(The following editorial was posted on the Minot Daily News website on June 20.)
MINOT, N.D. — If some members of Congress have their way, Amtrak will soon cease to exist as we know it in many parts of the country, including North Dakota.
A House of Representatives subcommittee approved this week of cutting federal taxpayer subsidies by more than half for many of Amtrak’s routes, including the Empire Builder, which runs through North Dakota.
The cuts must be approved by the full House and the Senate, and would not apply to most Amtrak service in the Northeast Corridor and shorter routes in the Midwest and California. Lawmakers say routes in those areas make up nearly 80 percent of all Amtrak ridership.
“Congress will no longer sanction extremely unprofitable routes,” said Rep. Joe Knollenberg, subcommittee chairman.
The overall bill provides $550 million for Amtrak, including $110 million to subsidize money-losing routes. Amtrak requested $1.8 billion in federal funding. Last year, the funding level was at $1.2 billion.
Critics of the bill say 31 states will completely lose passenger rail service.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., has been a vocal critic of plans in the past to cut Amtrak’s funding. Dorgan and Amtrak officials rode a portion of the Empire Builder route earlier this month, using the opportunity to discuss the issue with passengers and media. The senator said some 90,000 people rode the Empire Builder last year.
Amtrak is important to North Dakota, especially after Greyhound eliminated much of its bus service over the last couple of years. If Amtrak goes away, it’s one less way for people who don’t have personal vehicles to travel.
Maybe there is room to tighten the Amtrak budget, and we’re not opposed to discussing that possibility. But cutting the budget so deeply that it virtually eliminates Amtrak passenger rail service in areas such as North Dakota shouldn’t be an option.