MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont may have to repay the federal government $17 million if it follows through on House committees’ recommendation that the Champlain Flyer commuter train be canceled, according to a wire service report.
The Federal Transit Administration provided the money to improve the track and crossings along the 13-mile commuter line between Charlotte and Burlington. The FTA is an arm of the U.S. Department of Transportation that funds public transit projects.
The Vermont House Transportation and Appropriations committees voted this month to end funding that would allow the Flyer to continue service. The full House and Senate have yet to vote on the proposal. If lawmakers do not restore the Flyer money, the FTA could demand the $17 million back.
”We would assess the situation if it came to that. We’d sit down and see what the circumstances were, then make a decision,” said Richard Doyle, the regional administrator for the FTA, based in Boston. ”We are concerned. We made a considerable federal investment up there.”
Champlain Flyer opponents say the commuter train is not attracting enough passengers to justify its existence. Rep. George Schiavone, R-Shelburne, said language in letters from the FTA indicates there is room to negotiate with the federal government so the state would not need to pay reimbursements.
”I don’t think they would ever force the state to continue a service that was just costing all kinds of money,” said Schiavone, a longtime critic of the Champlain Flyer. ”If we did terminate service, we could make peace with the feds.”
It costs about $2.1 million a year to operate the Flyer, with more than $400,000 of that coming from the state. Committee members said the money would be better used on other transportation projects in Vermont.
Champlain Flyer supporters argue that the state should at least let the Flyer operate until December 2003 the end of a three-year trial period for the train. At that point, the state can evaluate whether the Flyer is successful.
”If we took the three years … and we gave it our best shot and we weren’t as successful as was projected and we made a case, then I think the FTA would listen to that,” said Charlie Miller, director of the state Transportation Agency’s rail division.
Miller’s scenario is possible but uncertain, Doyle said. Even if the state waits until the three years are up before assessing the success or failure of the Flyer, FTA officials could still demand repayment if the Flyer shuts down.
”This has never been a three-year demonstration project with us,” Doyle said.
The money was meant to support the train for the life of the track improvements, which is typically about 20 years, he said. Other federal funding for the commuter rail was tied to a three-year trial period, he said.