask our Representative to sign this letter -- his or her office will tell you if that has already happened (in which case, say "thank you"). Democrats should contact Frank Mulvey or Mike Herron (225-3274); Republicans, Steve Stallmer (225-3306).

S.104, the National Defense Rail Act that would greatly increase authorized funding for Amtrak and for corridor development, got its 33rd Senate co-sponsor -- Rockefeller (D.-W.Va.). The bill's primary sponsor, Commerce Ranking Democrat Ernest Hollings (S.C.), pointed out at an April 29 hearing that "we had a bipartisan bill last year, approved by this committee by an overwhelming margin, but couldn't get it to a vote on the floor." He said to Chairman John McCain (R.-Ariz.), "I have enough votes to get my bill out of Committee. Let's do it ... Let's get something done."

Amtrak and Michigan DOT are currently in negotiations about running the Pere Marquette and International through the rest of the current state fiscal year. The current deadline for such an agreement is June 30, and the current fiscal year ends September 30.

The focus in Michigan now shifts to next year's funding, for fiscal 2004, which starts October 1. There currently is draft appropriations legislation that would provide $7.1 million for running both trains, with no caps (such as the ones that caused so much trouble this year). Work on that legislation may wrap up in the next couple weeks, so now is a good time for Michigan residents to contact their legislators in support of the full funding ($7.1 million) for the Pere Marquette and International. See Michigan legislative web sites for contact information for Representatives and for Senators.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors met in Denver earlier in the week. Among the resolutions they passed, three had to do with passenger rail. One resolution called for reauthorization of Amtrak "with a fair and consistent source of capital and operating support" and for Congress to "provide at least $1.8 billion for Amtrak in FY 04 to sustain our national intercity passenger rail system over the next year." A second resolution expressed support for the Reconnecting America effort to integrate rail and airport facilities. A third called on Congress to "establish a dedicated federal rail infrastructure program to address needed improvements to our nation's railroad infrastructure."

In what a Washington Post editorial called an "act of bravery," Amtrak Police Officer Rodney Chambers chased a man who appeared to pull a pin from a hand grenade near Washington Union Station. Then, relying on his military training, Chambers wrestled with the man and held down a safety catch on the grenade for 15 minutes, until a Capitol Police bomb squad could arrive. The grenade turned out not to be real, though Chambers could not have known that. Police were first alerted to the man after he flashed the grenade in a store in Union Station during a robbery attempt, and then dropped it on the ground in the station's west portico.

A recent opinion column by George Will concludes that because "a nationwide poll shows 71 percent public support for subsidizing Amtrak at current or increased levels," Amtrak, "long-distance trains, legislative logrolling and all, should be counted as a cost of democracy. It is here to stay, like true love, only more so."

We certainly agree with the conclusion, though we disagree with Will on the utility of long-distance trains. Still, Will recognizes that "it is fanciful to think Congress will subsidize the Northeast Corridor without legislative logrolling to guarantee continuing subsidies of long-distance trains (routes of at least 500 miles) beyond the corridor, where five-sixths of Americans live." The column appeared in several papers over several days, including the June 8 Washington Post.

"Amtrak America - Your Travel Guide to Amtrak Routes and Services - 2003-2004" may be ordered, for free, from Amtrak's web site. The guide is similar in format -- and replaces -- the Travel Planner that was published in previous years. Other publications, including timetables, may be ordered from the same part of Amtrak's web site.

Amtrak's internet sales now account for nearly a quarter of its sales, according to Wired News. So far this fiscal year, that figure is 24%. Amtrak had $1.4 million in internet sales on June 9 -- the highest amount for any single day on Amtrak's web site.

The state comptroller of New York, Alan Hevesi, released three audit reports yesterday on that state's high-speed rail program. "The Empire Corridor is a vital part of our state's transportation system, and the link between New York City and Albany is one of the most heavily traveled Amtrak routes in the nation," he wrote, according to the Albany Business Journal. "I am concerned that today, five years and $51.5 million after the Turboliner modernization project was commenced, just two of the seven trains included in the project are in service." Problems have included management weaknesses, technical problems, and payment control shortcomings, according to the audits.

Much of the criticism was directed at the state DOT, and some to Amtrak. The audits point out that even when all seven train sets are ready, Amtrak will not have the funding to make track and grade-crossing improvements needed to allow higher speeds.

The Heartland Flyer's fourth anniversary and the restoration of the station at Ardmore, Okla., both will be celebrated tomorrow at 10:30 am, at the station. Also tomorrow, the Dunsmuir Railroad Days will have various events, including an unveiling of the restored Amtrak station.