Hotline #729 - October 21, 2011

UPDATED October 24, 2011: An earlier version of this Hotline incorrectly stated that Karen Rae would be serving as Deputy Secretary of Transportation at the New York State Department of Transportation. In fact, Rae will be serving as the Deputy Secretary for Transportation to the Governor.

As NARP briefly reported last week, Amtrak made an official statement announcing it carried 30.2 million passengers in fiscal year 2011, earning $1.9 billion in ticket revenues in the process.

The ridership figure is the highest since Amtrak’s creation in 1971, and marks the eighth ridership record set over the previous nine years. This puts Amtrak ridership nearly 44 above the 2000 level.

That success has been reflected in the fare box, with ticket revenue up by more than eight percent over last year—all the more impressive when you factor in the recession checking economic growth in the U.S.

“Amtrak truly is America’s Railroad,” said Amtrak Board of Directors Chairman Tom Carper at the St. Louis event. “We were created by Congress to fulfill a vital national transportation need and to connect the nation in ways no other mode of transportation can. We have always delivered for the American people and we will continue to do so.”

Contrary to what some in the media have reported, the operating grant requirement for FY 2011 is expected to be less than the $475 million that Amtrak projected in July, and far below the $507 million that Smart Money magazine claimed.

[See more of Amtrak’s St. Louis celebration on the NARP blog.]

It’s also worth noting that this growth happened in spite of significant weather related disruptions in the Northeast, Midwest, and West that have severely disrupted the U.S. transportation network.


U.S. Senate leadership reached a deal late last night that will set up a November 1 vote on the fiscal 2012 “minibus” that includes next year’s transportation spending bill.

The transportation budget will be part of a so-called “minibus” (as opposed to an “omnibus bill,” a single document packaging several measures into one) that contains three appropriations bill: Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-Housing & Urban Development.

Earlier in the week, Senators voted 59-39 to table an amendment offered by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) undercutting a current provision that requires a 10 percent set-aside for “Transportation Enhancements.” While the majority of these funds go towards bike and pedestrian transportation projects, states have also used them on for right-of-way beautification and historic preservation of transportation facilities.

That has drawn criticism from legislators, especially Republicans, who characterize this program as diverting money away from roads and bridges. McCain’s amendment would prevent federal dollars from going to tourist and welcome centers, landscaping, historic preservation, control of outdoor advertising, and archeological research.

“We have deficient bridges,” said Senator McCain in defense of the amendment. “We have highways that need repair.”

Critics of the amendment argued it was overly broad, and could have prevented would have prohibited the use federal funds for Amtrak operations and restoration work on historic facilities such as old train stations and bridges.

As the Associated Press reported, “Rep. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said McCain’s amendment went too far. She said that Amtrak operates more than 126 stations in 41 states that are registered as historic places and that the railroad would be unable to upgrade or use under McCain’s measure. ‘That would cripple Amtrak,’ she said.”

The amendment was tabled by a 59-39 vote, effectively killing it.

Senate Democrats Look to Pass Transportation Piece of President’s American Jobs Act

Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced he intends to bring the infrastructure provisions in President Barack Obama’s jobs plan before the Senate floor. Dubbed the “Rebuild America Jobs Act,” the bill will would provide a short-term increase in spending on roads, bridges, rail, and airports, targeting a construction sector that has never recovered from the 2008 economic downturn. The proposal will be deficit neutral, relying on a new 0.7 percent tax on income over $1 million.

The “Rebuild America Jobs Act” will be the second attempt to individually pass a component of the President’s jobs plan. A bill directed at saving teacher, firefighter and first responder jobs failed in a 50-50 vote yesterday, with Republicans opposing, en mass.


An agreement between freight railroad CSX, Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Transportation has been reached to allow Amtrak to lease of 100 miles of track from CSX between Poughkeepsie and Schenectady—a major windfall for passengers in the area.

The takeover, scheduled for 2012, will grant Amtrak control over operations, maintenance and capital improvements on the line. At the same time, the deal will preserve access for CSX trains. Currently, Amtrak runs 26 trains per day on the track, which sees only a handful of freight trains.

“Amtrak is very pleased to be partnering with CSX and New York State to bring about this historic change for the Hudson Line Rail Corridor,” said Stephen Gardner, Amtrak Vice President, Policy and Development. “This arrangement will enable all parties to move forward on implementing almost $200 million in high speed rail projects along the line which will lead to faster, more frequent and more reliable service.”

By controlling operations, Amtrak will be able to address track conditions along the route directly, NARP President Ross Capon told the Albany Times Union.

The agreement also cleared the way for the Federal Railroad Administration to deliver $7.9 million in High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Program funds to the New York State to upgrade the signal system along the Hudson Subdivision, increasing operational reliability and decreasing signal maintenance and repair costs.

The money will fund the New York Hudson Subdivision Signal Reliability Project, which will bury signal system cables, enhancing reliability on the line and creating construction and design jobs.

“Higher-speed rail travel is a key to New York’s economic future, and these upgrades are great news for the passengers traveling along the Hudson Line each day,” said Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY). “With this investment, the state DOT will be able to bury signal cables along the Hudson Line between Hyde Park and Red Hook, and increase reliability, efficiency for the hundreds of New Yorkers commuting each day.”

Schumer, one of the most active agents in pushing for a deal this past summer, was vocal about getting the money out the door before Republicans in the U.S. House had a chance to follow through on a plan to rescind unobligated passenger rail money.


Amtrak and the State of Wisconsin announced October 17 that they will be expanding Thruway Bus connections to include the Green Bay, Madison, and Wausau areas—expanding access to Amtrak’s Empire Builder in Wisconsin.

The new Amtrak Thruway Bus will connect the Columbus (Madison) station to and form Madison, Beaver Dam, Waupun, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton and Green Bay. The Portage station Thruway Bus will provide service to and from Westfield, Stevens Point, Mosinee and Wausau.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $928.5 million in federal funds for over 300 public transportation projects at an event on October 17. The money will put people to work renovating and building much needed transit facilities in urban, suburban, and rural areas around the country.

Part of the Federal Transit Administration’s FY2011 Alternatives Analysis, Bus Livability, and State of Good Repair programs, the final grants were selected from a highly competitive pool of 839 applications, representing over $4.9 billion in projects.

“Investing in America’s transit systems, rails, roads, ports, and airports will generate tens of thousands of construction-related jobs and put more money in the pockets of working Americans,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “But we must do more. Congress needs to pass the American Jobs Act so we can continue to invest in critically needed projects like these, to repair and rebuild our nation’s transportation system.”

Major projects include $2 million to study a possible second phase of a light rail line currently in the works in Detroit, Michigan. You can find a full list on the FTA’s website.


Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York announced yesterday that he has appointed Karen Rae as the Deputy Secretary for Transportation to the Governor. Rae currently serves as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration.

“Karen Rae brings nearly three decades of experience with all transportation-related issues to the Executive Chamber,” said Cuomo. “She has worked at all levels of government and knows how to manage transportation systems safely, efficiently, and on-budget.”

Rae has been a strong advocate for the High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Program during her tenure at the FRA.

Image: AIA Philadelphia

Wilmington’s renovated Amtrak station was recognized for design excellence October 14 at the 2011 Brunel Awards International Railway Design Competition.

Built in 1907, the station now sees over 700,000 passengers a year, making it the 12th busiest station in the Amtrak system. Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station—selected from a contestant pool of more than 150 entries from 14 countries—was recognized for the way in which the renovation balanced retention of the station’s historic appeal with modernization efforts.

Amtrak led the renovation project, which included detailed restoration of the grand staircase located in the lobby, along with the historic men’s and women’s waiting rooms on the second floor of the station. Amtrak’s team also considered the current needs of the passenger, designing a new information display system while enhancing the station’s accessibility for disabled passengers.

The Brunel Awards recognize and promote excellence in railway architecture, engineering, landscape and environmental design, product design, and locomotive and car design in European, Asian and the American railroads.


Travelers Advisory:

• Amtrak Northeast Regional service will be temporarily suspended between New York and Boston from 4:00 p.m., Saturday, November 5 through 12 noon, Sunday, November 6. The closure will allow Amtrak crews to replace two 100-year old East/West Harbor bridge spans in Stonington, Connecticut—an operation resulting from more than two years of engineering and construction. No alternate transportation is being provided during that period, so passengers are encouraged to make reservations on Amtrak trains operating before or after the work period.
• Following a minor earthquake yesterday in the San Francisco area, transportation officials at Bay Area Rapid Transit reported delays while crews performed track inspections. Caltrain reported that none of its trains were delayed