Progressive Railroading published the story this morning - I can’t paste the reference from this phone. Subjects include parts of Gateway, the Baltimore tunnels... this means the funding allocations can be taken up in context.
Nice to see the public push for these projects.
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Amtrak-kicks-off-Ready-to-Build-infrastructure-campaign--52962
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
It is about time. Should have been done many years ago. Is this the first time that Amtrak has told the general public that they want to expand ?
The $64 question is where will Amtrak get the money for its ready to build wishlist?
Since the ads are aimed at the public, presumably Amtrak is looking to federal and state taxpayers to pick-up the tab. But the taxpayers have a big problem.
The federal debt is $20.2 trillion. State and local government debt adds approximately $3 trillion more to the tab, thereby bringing total government debt to more than $23 trillion.
Total government debt is 120 percent of GDP. At the end of June 2017, it was $80,537 for everyone over 18 or $171,846 per household. Add in personal debt, i.e. mortgage, revolving credit, etc., and debt averaged $266,905 per household.
Amtrak may be able to secure additional loans under the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program. It has borrowed $562.9 million under the program. How much more it could borrow is unknown.
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
It doesn't appear that there are many concerns about the budget deficit these days in DC. They just sprinkle some "secret magic scoring sauce" on everything and deficit magic occurs! Just imagine how large the tax revenue would be from all the growth if only taxes could be eliminated altogether!
Might be easier than it should be to get Amtrak's projects paid for....
oltmannd It doesn't appear that there are many concerns about the budget deficit these days in DC. They just sprinkle some "secret magic scoring sauce" on everything and deficit magic occurs! Just imagine how large the tax revenue would be from all the growth if only taxes could be eliminated altogether! Might be easier than it should be to get Amtrak's projects paid for....
I agree entirely: This is absolutely the ideal time for Amtrak to ask for meaningful money to fund projects already too-long deferred.
As to why deficits are suddenly OK in Washington, it seems that the Party of No is finding out that governing is much more difficult than standing on the sidelines carping and second-guessing.
As the proposed tax bill moves closer to its deadline, watch for the pork and pet projects to be funded. I hope Amtrak is near the front of the line this time.
Additional leverage is that the states on the NEC tend to get less than average per capita federal spending. Some even net out negative.
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/05/which-states-are-givers-and-which-are-takers/361668/
Delaware, NJ, NY, Mass.
If tax reform takes away local property and income tax decuction, the disparity will get even worse.
Does this plan apply to areas "outside the Northeast Corridor?"
ATSFGuy Does this plan apply to areas "outside the Northeast Corridor?"
Amtrak doesn't own much outside NEC and it's branches and most of that is being taken care of already.
If you read the linked article you will find out.
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