NYTimes Editorial 5/28 has some wonderful quotes. It starts with the power failure this past week, points to the completely inadequate funding by the Administration adn Congress, basicaly says it's time to adquately fund Amtrak NOW. Some brief quotes:
the underpinnings of the nation's railroad system are primed for disaster. The White House and Congress have tried to squeeze every dollar out of Amtrak's meager budget.
what really frightens the rail experts is how little federal money has been available to update the railroad's aging infrastructure.
Congress and the White House were playing "Russian roulette" with the welfare of millions of riders across the country.
need at least $2 billion a year to bring the system to a state of good repair ... Northeast Corridor, where some parts go back to the 1930's, it would take a total of about $4 billion.
.... calling for better management of a system where the wires and steel are eroding is simply dodging the question
for the United States to be an advanced nation with a mobile work force, the American government needs to maintain a clean, efficient national railroad. Amtrak does not need to make a profit, but it does need to work
Amtrak, ... was to have received zero federal funds after 2002, has been offered $900 million by the administration for next year. That amount is so low it should be an insult. But Amtrak officials have timidly stayed within the ballpark and asked for a modest $1.6 billion. Even that is just enough money to allow Amtrak to fail more slowly.
WELL SAID.
the underpinnings of the nation's railroad system are primed for disaster. The White House and Congress have tried to squeeze every dollar out of Amtrak's meager budget.
what really frightens the rail experts is how little federal money has been available to update the railroad's aging infrastructure.
Congress and the White House were playing "Russian roulette" with the welfare of millions of riders across the country.
need at least $2 billion a year to bring the system to a state of good repair ... Northeast Corridor, where some parts go back to the 1930's, it would take a total of about $4 billion.
.... calling for better management of a system where the wires and steel are eroding is simply dodging the question
for the United States to be an advanced nation with a mobile work force, the American government needs to maintain a clean, efficient national railroad. Amtrak does not need to make a profit, but it does need to work
Amtrak, ... was to have received zero federal funds after 2002, has been offered $900 million by the administration for next year. That amount is so low it should be an insult. But Amtrak officials have timidly stayed within the ballpark and asked for a modest $1.6 billion. Even that is just enough money to allow Amtrak to fail more slowly.
WELL SAID.
