(The Associated Press circulated the following story on March 3.)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The House budget chairman says he will support additional state subsidies to continue twice-daily Amtrak passenger train service across Missouri.
The Budget Committee approved a nearly $237 million supplemental spending bill Wednesday to cover unexpected costs for the Medicaid health care program and other state services through June 30, the end of the fiscal year. Most of that money comes from the federal government.
Amtrak’s request for $884,815 was not included in the legislation. But Budget Committee Chairman Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, said he will support efforts to add the money when the supplemental budget is debated on the House floor.
Amtrak service costs the state about $6.2 million annually. But this year, as it did last year, the Legislature appropriated just $5 million for Amtrak.
Last year, when Amtrak threatened to end one of the two trains by March 1, 2003, the Legislature agreed to spend an additional $800,000 and state officials struck a nationally unique deal with Amtrak to impose a $5 per passenger surcharge on Missouri trips. Amtrak also eliminated ticket agents in Jefferson City and Kirkwood to help make up the difference.
That surcharge remains in effect this year, and is expected to generate $263,000, which counts toward Amtrak’s bill to the state.
The current funding is enough to keep one train running through June 30. But Amtrak has said the second train will end before then if it doesn’t receive the extra money.
The Budget Committee narrowly rejected Amtrak’s funding request last month.
Bearden said he will support Amtrak’s subsidies this year and next fiscal year. He said Amtrak and the state Department of Transportation are supposed to work with local communities along the train line to come up with more efficient ways to run the trains. Depending on what happens in those meetings, Bearden may support Amtrak funding beyond next year, he said.
The state subsidies help fund trains that run from St. Louis to Kansas City, with eight stops in between.