BTW, when I mentioned those two California corridors carry more than 1 million riders per year, compare that with the heavily traveled Cleveland - Chicago air travel market. Between Cleveland Hopkins and Chicago ORD/MDW airports, there is a daily average of 24 round-trip flights (48 total daily) among Continental, Southwest, United and American carrying more than 600,000 passengers per year (Cleveland Department of Port Control data).

Sorry for the thread mix-up.... but the thought (though the product of a fatigued brain) still holds.

 

Those California corridors also have the distinction of having four of the five most heavily traveled Amtrak routes in the nation. And they are only 79 mph conventional corridors.

Does it really have to happen in our lifetime in order for it to be worthwhile?

 

YES!

 

I have been to Europe and that just re-enforced my desires to have high speed rail here.  I would be happy with conventional rail as well.  I'll take what I can get when it comes to rail service.  I road (or have ridden on)  :? trains in France and Italy.  TGV in France and some other low speed line in Italy.  The only thing annoying about the train in Italy was that it stopped at every city on the line.  Ugg.

From the NARP Hotline (www.narprail.org Go to the NARP website and click hotline on the left. The hotline message has a lot of links which do not show below), Friday 5-16-08:

 

On Tuesday, May 20, at 2:30 PM, the House T&I Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials will mark up H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008.  The mark-up will be web cast on the committee web site.  This bill was introduced May 8, and was the subject of a subcommittee hearing on May 14.  The video of that hearing, links to witness statements, and “full summary of subject matter” are available here.

 

The bill is significant partly because of its co-sponsorship.  It was introduced by full committee chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) on behalf of himself and the subcommittee chair Corinne Brown (D-FL) and the ranking members John Mica (R-FL, full committee) and Bill Shuster (R-PA, subcommittee) and 34 other original co-sponsors.

 

During the hearing, Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant gave a forthright, pull-no-punches answer when Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) observed, “There is a lot of talk about construction of a new ARC [Hudson River rail] tunnel going into the City, and I just want to know what impact it’s going to have on Amtrak. And are you going to be able to work with New Jersey Transit when this is done?”

 

Kummant:  “Our biggest concern is the total capacity on a north-south basis through New York. And so, I think a legitimate question to ask is, ‘Is there going to be a tunnel that reaches into Penn Station and allows the total Northeast Corridor capacity to expand?  Or is it only something for New Jersey going into the City?’ I think that’s something we continue to have fairly strong feelings about and would like to continue a dialogue on…If there is an overall design and structure that precludes any capacity expansion on north-south, I would say that’s an issue for the entire region. It’s not just Amtrak’s issue, and that’s something we need to be talking about.”

 

Shortly after the above exchange, Chairwoman Corinne Brown (D-FL) asked, “Mr. Kummant, the intercity passenger rail opportunities that are present along the Southeast Corridor to improve connections and improve our economics along the East Coast, do you want to respond to that?”

 

Kummant said that, for example, if he was given $10 or $20 billion, “one of the first things I would look at, actually, is going South, rather than necessarily changing things in the North.  We obviously want to do all the state of good repair [NEC and existing system], but we all know that DC to Richmond is one of the most congested corridors in all modes in the country, and would be a very natural place to put capital in.  And then, you frankly imagine an electrified system from DC down to Atlanta.  North Carolina has a wonderful rail program and I’m sure would embrace that.  I think of it in tranches from DC to Richmond, Richmond to Charlotte, Charlotte to Atlanta.  But I think that would be an enormous opportunity for the whole region and tie these high-growth population centers.  And then we truly have an Eastern Corridor, not [just] a Northeast Corridor.  So, I think that would be an enormous opportunity.”

 

As we reported last week, Oberstar also introduced H.R. 6004, again on behalf of himself and Brown/Mica/Shuster.  This bill is known as RIDE-21 (the Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century).  It would provide for bonds for high speed rail (including Maglev) and for the Alaska Railroad to be issued by a state, group of states or interstate compact.  For each year from FY2009 to FY2018, there would be $1.2 billion in tax exempt bonds and $1.2 billion in tax credit bonds.  H.R. 6004 will not be marked up on May 20.

 

Towards the end of Wednesday’s hearing, Chairman Oberstar reported that he had met with House Ways & Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), who “is very supportive” of the tax credit bonds (for HSR) but reported that the Congressional Budget Office requires offsets of at least $4 billion.  Said Oberstar, “Our two committees will have to work on that.  That wasn’t the answer I was hoping for.”

 

NARP Board Member Steve Musen has compiled summaries of both H.R. 6003 and H.R. 6004, which are available here.

 

A bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration died in the Senate last week. A cloture attempt failed due to Republican opposition to other provisions in the bill, including one dealing with the Highway Trust Fund’s potential insolvency.  This bill also included $2.7 billion in tax credit bonds for high-speed rail.

 

National Train Day was celebrated at sites across the country on Saturday, May 10. See the NARP Blog for photos and perspectives from some of the events.  NARP again thanks its volunteers who worked tirelessly to transform the first annual National Train Day from an event focused in four large cities to one that raised awareness of train travel in communities all across the country.  Collectively, our volunteers brought the message of rail advocacy to thousands of citizens last week.

 

 

NEWS from the T&I Committee

 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

 

U.S. House of Representatives, 2165 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515

www.house.gov/transportation

 

Hon. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Chairman

 

For Immediate Release, Thursday, May 22, 2008

Contact:  Mary Kerr, (202)225-6260

 

T&I Approves Historic Amtrak Legislation

Bill authorizes $14.4 billion for passenger rail

 

WASHINGTON—A bill to reauthorize Amtrak and improve intercity passenger rail was approved and reported out by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today.  H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, authorizes $14.4 billion for Amtrak capital and operating grants, state intercity passenger grants, and high-speed rail over the next five years.

 

“Today’s markup is a historic milestone, because the legislation we approved today is a truly significant and long overdue investment in the nation’s passenger rail system.  We can address many of the nation’s most pressing transportation problems by improving Amtrak’s service and operations, because increased passenger rail ridership will alleviate growing highway and airport congestion,” said Rep. James L. Oberstar (Minn.), Chairman of the Committee.  “The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, a bipartisan commission created by Congress, found that we should invest at least $66.3 billion through 2015 in our passenger rail infrastructure, stations, and rolling stock.  This investment is essential to make passenger rail stronger, and in turn, to make our national transportation systems safer, less congested, and more environmentally friendly.”

 

The bill helps Amtrak bring its assets to a state-of-good-repair, improves service reliability and increases train speed; helps Amtrak replace its aging rail fleet; provides grants to pay salaries, overtime, and benefits to Amtrak employees; provides grants to alleviate “choke points” across the nation where lack of rail capacity is hampering ridership growth; and provides grants to enable states and Amtrak to develop and construct high-speed rail corridors throughout the country. 

 

“Amtrak’s improved physical state and recent focus on customer service, along with increasing highway and airport congestion and rising gas prices, have made intercity passenger rail more popular and necessary than ever,” said Rep. Corrine Brown (Fla.), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.  “Passage of H.R. 6003 will be the first major step in bringing our nation’s intercity passenger rail system into the 21st Century.  The American people deserve the best passenger rail system in the world, and I believe this Amtrak Reauthorization will go a long way to raise the United States to its rightful place as a world leader in passenger rail.”

 

In the 108th and 109th Congresses, the T&I Committee reported out bills to reauthorize Amtrak.  Despite strong bipartisan support in the Committee, Republican leadership did not allow the legislation to receive floor consideration.  Since 2002, Amtrak has continued to operate under minimal annual appropriations, despite the Bush Administration’s repeated attempts to dissolve Amtrak.

 

“We ought to at least do in America what has been done in France to promote passenger rail service,” said Oberstar.  “Our bill provides significant funding for state grants, giving states greater leverage to develop their passenger rail networks by partnering with the Federal Government to help fund up to 80 percent of the cost of developing state passenger rail networks.  These grants will help develop rail systems in the emerging ‘mega-regions,’ bringing greater mobility to the fastest growing regions of the country.  H.R. 6003 ensures the continued success and growth of our safe, efficient, and essential national passenger rail system, and through this legislation, we have created a lasting legacy for America.”

 

Major provisions of the bill include:

 

Ø                  Increases Capital and Operating Grants to Amtrak.  The bill authorizes $4.2 billion (an average of $840 million per year) to Amtrak for capital grants and $3.0 billion (an average of $606 million per year) for operating grants.  Past inconsistent Federal support has hampered Amtrak’s ability to replace catenaries, passenger cars, bridges, ties, and other equipment necessary for Amtrak to provide service.  These capital grants will help Amtrak bring the Northeast Corridor to a State of Good Repair, procure new rolling stock, rehabilitate existing bridges, as well as make additional capital improvements and maintenance over its entire network.  In addition, the operating grants authorized under the bill will help Amtrak pay salaries, health costs, overtime pay, fuel costs, facilities, and train maintenance and operations.  These operating grants will also ensure that Amtrak can meet its obligations under its recently negotiated labor contract. 

 

Ø                  Develops State Passenger Corridors.  In an effort to encourage the development of new and improved intercity passenger rail services, the bill creates a new State Capital Grant program for intercity passenger rail capital projects, and based on the New Starts transit capital program administered by the Federal Transit Administration.  The bill provides $2.5 billion ($500 million per year) for grants to States to pay for the capital costs of facilities and equipment necessary to provide new or improved intercity passenger rail.  The Federal share of the grants is up to 80 percent.  The Secretary of Transportation would award these grants on a competitive basis for projects based on economic performance, expected ridership, and other factors.

 

Ø                  Provides Funding for High-Speed Rail Corridors.  The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, established to develop a national transportation vision to address surface transportation needs for the next 50 years, recommends that the United States establish a high-speed rail network that spans the entire country.  The bill authorizes $1.75 billion ($350 million per year) for grants to States and/or Amtrak to finance the construction and equipment for 11 authorized high-speed rail corridors.  The Federal share of the grants is up to 80 percent.  The Secretary of Transportation would award these grants on a competitive basis for projects based on economic performance, expected ridership, and other factors.

 

Ø                  Alleviates Rail “Choke Points.”  Many of Amtrak’s service routes outside the Northeast Corridor suffer from poor service reliability and on-time performance because of freight traffic congestion.  This congestion prevents Amtrak from retaining and attracting new ridership, and increases Amtrak’s operating costs.  The Department of Transportation Inspector General recently reported that if Amtrak achieved an 85 percent on-time performance outside the Northeast Corridor in fiscal year 2006, it would have saved Amtrak $136.6 million, or almost one-third of its operating budget.  Amtrak is required by law to have preferred access on freight corridors; however, freight railroads do not always comply with Amtrak’s access rights.  The bill addresses this problem by providing congestion grants to Amtrak and the States for high-priority rail corridors in order to reduce congestion and facilitate ridership growth.

 

Ø                  Reduces Amtrak’s Debt.  Federal support of Amtrak was cut drastically in fiscal year 2000 and 2001, forcing Amtrak to assume a large amount of debt to stay in operation.  Amtrak has aggressively targeted this debt, paying down $600 million from 2002 through 2007.  Our bill helps Amtrak to take further steps to reduce its debt, authorizing $345 million each year for debt service through FY2013.  This funding will allow Amtrak to focus its resources on improving existing services and making additional capital and operational improvements.

 

Ø                  Establishes an RFP for High-Speed Rail Service.  A provision of H.R. 6003 directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue a request for proposals for projects for the financing, design, construction, and operation of an initial high-speed rail system operating between Washington, DC, and New York City.  Proposals would need to meet certain financial, labor, and planning criteria, as well as a detailed description to account for any impacts on existing passenger, commuter, and freight rail traffic to be considered.  If the Secretary receives a qualifying proposal, she would be directed to form a Commission to study any proposals received.  Finally, the Secretary would issue a report to the Congress on the Commission’s findings.  Any further action on a proposal would need legislative approval by Congress.

 

Ø                  Resolves Disputes between Commuter and Freight Railroads.  Currently, no Federal guidelines exist to mediate disputes between commuter rail providers and freight railroads over use of freight rail tracks or rights-of-way, nor is there a standard forum for negotiating commuter rail operating agreements.  The bill establishes a forum at the STB to help complete stalled commuter rail negotiations, helping our rail network operate as efficiently as possible.  This section is identical to what was included in H.R. 2701, the “Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act of 2007”, as ordered reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 20, 2007.

 

###

:clap: Outstanding !!!!  :clap:

 

Now, let your Member of Congress know you support this!

Nation must commit to passenger rail travel

Douglas Turner

Columnist / The Buffalo News

Updated: 05/19/08 6:36 AM

 

 

WASHINGTON — Of all the presidential prospects, Sen. John McCain appears the least likely to lift Amtrak out of the long, waking nightmare it has endured for decades. Amtrak has no more dedicated foe in the Congress than McCain, R-Ariz.

 

The GOP’s likely nominee is also the least likely to care about a national transportation policy. The absence of such a plan is at the heart of why motorists and airlines — and now grocers — are gagging at the price of fuel these days.

 

 

Find this article at:

http://www.buffalonews.com/149/story/350203.html 

 

From the Hotline of the National Association of Railroad Passengers

 

May 22, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, at its markup of the bill.  A T&I Railroads Subcommittee markup on May 20 sent the measure to the full committee without amendments.

 

In the full committee, a manager’s amendment was approved that adds language requiring several studies.  The Surface Transportation Board would be required to examine the “effectiveness” of ensuring the preference of Amtrak over freight trains on freight railroads and to submit “recommendations with respect to any regulatory or legislative actions that would improve such effectiveness.” Amtrak’s Inspector General is to report within nine months of enactment “on utilization of its facilities, including the Beech Grove [equipment maintenance] facility in Indiana” and “including any attempts to provide maintenance and repair to other rail carriers.” Finally, USDOT is to complete an alternatives analysis of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, and a feasibility analysis regarding the expansion of the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor to the Port of Houston, TX.

 

In lauding the progress on H.R. 6003, committee Republicans emphasized the provision for soliciting proposals to bring high-speed service to the Northeast Corridor.

 

H.R. 6003 now goes to the House Rules Committee for consideration for floor time in the full chamber.  Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) indicated that passage of the bill will be a priority this summer before the House breaks for August recess.

 

Currently, there are 41 cosponsors on the bill.  Ideally, the bill needs 218 or more co-sponsors (more than half of the chamber).  Contact your House of Representatives member and ask him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 6003! For more information, see our Action Alert center.

 

How to contact your Member of Congress (MOC):

 

https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

 

Note that on this list of 41 current co-sponsors, there is only one Ohioan...Cong. Zack Space.  We need to do much better than this.  Passage of this bill is something every member of Ohio's delegation should be supporting.

 

Ask your MOC to sign on as a co-sponsor.

 

The list follows:

 

Current to May 20, 2008

Date provided is the day that the co-sponsor addition was added to Thomas, the Library of Congress website.

 

Sponsor: Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] (introduced 5/8/2008)

 

Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] - 5/8/2008

Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 5/8/2008

Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 5/8/2008

Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 5/8/2008

Rep Costello, Jerry F. [iL-12] - 5/8/2008

Rep Lipinski, Daniel [iL-3] - 5/8/2008

Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 5/8/2008

Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] - 5/8/2008

Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 5/8/2008

Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 5/8/2008

Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 5/8/2008

Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 5/8/2008

Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] - 5/8/2008

Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] - 5/8/2008

Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 5/8/2008

Rep Braley, Bruce L. [iA-1] - 5/8/2008

Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 5/8/2008

Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 5/8/2008

Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [iA-3] - 5/8/2008

Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 5/8/2008

Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] - 5/8/2008

Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 5/8/2008

Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] - 5/8/2008

Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 5/8/2008

Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 5/8/2008

Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 5/8/2008

Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 5/8/2008

Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] - 5/8/2008

Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 5/8/2008

Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 5/8/2008

Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] - 5/8/2008

Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 5/8/2008

Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] - 5/8/2008

Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] - 5/8/2008

Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 5/8/2008

Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 5/8/2008

Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] - 5/8/2008

Rep Loebsack, David [iA-2] - 5/20/2008

Rep Rehberg, Dennis R. [MT] - 5/20/2008

Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 5/20/2008

Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 5/20/2008

 

 

 

 

 

May 23, 2008

Amtrak common stock subject of a lawsuit

 

A federal district court in Cincinnati has become involved in a dispute that has ties to Chiquita bananas, the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, a huge insurance company, a billionaire Republican-Party fundraiser, the defunct Penn Central, and Amtrak.

 

To understand, you have to return to 1970, when Amtrak (formally, the National Railroad Passenger Corp.) was created by Congress through the Rail Passenger Service Act to relieve freight railroads of the financial burden of operating money-losing passenger trains. In creating Amtrak, Congress provided substantial tax credits to the freight railroads in exchange for their transferring passenger equipment to Amtrak. Four of the railroads were at the time unable to make use of the tax credits.

 

Read more at:

 

http://www.railwayage.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature4-5-27

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-amtrak-ridership-23-may23,0,1838708.story

 

chicagotribune.com

ILLINOIS

Usage spurt reported on 3 Amtrak lines

Tribune staff report

 

10:57 PM CDT, May 22, 2008

 

Amtrak ridership on the three fastest-growing routes serving Illinois increased by an average of more than half in fiscal 2007, state lawmakers were told.

 

 

 

 

So, will this help or hurt our interests in seeing Amtrack expand.  I mean, at first glance, I would think it would not help, but then maybe it could help?

If you're referring to the lawsuit... it is being viewed as a nuisance lawsuit by many in the passenger rail advocacy community.  Not that any lawsuit should be minimized, but this is coming from a company headed by a long-time GOP and Bush Administration supporter in Carl Lindner (Chiquita Inc.).  I have even heard some views that this is a back-door move by an out-going President to throw another obstacle in the path of passenger rail development in the United States.

 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out and whether a judge even sees any merit in allowing the case to advance.  Have not yet seen a response from Amtrak.

 

 

Carl's been angling for this for awhile. He's generally an equal opportunity funding source. He follows power rather than political ideology.

It seems odd to interview corporate lawyers and a special interest organization for the same article. They are clearly talking entirely past each other.

That's because American Financial is on another planet.

http://www.examiner.com/printa-1419438~Gas_prices_send_travelers_to_Amtrak.html

 

Local

 

Gas prices send travelers to Amtrak

 

Taryn Luntz, The Examiner

2008-06-02 07:00:00.0

Current rank: # 11 of 9,114

 

WASHINGTON - Amtrak has seen a windfall from ballooning gas prices that are sending increasing numbers of Northeast travelers from cars to trains.

 

The government-owned company served 6,333,027 riders in the Northeast corridor between October and April, 11.2 percent more than during the same months the year before, Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said. Nationally, the company had a 10.6 percent ridership increase during that period.

 

National Association of Railroad Passengers www.narprail.org

900 Second St., N.E., Suite 308

Washington, DC 20002-3557 

Telephone 202-408-8362

 

For Immediate Release (#08-13)

June 3, 2008

 

OIL PRICES UNDERLINE NEED FOR MORE PASSENGER TRAINS

 

Statement of Ross B. Capon

Executive Director

National Association of Railroad Passengers

 

June 3, 2008

 

Transit ridership is at its highest level in 50 years, as reported last night on NBC Nightly News. There have been many other news reports about growing Amtrak and transit ridership. Most stories also have highlighted the historical underinvestment that prevents Amtrak and transit authorities from dealing with much more growth in the near term, and the budgetary problems that are forcing transit service reductions even as more people want to climb on board.

 

Today’s GM announcement about the closure of four more plants should send a clear message to Washington: we need a rapid and long-overdue ramping up of investment in Amtrak and transit to give people jobs when other parts of the transportation industry are retrenching and to let Americans leave their cars at home when they want to-—which they increasingly do. The time to invest in trains is now.

 

Nationwide, Amtrak ridership is up 11% for October-April, the first seven months of FY 2008, compared with the same period a year earlier.

 

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports that transit trips rose 3.3% in the January-March quarter, compared with a year earlier, with light rail up 10.3% and commuter railroad trips up 5.7%. Preliminary data indicate an even bigger increase in April.

 

Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) says March vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on the nation's highways fell 4.3% from a year earlier, "the sharpest yearly drop for any month in FHWA history...The estimated data show that VMT on all U.S. public roads have dropped since 2006." In addition, some small airlines have shut down, many small cities are losing air service, and major airlines plan big service reductions.

 

Last year, NARP released its Grow Trains Campaign to bring intercity passenger rail service to over 300 cities nationwide. In our June 25, 2007 news release, we correctly predicted the current days' events when we said that "the average price of gas [is] expected to top $4 per gallon in the near future."

 

The Grow Trains Campaign is needed now more than ever. Congress and the Administration need to make it happen.

 

For more on NARP's Grow Trains Campaign, go to www.narprail.org/vision

 

The FHWA release, "Americans Driving At Historic Lows" is at www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0811.htm

 

APTA's June 2 ridership growth release is at www.apta.com/media/releases/080602_ridership_report.cfm 

 

APTA's one-page first quarter ridership summary is at

www.apta.com/media/releases/080602_ridership_report.cfm   

 

About NARP

 

NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members.

White House threatens Amtrak veto

Mon Jun 9, 6:48 PM ET

 

The White House on Monday threatened to veto legislation funding Amtrak for the next five years, saying House members did not include language in the bill making the railroad more accountable for its decisions.

 

Read more at:

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080609/ap_on_go_co/amtrak_congress_1

I'm taking Amtrak from NYC to Albany over the 4th of July weekend.. that ought to solve this problem..

"authorizes an unprecedented level of funding but does not include basic measures to hold Amtrak accountable to taxpayers for its spending decisions,"

 

Is he serious??????

I find this insulting!!!  How dare anyone in Washington talk of accountability!      I have been Republican my whole life, but I'll be damned if any of them get my vote this year. 

 

I am all for going "Rabbit Hash" on these %$&^ers and nominating my Retriever for President.  I guarantee he could run this country better than any jacka$$ in there now!! (or this Nov.)

^I am in the same place.

All the more reason to get in touch with your MOC (Member of Congress) to let them know you want them to support HR-6003 and override a veto.

^^I vote MayDay for President.  We should campaign to have him as a write-in. 

Consider, too, that Bush and McCain see eye-to-eye on Amtrak. 

IMPORTANT....

 

This was sent by the executive director of All Aboard Ohio. Please note that three routes affecting Ohio are eligible to receive some of the $14 billion in federal funds from this initiative for new or expanded train services. These routes are:

 

+ Cleveland - Galion/Mansfield - Columbus - Springfield - Dayton - Middletown/Hamilton - Cincinnati

+ Cleveland - Elyria - Sandusky - Toledo - Ft. Wayne/South Bend - Chicago

+ Cincinnati - Indianapolis - Lafayette - Chicago

The bill has already passed the U.S. Senate.

______________________________

 

Dear Members and Supporters,

 

Given the timeliness of this message, I have included information from the National Association of Railroad Passengers.  Please make every effort to contact your member of congress outlined below to ensure that Amtrak has the budget to expand service in ready markets.

 

Thank you,

 

Andrew Bremer

Executive Director

All Aboard Ohio

 

 

An update on our previous message.

 

Floor consideration of H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, has been put off until tomorrow (Wednesday, June 11). 

 

This gives you more time to contact your representative to vote "NO" on two bad amendments, but "YES" on the overall bill.

 

Below, I repeat comments about the Sessions and Flake amendments, expanding on the latter.

 

You may call NARP's toll-free Congressional Action Hotline at

1-800-679-1581.  When prompted enter NARP's code: 1189. While many Capitol Hill offices have closed for the day (nearly 6:00pm Eastern Daylight Time), calls need to be made tomorrow morning.  Consideration of the bill will be complete by the end of the day tomorrow.

 

Given the time constraints, please DO NOT email, write, or fax your elected officials.

 

Again, urge your House member to vote "NO" on the Sessions and Flake amendments, but "YES" on overall passage of H.R. 6003.

 

--Ross B. Capon

NARP Executive Director

 

 

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) has a destructive amendment to "prohibit funds from being used for the long distance Amtrak route with the highest cost per seat/mile according to Amtrak's March 2008 monthly performance report unless the Secretary has transmitted a waiver for this route or a portion of it because the Secretary considers it critical to homeland security." This would kill the Sunset Limited and set the stage for discontinuing other routes. It should be seen not as a "get-one-route" provision but as the start of a process of taking apart much of the system, since there will always be a route with a "highest cost." We

strongly oppose this amendment and urge you to contact your

representative in opposition.

 

Similarly, a Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) amendment would delete the Baltimore tunnel study provision--another bad amendment--notwithstanding the critical importance of these century-old tunnels to both intercity and commuter trains.

White House poised to veto Amtrak funding

http://www.railwayage.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature6-6-11

 

Despite a surge in train ridership as gasoline prices soar and airlines cut back on service, Amtrak faces the threat of a White House veto of legislation now moving through Congress that would increase its funding. H R. 6003, which would increase the Amtrak subsidy to $1.4 billion, "authorizes an unprecedented level of spending that does not hold Amtrak accountable to taxpayers for its spending decisions," said a Bush Administration statement Monday.

 

 

Is it possible for AP and Reuters to write an article about Amtrak without editorializing about it in their first reference of it? Apparently not. And Amtrak is not a for-profit corporation. That language was removed by Congress from Amtrak's enabling legislation years ago...

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0428607520080611?sp=true

 

As oil rises, Americans rediscover the railroad

Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:49pm EDT

 

By Jason Szep

 

BOSTON (Reuters) - As oil prices spike, many Americans are rediscovering the railroad.

 

Amtrak, America's struggling passenger railroad, saw record numbers in May when ridership rose 12.3 percent from a year earlier, and ticket sales climbed 15.6 percent, according to company data.

 

Amtrak President Alex Kummant said the numbers point to a sixth straight year of record passengers. He estimated a more than 11 percent rise this year on its 21,000 miles of track, building on last year's 26 million passengers.

 

Major news this afternoon.

 

The U.S. House just a few moments ago passed HR-6003, the Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act of 2008, by a veto-proof majority.... 311 to 104.

 

You'll recall the Senate passed its version of the bill (S-294) by a 93 to 6 margin late last year.

 

The next step will be for the bill to go to a joint House-Senate Conference Committee.  The conferees have not yet been named.

 

This bill, if it becomes law, will not only greatly increase funding for Amtrak, but carries the first-ever state matching grant program that can advance the Ohio Hub Plan and state-generated passenger rail plans like it around the nation.

 

Here's how Ohio's Congressional delegation voted today:

 

 

Nay OH-1 Chabot, Steven [R]

Nay OH-2 Schmidt, Jean [R]

Aye OH-3 Turner, Michael [R]

Nay OH-4 Jordan, Jim [R]

Nay OH-5 Latta, Robert [R]

Aye OH-6 Wilson, Charles [D]

Nay OH-7 Hobson, David [R]

Nay OH-8 Boehner, John [R]

No Vote OH-9 Kaptur, Marcy [D]

Aye OH-10 Kucinich, Dennis [D]

Aye OH-11 Jones, Stephanie [D]

Aye OH-12 Tiberi, Patrick [R]

Aye OH-13 Sutton, Betty [D]

Aye OH-14 LaTourette, Steven [R]

Aye OH-15 Pryce, Deborah [R]

Aye OH-16 Regula, Ralph [R]

Aye OH-17 Ryan, Timothy [D]

Aye OH-18 Space, Zackary [D]

This is a major development!  The next time you see one of those names listed in red at the ballot box, you know what to do...

 

As a KY resident, my list is a little different.  But I certainly won't be voting for any of these Nay-sayers (pun not intended):

 

Aye KY-1 Whitfield, Edward [R]

Nay KY-2 Lewis, Ron [R]

Aye KY-3 Yarmuth, John [D]

Nay KY-4 Davis, Geoff [R]

Nay KY-5 Rogers, Harold [R]

Aye KY-6 Chandler, Ben [D]

 

Geoff Davis represents Northern KY (which is basically the southern chunk of Cincinnati for any who are not be familiar with the area).  No way in hell is he getting my vote after this.

This is wonderful news. I hope the conference committee includes the reforms from the Senate bill, not because I think we should appease the Bushman, but because they're decent reforms and worthy of inclusion in the final bill.

 

Still, I hope the vote count today (and the earlier vote by the Senate) sends a message to Bush & Co. that their dogma is wholly out of touch with reality.

And let's not forget to let the "Ayes" know we appreciate the support and to make sure this bill overrides any Bush veto.

 

I admit I'm a bit surprised (pleasantly) by the support from Tiberi and Pryce, who are not known as ardent passenger rail supporter.

Notice that not a single Democrat voted against in in Ohio or Kentucky.

House approves Amtrak funding

 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A nearly $15 billion Amtrak bill passed the House on Wednesday as lawmakers rallied around an alternative for travelers saddled with soaring gas prices.

 

 

Find this article at:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/11/amtrak.congress.ap/index.html 

 

Well, that's something!

And veto-proof too! Suck it GWB.

 

I like Geoff Davis (R-KY)'s attempt to derail it to add on an alternate fuel study -- which would only pork, when such studies clearly exist. He represents NKY and the counties along the Ohio River east towards Boyd, where fuel spending per capita is at or slightly above the average. I would have expected more opposition from him -- or some of his constituents in southeast Kentucky, where fuel spending per capita is approaching 20% of a typical paycheck.

I'm just waiting for the private sector to get in on rail real soon. Theres alot of money to be made there. I'm still blown away as Ohio continues its project to expand 71 to three lanes.

With a heavy infusion of federal dollars into passenger rail development, that will send a signal that the U.S. is serious about the issue and you will see, I believe, more private sector interest from industries tied to the rail equipment manufacturers and other related businesses.

 

Bombardier, which built Amtra's Acela, and other passenger car builders, pulled back from the U.S. market several years ago when it was clear that a federal passenger rail development program didn't look possible.  Successive years of Bush Administration attempts to put Amtrak on the (as one rail advocate friend of mine puts it) "the glide path to poverty", only made ths situation worse.

 

Today, it looks like we are in for dramatic change.  This will not only help us get more trains, but if the private sector responds, more jobs and economic development.

More media coverage.... :clap:

 

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS24/806120381/-1/NEWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Article published June 12, 2008

 

House OKs $14.9B passenger-rail bill

Kaptur not aboard as vote left station

 

By DAVID PATCH

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

 

A $14.9 billion passenger-rail authorization bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday designates a Cleveland-Toledo-Chicago corridor among 10 across the country as eligible for capital grants for facilities or train equipment to support new or improved intercity trains.

 

More at the URL above:

I'm just waiting for the private sector to get in on rail real soon. Theres alot of money to be made there. I'm still blown away as Ohio continues its project to expand 71 to three lanes.

 

I think a lot of the 71 construction had to do with the projected increase in truck traffic thru the next 20-30 years. I believe it is projected to double.

That was part of it, but ODOT argued that car traffic is also projected to rise.

 

If either projection happens as predicted, I will eat my computer.

Not necessarily Amtrack news, but, The Future of Mass Transit is the topic on NPR with Diane Rheam right now!!!

 

wcpn.org is where I'm streaming.

 

should be interesting.

Three lanes is so much more pleasant a driving experience, especially with trucks on the road. I know all the data about the lack of benefit for expanding lanes, but three lanes gives a much freer flow to traffic. Trucks can't slow traffic so damn much.

 

Back to Amtrak, this sounds like a really strong first step. This should be the seed of a much larger shift. The real loser will be short distance air travel rather than cars (at least initially).

^ I agree, I'd much rather take a high speed 3 hour train ride from NYC to Buffalo rather than a flight.

The real loser will be short distance air travel rather than cars (at least initially).

 

Well, I'd say that short distance air travel has already lost.  It's no longer profitable for them to run short flights between regional destinations.  So I don't really see national passenger rail's opportunity as stepping on the toes of the airline industry.  Simply, it's a chance to fill the void for reliable and affordable passenger service.

If we had European-style high-speed rail, you could take a high-speed train from Cleveland to New York City in just over three hours. Consider it's 500 miles from Paris to Marseille, which express TGVs covers in as little as 3 hours 3 minutes. Other trains which make enroute stops make the run in 3 hours 19 minutes. I've only ridden trains north and east of Paris, which are all tremendously fast and all-electric.

 

Back to America. We have a $100+ billion backlog in unfunded passenger train/high-speed rail projects in this country. The $15 billion Amtrak funding bill will eat away at that by only a few billion dollars, but it's more than our federal government has ever done for passenger trains in this country in one fell swoop.

 

If oil wasn't at $130+ per barrel and gasoline at $4 per gallon, Congress would never have passed this bill, let alone so quickly or at veto-proof margins.

If oil wasn't at $130+ per barrel and gasoline at $4 per gallon, Congress would never have passed this bill, let alone so quickly or at veto-proof margins.

 

You've got that right.  Would you like to be one of the 104 Members of Congress who voted against HR-6003 and go back to their districts for summer recess and are asked the question: "What have you done to give me options other than driving a car that costs me upwards of $50 bucks every time I fill up?"

We have a $100+ billion backlog in unfunded passenger train/high-speed rail projects in this country. The $15 billion Amtrak funding bill will eat away at that by only a few billion dollars, but it's more than our federal government has ever done for passenger trains in this country in one fell swoop.

 

Geez.  We borrowed $15 billion dollars in May just for Iraq and Afghanistan!  One month!

If we had European-style high-speed rail, you could take a high-speed train from Cleveland to New York City in just over three hours. Consider it's 500 miles from Paris to Marseille, which express TGVs covers in as little as 3 hours 3 minutes. Other trains which make enroute stops make the run in 3 hours 19 minutes. I've only ridden trains north and east of Paris, which are all tremendously fast and all-electric.

 

Back to America. We have a $100+ billion backlog in unfunded passenger train/high-speed rail projects in this country. The $15 billion Amtrak funding bill will eat away at that by only a few billion dollars, but it's more than our federal government has ever done for passenger trains in this country in one fell swoop.

 

If oil wasn't at $130+ per barrel and gasoline at $4 per gallon, Congress would never have passed this bill, let alone so quickly or at veto-proof margins.

 

Yeah. Not to go too off-topic, but I'm just blown away by the government's stubborn inability to act and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Mass transit needs to be improved all across this country.

 

I would love to see a European-style high-speed rail system in America. I'm wondering how much something like that cost(s) them, and how it's been eventually funded?

Construction costs for true high-speed rail systems (150 mph+) range from $10 million per mile for construction in flat, rural areas to in excess of $100 million per mile for construction in rugged countryside or through (or under) urban areas. California's proposed 700-mile HSR system is estimated to cost $40 billion, or $57 million per mile.

 

Like any major project, it's paid for by a mix of funds, local, state/province, federal and private.

 

The high-speed rail system generally cover their operating costs, but usually it's because they share stations with other, conventional-speed and urban rail services and have a high volume of connecting travelers with those rail systems. If those subsidized rail systems didn't exist, the political will wouldn't exist to build high-speed rail, nor would HSR be self-supporting.

Construction costs for true high-speed rail systems (150 mph+) range from $10 million per mile for construction in flat, rural areas

 

Well we don't have any of that in Ohio, so it could never work here.