(The following story by Jon Miltmore appeared on the Panama City News Herald website on July 19, 2009.)
CHIPLEY, Fla. — Amtrak could be making a return to Chipley, according to a federal study listing restoration of the Sunset Limited service as one of three preferred Amtrak proposals.
The Sunset Limited runs from Los Angeles to Orlando, but service stops at 13 depots east of New Orleans, including one in Chipley, were halted in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina. Largely because of the cost and challenges associated with restoring service, the stations remain closed.
The recently completed Amtrak study cited restoration of the railway as the first of three preferred options among 12 possible alternatives. The second and third preferred options are extending the daily City of New Orleans route that runs from Chicago to Orlando through New Orleans and implementing a daily stand-alone overnight service.
Amtrak, a government-owned corporation created in 1971, has been deficit-prone since its inception, but has seen its ridership increase for the sixth consecutive year in 2008, servicing a total of 28.7 million passengers.
U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello, has been a vocal supporter of rebuilding the Sunset Limited railway, calling it “a valuable service to many Floridians” and “an important economic development tool to the area.”
Despite the efforts of Boyd and other lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla, the railline was shut out in February from the $787 billion federal stimulus package, dedicated largely to expanding and improving federal transportation and infrastructure. However, Amtrak was earmarked more than $1 billion in stimulus, according to federal records.
Report authors said the study, which cost $1 million, is considering options based upon projected ridership, revenue, operating costs, and operating loss.
Which plan ultimately is selected might come down to who is most willing to share costs, as Amtrak is seeking input from state and federal lawmakers regarding additional funding for capital and ongoing operating costs any implementation plan will require.