Hotline #813 - February 18, 1994

Bob Carr, chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, formally announced his bid for U.S. Senate from Michigan on February 16. Since he cannot run for the Senate and House at the same time, there will be a new chairman next year. Richard Durbin (D.-Ill.) is next in line, but he is already the Agriculture Subcommittee chairman and may not wish to give it up. Likewise, Martin Sabo (D.-Minn.) is already Budget Committee Chairman. Next in line is David Price (D.-N.C.).

The chairman of the full Appropriations Committee, Rep. William Natcher (D.-Ky.), may resign due to illness by the time Congress comes back from a short recess on February 22. Among those thought to want to replace him are Neal Smith (D.-Ia.), David Obey (D.-Wis.), and John Murtha (D.-Pa.).

The 1995 transportation appropriations season on Capitol Hill begins in earnest next week as DOT Secretary Pena appears before the House appropriations subcommittee on February 23 and the Senate appropriations subcommittee on February 24, to discuss the Administration's budget proposal.

Amtrak has submitted its budget request to Congress. Where the Administration requested $380 million for operations, Amtrak is requesting $430 million, plus $8 million for current and future 403(b) trains. Amtrak wants $337 million for capital, against the Administration's $252 million; and $270 million for the Northeast Corridor, against the Administration's $199.6 million.

The State of Washington last week got FRA approval to start experimental Talgo service between Seattle and Portland on April 3. The train will be leased by the state for six months and operated by Amtrak. The state will pay operating costs and Talgo will pay shipping costs. There is a tentative daily schedule, leaving Seattle around 12:00 noon and Portland at 6:00 pm.

Last week's earthquake relief supplemental bill included $10 million for the Penn Station project in New York.

Many Amtrak trains took severe delays last weekend due to the inept response by CSX to the loss of commercial power along 35 miles of its line between Doswell and Fredericksburg, Va. Power was out for about 48 hours. The northbound Palmetto on February 11, for example, took five hours to go about 45 miles from Richmond to Guinea. Then the crew went beyond their 12 legal hours-of-service. An Amtrak relief crew was waiting at Alexandria because CSX did not tell Amtrak where the Palmetto was. When Amtrak found out, CSX refused Amtrak's suggestion to combine the Palmetto and Carolinian. A CSX crew finally reached the Palmetto and got it moving shortly before 5:00 am. Some railroads keep backup generators in place, but CSX does not and had to bring in portable ones beginning late on February 12.

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules to reduce transportation-caused air pollution in Los Angeles. If adopted, they would take effect next year and get progressively stricter over 15 years. It would affect all modes and could lead to significant electrification of rail lines. Look for carriers to oppose this plan tooth and nail.

In Switzerland on February 20, voters will decide whether to ban all international through-trucking. Every day, 1,000 trucks not doing business in Switzerland pass through the country, creating air pollution and adding to the expense of maintaining superhighways through crowded Alpine corridors. If the issue passes, within ten years all that truck traffic would have to be rerouted to rail. Through-trucks represent only 10% of the freight market share through Switzerland.

The Alabama Department of Transportation has completed a study recommending implementation of high-speed rail from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham and Atlanta in time for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Around Cincinnati, local governments are making arrangements for a big light-rail study to commence in the spring.