Amtrak is requesting $3.2 billion in emergency funding to allow it to handle an influx of riders since September 11, boost its ability to provide alternatives to air travel in the Northeast Corridor and increase security. Amtrak ridership is still above normal levels in the aftermath of the attacks and the closure of Washington's National Airport.

Amtrak says it would use the package to fix evacuation and ventilation deficiencies in its New York City tunnels, and to upgrade antiquated tunnels near Baltimore and other Northeast Corridor infrastructure problems that slow passenger trains. Funds would also be spent for additional rolling stock, operating costs and policing.

As we reported last week, Washington is also stirring with new long-term Amtrak financing plans. Last Friday, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Don Young formally introduced his "Ride-21" plan as HR 2950. Young's proposal, also sponsored by Rep. Jack Quinn of western NY State, would provide over $70 billion in loan guarantees and tax exempt bonding authority to states and freight railroads for creation of high-speed passenger rail lines. Democrats in Congress are generally backing HR 2329/S250, the "High Speed Rail Investment Act," which would provide $12 billion in federal funding to Amtrak. Senator Harry Reid, a senior Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, is said to be readying another proposal worth $37 billion. 

Greatly increased support for national passenger rail service outside of Congress is evident. In two days last week, the NY Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Washington Post editorialized on the need for the country to treat rail travel more seriously. 

The Times said, "For three decades, [Congress] has grudgingly subsidized Amtrak, spending enough money to keep it alive but never enough to build an attractive service…Congress should create a dedicated rail trust fund for Amtrak like the funds that pay for highway and aviation infrastructure." 

The Inquirer wrote, "Policy wonks, Amtrak's faithful riders and millions of Europeans have known something for years: A sound national transportation system has to support passenger rail - just as it supports the car and the airplane…A visionless Congress has been starving this struggling rail service for years. Conservatives have been stuck on the theory that Amtrak - unlike highway travel - should be self-sufficient by 2002." 

"Flights that took three hours or less ¾ and that now may take four to five hours with security checks ¾ become less attractive when trains can make the trips in roughly the same amount of time." noted the Post.

In Wake of Air Shutdown, Fear,Prospects Improve for Rail - September 24, 2001

Amtrak, Supporters Press For Capital
Funds - February 12, 2001 

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