(The Associated Press distributed the following article on June 30.)
SALEM, Ore. — Several mayors traveled to the Capitol Monday to try to derail a legislative proposal to eliminate funding for two daily Amtrak trains between Eugene and Portland.
The local leaders say about 120-thousand people ride the train between Eugene and Portland each year and that cutting off funding would unravel years of work to promote passenger train services in the state.
Others argued that ending the train subsidy would hurt efforts to promote tourism in the area and create hardships for businesses that are counting on improved rails to ship their products.
But a key lawmaker says that, in view of the state’s budget crunch, the state might not be able to afford the $10 million subsidy required to keep the trains running.
Representative Randy Miller, a West Linn Republican, says that people rank education, social services and public safety higher than rail transportation. Miller is co-chairman of the Legislature’s budget-writging committee.