2005 Amtrak Funding-Bad News and Good News

[DaveBr]

I think this is a reasonable question.Why can't Amtrak get funds for a ticket agency here
in the city of Glendale,Ca.?6 years ago we had a ticket agency but the station was sold to the City of Glendale.Since then there has been no ticket agency here.Last week the Mayor of this city came back from Washington DC with a 14 million dollar grant (I Think)
and he wants to put the so called Streetcars back on our main blvd.This fund was from the Transportation fund.These politicians in this city do not care anything about the train system here in Calif.They are all like little babies and will cry if their diapers arn't changed regulary.We have a beautiful station thats been refurbished now for 6 years and the city will not help Amtrak for any reason.If the mayor can get this money ,why can"t Amtrak???? Thanks Dave Bryce,Glendale,ca.

[conrailman]

We need John Kerry to win in Nov2. Amtrak would be good shape then.[:)][:)]

[Junctionfan]

I wi***he government would relize the potential of Amtrak and respect its existance better than at present-that is Amtrak's other big problem after poor marketing strategy.

[CShaveRR]

Ah, even slim hope springs eternal, doesn't it?

[jeaton]

From NARP 9/10/04

"The Subcommittee on Transportation and Treasury of the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday approved $1.213 billion for Amtrak in fiscal 2005. This was better than many observers expected, as Amtrak had been pegged at $900 million—the Bush Administration and House committee number—just a day before the subcommittee’s action. However, though nominally a freeze at the fiscal 2004 level (which Amtrak President and CEO David L. Gunn has said would be very difficult), this is actually a cut because the bill does not include deferral of the $100 million loan that Amtrak received from U.S. DOT in 2002. For transit, the bill has $7.758 billion, $509 million more than the House committee’s bill; highways get $34.9 billion.

"While the House bill could reach the floor next week, it is unclear when the Senate bill would go to full committee, and there has been talk of combining various unfinished Senate appropriations bills into a single omnibus bill. Nonetheless, final funding levels for FY 2005 may not be decided until after the election or perhaps early in calendar 2005. It is always appropriate to remind legislators of Amtrak’s need for at least $1.5 billion. "

The only part that is good is the slim hope that a delay until after the elections or until the new congress convenes next year will produce a little more money.

Jay