(The following article by Gary Martin was posted on the San Antonio Express-News website on May 31.)
WASHINGTON — Troubled passenger rail system Amtrak, which serves San Antonio with two major lines, is eyeing a federal subsidy cut that again threatens service outside the Northeast corridor, officials said Monday.
President Bush proposed spending $900 million for Amtrak in the coming fiscal year, $400 million short of the $1.3 billion the rail system received for 2006 and $700 million less than Amtrak’s board of directors said is needed to keep and improve service.
The president’s request was agreed to by a House Appropriations subcommittee, setting up a showdown with the Senate over funding for the problem-plagued system, which threatens current levels of service.
“At a time of high gas prices and growing uncertainty about future energy supplies, it makes no sense to cut passenger train service,” said Ross Capon with the National Association of Railroad Passengers.
The Senate still is crafting spending legislation for Amtrak.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has co-sponsored legislation that calls for $1.5 billion in spending for Amtrak in fiscal 2007, which begins Oct. 1.
Hutchison has been an ardent supporter of Amtrak and has fought proposals that would end more costly routes in Western states and keep only the more-profitable Northeast corridor.
A “national or nothing” campaign by Hutchison is aimed at preserving Amtrak in the Lone Star State, which includes the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle lines. These run through San Antonio and serve Houston, Dallas, Austin and El Paso.
Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Mich., chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees Amtrak funding, said last week that in addition to the $900 million approved, additional funding would be needed.
The $900 million would leave only $100 million for capital projects, ignoring a $275 million request by the Amtrak board to improve and expand intercity passenger service.
Also needed is $295 million for debt service.
Amtrak supporters are pressing the full House Appropriations Committee to increase funding for the passenger rail system when it meets next month, before a House-Senate conference committee takes up the spending bill to reconcile differences.
Last year, the full House voted to give Amtrak full funding after the Appropriations Committee approved only $550 million for passenger rail service.