AMTRAK BILL INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
Representative James Oberstar (D-MN) introduced an Amtrak reauthorization bill on Thursday, May 8. The bill, H.R. 6003, would reauthorize Amtrak for five years, from fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2013.
The bill, which authorizes nearly $14.5 billion over the period, has 38 original co-sponsors. The bill would give Amtrak $1.75 billion over five years for grants to states and to Amtrak for up 11 new high speed (110 mph) corridors. It would also allocate $6.7 billion for capital grants and $3 billion for operating grants.
This bill is the companion bill to S. 294, which was passed by the Senate on October 30, 2007. S. 294 authorizes $1.4-1.5 billion annually through FY 2013.
At a press conference announcing the introduction of the bill, Representative Oberstar called the bill "revolutionary" and said it would make Amtrak a "world class service."
However, there are some problems with the bill. Provisions, included in the bi-partisan legislative, allow for the possibility two of Amtrak's worst performing routes to be opened to another rail carrier to operate and a third route that is currently not served by Amtrak also could be operated by a rail carrier other than Amtrak. While these provisions are not positive, they are not nearly as ominous as the pilot program contained in Section 211 of S. 294 because additional, separate legislation would have to be passed authorizing DOT to select a rail carrier other than Amtrak as the operator.
"This is a big step forward for Amtrak funding," BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman said. "We have been asking for long-term funding for Amtrak for years, and in this legislation, in spite of its problems, we have gotten it."
There is a hearing being held on May 14 by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines & Hazardous Materials regarding this legislation.
The bill, which authorizes nearly $14.5 billion over the period, has 38 original co-sponsors. The bill would give Amtrak $1.75 billion over five years for grants to states and to Amtrak for up 11 new high speed (110 mph) corridors. It would also allocate $6.7 billion for capital grants and $3 billion for operating grants.
This bill is the companion bill to S. 294, which was passed by the Senate on October 30, 2007. S. 294 authorizes $1.4-1.5 billion annually through FY 2013.
At a press conference announcing the introduction of the bill, Representative Oberstar called the bill "revolutionary" and said it would make Amtrak a "world class service."
However, there are some problems with the bill. Provisions, included in the bi-partisan legislative, allow for the possibility two of Amtrak's worst performing routes to be opened to another rail carrier to operate and a third route that is currently not served by Amtrak also could be operated by a rail carrier other than Amtrak. While these provisions are not positive, they are not nearly as ominous as the pilot program contained in Section 211 of S. 294 because additional, separate legislation would have to be passed authorizing DOT to select a rail carrier other than Amtrak as the operator.
"This is a big step forward for Amtrak funding," BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman said. "We have been asking for long-term funding for Amtrak for years, and in this legislation, in spite of its problems, we have gotten it."
There is a hearing being held on May 14 by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines & Hazardous Materials regarding this legislation.