The House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation yesterday sent America reeling backwards on the nation’s pressing need for mass transit. Its members voted to slash funding for Amtrak by 54 percent, to a new low of $550 million – a move that almost completely ensures bankruptcy for the nationwide rail service.
At the same time, funding levels for aviation and highway spending would be increased by 6.4% and 5.4%.
The subcommittee members said its action would “fully support rail service for 4 out of 5 riders or 80% of Amtrak’s ridership…” But the Administration’s own Department of Transportation inspector general, testified that “intercity passenger rail needs federal funding between $1.4 billion and $1.5 billion, plus [a continuation of] existing state contributions, in order to maintain the status quo” – and even this would not be enough “to move the system to a state-of-good-repair.”
The committee used misleading examples to justify the Amtrak cuts. Citing the route between Orlando and Los Angeles, the committee pointed to low airfares between destinations – but neglected the fact that the majority of riders on the Orlando-Los Angeles line are riding between intermediate points, which lack convenient air service. [3]
“Practically speaking, there is no difference between the President’s $0 budget and the $550 million that the U.S. House offered Amtrak today,” said Colin Peppard, transportation policy coordinator for Friends of the Earth. “Amtrak cannot survive on either. Both numbers are simply a recipe for bankrupting a system that is more fuel efficient and less polluting than autos and airplanes.”
Automobiles cause about half the smog and other hazardous air pollutants in the U.S., as well as consuming almost two-thirds of the oil used annually; airports in Los Angeles, Chicago, and the District of Columbia are among the nation’s top 10 industrial air pollution sources. [4]
Sounds to me like those of us not in the NEC are going to foot the bill for those that are. I bet that is enough money to keep the NEC and dump the rest. Once again the Midwest and West support the overcroaded East.
I seriously doubt that that will happen within my granddaughter’s lifetime. Amtrak exists because privately operated passenger trains ceased to be profitable a long time ago.
Congress this Year Starting Oct.1 is giving Highways 37 Billion and Airlines 14 Billion, and just giving Amtrak 550 Million, this just unfair people we need to fight the good fight to save Amtrak for next 50 to 100 Years. But they can spend are money on War 381 Billion Money and 100 to 200 Billion in aid every year to over Seas Country. When they should spend all money here in good USA not over Seas or the War.[2c]
The Bush Adminstration along with the Republican Congress wants to destroy Social Security and long distance passenger rail(in its current form of Amtrak). They never hid their intentions and yet the American public seems to be “oaky fine” with this by what I can tell by the lack of hue and cry, which I find to be deafening!!
I hope anyone that doesn’t support Amtrak in Congress burns in hell, which is what regular Amtrak passengers will feel like they live in if/when they go under.
Colin…Yes, you are correct…no loud cry from folks with all this talk of “0” finance for Amtrak. I wonder after it’s gone what will be said…It is baffling that it is not an interest of our nation to keep a system of rail transportation in place even such as it is. I have a hard time understanding the reason is money…We spend Billions and billions on other nations and much of the time let our intrests at home languish…
“No loud talk from folks with all this talk of “0” finance for Amtrak. I wonder after it’s gone what will be said…” I’ll say good riddance. Amtrak is a complete waste of taxpayer’s money. Most of the country has little or no service to begin with and the “service” that does exist is hardly reliable. Outside of the NE corridor only a relative handful of people utilize Amtrak.
[:(!]Once again the neo-facist ultra-conservative right-wing republican demagogues have managed to blow smoke up the public’s a[censored]!! Of course also, the public is so dilutional[X-)] and incompetent[D)] that they will not notice that their train service is gone until it happens to them[:p]! Plus, there are also many “FAKE[:o)]” railroaders and railfans that are infiltrating these railroad forums and spreading their repugnant s[censored], that I can’t enjoy some of these groups and forums like I used to[V]. These b[censored] will break their shoulders out of wack to pat themselves on the backs for destroying this nation’s national passenger rail network. It’s funny, I don’t recall much public outcry[%-)] when Greyhound took over Trailways and became this nation’s ONLY interstate bus company. True, Trailways still exist, but only as regional carriers in various parts of the country. But, to travel cross country, you must travel Greyhound. If fact (with the exception of New York City), in most major cities, other bus lines must use a Greyhound bus terminal or station! If this isn’t a monopoly I don’t know what is[soapbox]! So for all you FAKE railroaders and railfans, you should be very happy when Amtrak shuts down for good and thousands of people (like myself[B)]) are unemployed, while management[oX)] steals the remainder of the money and walks away with fat payoffs[V]!!!
GLENN
A T R U E AND R E A L RAILROADER!!!
A T R U E AND R E A L AMTRAKER!!!
A T R U E L Y P[censored] O F F AMERICAN!!!
just think, when your plane plummets to earth from 30,000 ft up, you won’t have us to blame anymore.
Personally I think if there is a serious chance of this passing Mr Gunn should one day, without warning, shut the entire system down , nationwide, nothing moves , no Acela, no San Diegans, Nada. Keep it down for a couple days andjust wait and see what the result is. Probably a lot of angry phone calls to a bunch of wimpy representatives.
Lets tone it down some about people burning in hell who don’t support Amtrk. Everyone is titled to their own opinion–right or wrong. Yes I hate to see this happen but it really comes as no surprise. We saw this coming last Nov on Election Day. I don’t like it either but this is not life and death and the sun will come up tomorrow. Sadly, the rr is an industry which is dying and as generations change, so does the general interest of the industry. For those of us who have an interest of psgr railroading, there are many books and tapes which cover the good old days of psgr trains. It appears that memories is all we will have in the very near future. Wish is wasn’t this way but we don’t always get what we would like.
I was there at the begining of amtrak… I remember how the ICC would not let the railroads cut non profitable runs sighting the needs of those in small towns needing rail service. Of course, on the first day of amtrak, 200 or more of the un profitable runs were cut. Anything the government gets there hands on is always messed up sooner or later. Good bye amtrak.
Amtrak is necessary for America. It is an affordable way of transportation to destinations.
I don’t know why Congress doesn’t want to support Amtrak as much as other modes of transportation. Using a few Amtrak routes to base funding on for the entire system is outrageous.
For example, the Pere Marquette Amtrak line that runs from Grand Rapids, MI to Chicago has seen an increase in ridership over the past year. This is encouraging news because ridership was decreasing over previous years. Still, if Amtrak funding is cut, this line will be elimanated by October 2005.
Support Amtrak. It is an excellent mode of transportation.