President Bush’s "framework" for an eventual plan for Amtrak would reduce federal responsibility for the rail infrastructure, and leave states to manage and pay for much of the system.

Apparently, the framework will be developed into a more detailed plan early this summer. According to a US DOT press release, Allan Rutter, the Federal Railroad Administrator, told the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that the administration wanted to extend the next Amtrak authorization period from four to six years, which would put its time frame in sync with federal surface transportation authorizations. However, it’s far from clear Amtrak will benefit from a different legislative schedule. Rutter raised the tired canard of rail profitability with the committee, saying Amtrak "would be required to form a pure operating company — one that does indeed make a profit by providing excellent service" for its customers."

The framework, released during the first week of May, would split Amtrak into two entities. The Northeast Corridor would be run by "NEC Infrastructure," a federal-state compact which would get a 99-year lease from the Department of Transportation, while the rest of Amtrak would be managed by "Amtrak Operations." States traversed by the Northeast Corridor would be required to pay for half of that system. Elsewhere, states would shoulder the entire burden for inter-city rail service. Individual states and interstate compacts would be able to apply for federal DOT capital grants.

After the announcement, Senator Charles Schumer and other NY representatives immediately voiced opposition, noting the major shift in cost burden the plan would entail for the northeast.

Within New York City or downstate NY, getting different transportation agencies to work together on joint projects is hard enough. Try to get New York and New Jersey to make common cause. Schumer noted the difficulty of herding a dozen-odd states: "What if we need a New York-to-Washington run and Delaware decides they won’t do it? Support [for Amtrak] is growing and I don’t think the President’s proposal is going to fly."

State DOT’s also worried about having to absorb more of the cost of rail service. According to Newsday, NY state has contributed $125 million to augment Amtrak services within the state over the past five years.

The problem would be compounded further outside the northeast, where some long distance trains cross even more states, and federal support would end. Planning simple services would become huge bureaucratic and budgeting nightmares.

However, the plan is consistent with Bush administration attacks on Amtrak, especially against long-distance trains. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has said several times since the administration took office that Amtrak’s longer routes are superfluous. Deputy U.S. Transportation Secretary Michael Jackson criticized Amtrak for "failing to terminate long-distance rail" at a Senate Commerce Committee meeting in April, according to the National Association of Rail Passengers. 

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