Action: AMTRAK needs our Help!!

[Catchawave]

Tell your Members of Congress to 1) provide a full appropriation for Amtrak, 2) the Administration-proposed funding level of $900 million is a shut-down level and 3) approve bi-partisan reauthorization legislation.



More information at:



http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/main/act/

[marmar]

1. At a time when our dependence on the automobile is ruining us...

It's inconceivable that the administration would be considering a cut to Amtrak. If anything, they need to expand it and make it a more viable alternative, especially on those short-distance trips that people mostly take in autos.

[Loge23]

2. From a railfan

I love trains. Grew up with them as the son of a railroad man. For a time, I worked for Amtrak.
But I'm no longer sure that supporting Amtrak is the way to go with this.
The big problem with rail passenger service is that most of the tracks are owned by the big freight lines. Those companies are basically consolidated from the remains of the big railroad companies of the past. For them, it's just nor profitable to run passengers, hence Amtrak is stuck with the mercy of the freight lines for access.
I wish we could have a workable network of passenger service in this country, but without a major committment from the railroads, the government, and the paying public we're just throwing good money onto bad.

[Catchawave]

4. I think interstate highways

and suburban sprawl killed the passenger train. My best memories as a child was traveling on the Atlantic Coastline Railroad all over the south east with family and friends. I always thought they should add a lane of track to interstates instead more cement, or some kind of elevated rail.

For history buffs:

http://www.vahistorical.org/onthisday/3198.htm

[niallmac]

3. Just emailed our Idaho rep.

I wonder if there is something this administration and I agree upon at all?

[Patiod]

5. I believe Bush & Co wants to run Amtrak into the ground

and completely privatizing it, selling it off to Halliburton, which already has railroads as part of its portfolio

Western Congressmen are completely clueless when it comes to public transportation issues like rail, seeing it (somewhat correctly) as an urban/Blue State issue.

[create.peace]

6. I will probably catch the train next week. They are still great....

I made sure all my children have had many train rides, some are old enough to have been pre amtrak. If you live anywhere near a line, take a ride just so show support! The southeast is the only part I haven't traveled. The train is so soothing... ... ... ... ... ...




President Bush’s 2007 budget request of $900 million for Amtrak--while an improvement over last year’s zero funding--would result in the elimination of all Amtrak service. Despite Administration claims that the trains would continue to run, they would not. Besides the fact that the capital budget is cut nearly in half, operating funds are for all intents and purposes eliminated. NARP issued a news release on February 6 regarding the budget figure and another on May 26 regarding the subcommittee’s approval of that $900 million level.

Amtrak’s Fiscal 2007 grant and legislative request, (available on their website), seeks a $1.598 billion grant but also outlines $275 million in additional “strategic investment options,” bringing the total implied request to $1.873 billion.

Amtrak has been without authorization legislation since 2002. Senators Trent Lott (R-MS) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the “Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2005” (PRIIA) on July 27, 2005.

The bill, approved as S. 1516 by the committee July 28 on an 17-4 vote provides for “Amtrak reform and operational improvements,” authorizes Amtrak for the six years Fiscal 2006-2011, provides for capital assistance for states, and development of state rail plans, and includes Amtrak and passenger rail security and tunnel life/safety provisions from the Rail Security Act of 2004, which the Senate passed last year.

More details about PRIIA are available on Senator Lott’s website and a detailed synopsis is also on our website.