Senators reintroduce Amtrak funding legislation
The House blocked a similar bill in 2005, but supporters say the measure has a better chance of passage with Democrats in control.
Amtrak supporters have revived legislation that would provide full funding -- $19.2 billion -- for the railroad over the next six years and create a matching-fund program to encourage states to increase their financial stakes in the system.
Under the $1.4 billion matching program, states could tap federal funds to finance up to 80 percent of the costs for Amtrak capital improvement projects. The bill would also establish standards for the agreements under which states pay operating costs for Amtrak lines. The deals are negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said Tuesday that Amtrak was needed more then ever.
"Our bill would allow people to get out of the security lines and delays in the aviation system," he said at a news conference with Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott, R-Miss., at Washington's Union Station.
A similar bill passed the Senate 93-6 in 2005 only to be blocked in the House. Backers say it has a better chance of success in the new Democratic-controlled Congress.
"It should have been a piece of cake" in the last Congress, Lott said.
National Railroad Passenger Association spokesman Ross Capon said in an interview that he believed "we now have a leadership [in the House] that will bring this to the floor and get it passed."
Amtrak CEO Alexander Kummant appeared at the Union Station event to pledge his cooperation with Lautenberg and Lott but did not endorse the legislation.
The bill calls for Amtrak to develop a plan to overhaul facilities and upgrade security while cutting operating costs 40 percent.
Lautenberg said he would "leave it up to Amtrak's management to find places" to cut. Lott suggested that some of the reductions might be achieved by eliminating sparsely used long-distance lines.
Kummant said such a reduction was "achievable" but declined to discuss the "details." He later said in an interview that not all long-distance lines were under-used, but added: "Do I think some adjustments need to be made? Yes. Do I think the status quo is acceptable? No."
The bill would also require standards to make trains run on time and improve service. As a part of the initiative, Amtrak would have the power to fine freight railroads that cause delays on Amtrak routes.
Led by California and Illinois, a number of states subsidize Amtrak service extensively. California spends $73 million a year on Amtrak lines.
Illinois last year doubled its annual investment to $24 million. The subsidies allowed Amtrak to offer more frequent service on high-demand routes between Chicago and St. Louis, Carbondale, Ill., and Quincy, Ill.