Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014

[schlimm]

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2014 yesterday.  If passed, it would make several changes and set suggested funding levels for the High-Speed and Intercity Rail Program. it would authorize Amtrak and other intercity passenger rail service for the next five years at only $1.8 billion per year.  This seems inadequate, IMO.

[added link]

 http://www.aashtojournal.org/Pages/091214prria.aspx

the actual bill:

http://transportation.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hr5449.pdf

[schlimm]

As Don Oltmann has been saying:

§ 24317. Costs and revenues
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of the Passenger Rail Reform and

Investment Act of 2014, Amtrak shall establish and maintain internal controls to ensure Amtrak’s costs and

revenues are allocated to either the Northeast Corridor or the National Network, including proportional shares

of common and fixed costs.

[D.Carleton]

What? Actual accounting of where the money comes from and where it goes? Are you mad?!

[BaltACD]

D.Carleton

What? Actual accounting of where the money comes from and where it goes? Are you mad?!

Like any governmental or quasi-governmental organization can comply.  Now you are beyond mad!

[schlimm]

http://articles.philly.com/2014-09-12/business/53855370_1_northeast-corridor-amtrak-president-joseph-boardman-money-losing-long-distance-routes

Again as don oltmann has been saying:

"House leaders in Washington on Thursday introduced legislation to allow Amtrak to reinvest Northeast Corridor profits on improvements to the corridor, rather than to use that money to subsidize money-losing, long-distance routes in other parts of the country.

""The bill proposes many changes in how the national railroad is funded and how it operates. It was sponsored by top Republican and Democratic members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, giving it instant bipartisan support. Because Congress has little time left in its current session, the new rail bill is likely to be a template for action next year and not in the current Congress."