(The following article by Jeff Tobin was posted on the Alton Telegraph website on September 12.)
ALTON, Ill. — A relaxing, zero-hassle trip is exactly what Pam Whisler wants when she rides Amtrak, and what she doesn’t want to lose.
But, as Congress wrangles with two funding proposals for the self-proclaimed financially strapped passenger rail service, regular riders like Whisler feel they are left standing at the platform with ticket in hand.
“I’ve made four trips to Chicago this month already, to see my grandchildren or for business training,” said Whisler, who is the Godfrey village clerk. “It’s very convenient, and the cost factor is significant.”
“If the line I ride is eliminated, it would affect me very much,” she said. “Amtrak is much more relaxing, and you don’t have to make all of those pit stops.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved a $1.346 billion budget for Amtrak — an amount the committee’s members feel will be enough for Amtrak to continue its operations without making serious cuts.
President Bush sent a proposal to Congress in July recommending Amtrak?s funding be cut in half,to about $900 million, as well as cutting an undisclosed number of railroad lines across the country.
“The federal government spends $33 billion per year on highways and $12 billion per year on aviation yet less than $1 billion per year on passenger rail service,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said. “The federal government can no longer ignore Amtrak. We are past the crisis point, and I am pleased that the committee has acted to preserve this vital component of our national transportation system.”
Durbin, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said the Bush plan asks the states to pick up the cost of maintaining and operating the rails in their states.
Bush’s plan splits Amtrak into three companies: A private passenger service, a private rail infrastructure company and the National Passenger Rail Corp., which the federal government would continue to operate. It also seeks to minimize federal subsidies.
The committee approved nearly $170 million for transportation projects in Illinois, including $8 million for total statewide bus and bus facilities and $4 million for replacement buses in Downstate Illinois, including in Madison County.
Bus facilities in Bloomington, Galesburg, Rock Island and Metro Link?s bus maintenance facility in St. Clair County also received funding.
David Gunn, Amtrak’s president and chief executive officer, said in statement that the Appropriations Committee?s decision to increase the company’s funding is a sign that some in Congress support Amtrak’s long-term goals.
“Amtrak is encouraged that the Senate subcommittee approved $1.346 billion for FY04 for Amtrak,” Gunn said. “As we have said before, the railroad is in dire need of investment to bring it to a state of good repair.”
A Senate-House conference committee will discuss the issue this month. Joe Shoemaker, spokesman for Durbin, said the “real push” to get the budget approved will happen there.
“The senator feels they were able to get Amtrak over the initial hurdle, but the conference committee will be the first big task for the supporters,” Shoemaker said. “We don’t foresee much of a problem getting it through the Senate as much as the House. The House had a completely different plan, and some compromises will have to be made.”
An average of 48 Amtrak trains run each day on 1,000 miles of track in Illinois. Amtrak serves 30 Illinois communities on three daily routes from Chicago. Annual ridership in the state exceeds two million, and Amtrak employs more than 2,000 Illinois residents.
The Amtrak line that runs from St. Louis to Chicago, called the State House Line, had a 34 percent increase in ridership compared to the same period last year, said Marc Magliani, Amtrak public relations manager.
“It’s still very early, and we don’t want to speculate what will happen (with the funding), but we are committed to providing the best service we can,” Magliani said. “Alton is served by three trains every day, and ridership demand shows people are riding the trains more than last year.”
Durbin said one of the main problems with the Bush plan is that it gives no guarantee to the states that Amtrak will be around in the near future.
“The state of Illinois, despite a significant budget deficit, is more than willing to pay its fair share but also would like some assurance and predictability that the railroad will be around after the check has been cashed,” Durbin said. “In short, we can’t leave passengers stranded at the station.”
Illinois has already “stepped up to the plate,” Durbin said, contributing $10.6 million directly to Amtrak this year — about 90 percent of the operating costs for three intrastate routes — and more than $70 million over the last decade.
Shoemaker said lawmakers hope to have the budget approved before the end of the month so Amtrak can start the new fiscal year — which begins Oct. 1 — without the issue “floating over its head.”