6 Billion for Amtrak??

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National Limited

National Limited

Service Attendant
Joined
Jul 21, 2003
Messages
204
Location
Springfield, MO 65804
I am not sure but I think I just heard on NPR news that the house transportation committee had appropriated 6 billion for Amtrak over the next three years. Is this true or am I hearing voices again?
 
it said the house committee, does this mean that it went through the house, or just made it to the floor?

I don t want to jump the gun!

Jon
 
Guest_capltd29 said:
it said the house committee, does this mean that it went through the house, or just made it to the floor?
I don t want to jump the gun!

Jon
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Strictly a committee. It's a long was from the House floor, let alone up for a vote in the Senate.

However it is significant in that it goes completely against the White House proposal.
 
For a gloomy, rainy, depressing day in Central Ohio, this really made my day. Regardless that it is a long ways from actuallity, it still is very optimistic.
 
The most significant part of this whole deal is that this is a bi-partisan committee. With all of the bickering going on between the Dems and Republicans these days, especially since the Republicans are starting to see signs of a limp in the duck, it's heartening to see that many people on the Hill feel that Mineta and Bush are talking nonsense.

I get the feeling that Bush will not take the stand against Amtrak if cornered and reasoned with, unlike he's doing with DeLay and Soc. Sec.

We'll see.
 
So if it were to pass, would this money be just enough for car repairs and all that or could it actually be used for route and equipment expansion?
 
Tom said:
So if it were to pass, would this money be just enough for car repairs and all that or could it actually be used for route and equipment expansion?
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If it were to pass, and assuming that Congress put no strings on the money, it woud most likely be used both for car repairs and for some new equipment.

There would be no route expansion however. That would require more monies than $2 B for 3 years in a row. Plus Congress would have to lift the moritorium banning route expansion.
 
My memory is a little fuzzy on this, but wasn't the expansion moratorium operable until the $200M loan is paid back, and if so, couldn't they repay that with $200M of this year's $2B, or perhaps a third of it each of the next 3 years (assuming , BIG "IF", the $2B per year for 3 yrs passes)? I would think that repaying that loan would be looked at very favorably by Congress, and (again, IIRC correctly) it would free Amtrak to adjust routes, including add if they thought it would pay to do so.
 
So, even if the state of Kansas was to step up to the plate and provide funding for the Heartland Flyer to be extended to Newton for connection with the SWC, it wouldn't happen?
 
I believe the moratorium on new routes isn't an issue if a state agrees to cover all costs, including any losses. :unsure:
 
This is a very positive and sensible step for Congress, but much remains to be done. Please continue to write, e-mail, fax, and phone your congressmen and Senators and governors in support of adequate Amtrak funding and in opposition of the totally wrong Mineta proposal.
 
Anthony said:
I believe the moratorium on new routes isn't an issue if a state agrees to cover all costs, including any losses. :unsure:
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That's correct. Amtrak cannot add any new routes, unless a State, City, or other interested party takes on the burden of covering any potential losses.

For example, service to Las Vegas could get off the ground if the Casinos and/or the State were to agree to cover any losses.
 
AmtrakWPK said:
My memory is a little fuzzy on this, but wasn't the expansion moratorium operable until the $200M loan is paid back, and if so, couldn't they repay that with $200M of this year's $2B, or perhaps a third of it each of the next 3 years (assuming , BIG "IF", the $2B per year for 3 yrs passes)? I would think that repaying that loan would be looked at very favorably by Congress, and (again, IIRC correctly) it would free Amtrak to adjust routes, including add if they thought it would pay to do so.
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Originally it was a condition of the $100 M loan from the DOT, which I think has already been repaid. However Congress included that no new routes provision when it adopted Amtrak's budget for the next year.

AFAIK that provision is still in effect, but I'm not 100% sure.
 
:)

This is the House finally standing behind the Gunn/Laney adminsistration, not pairing them up with past CEO's that promised self-sufficiency and other myths.
 

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