(The following appeared on The Hill’s website on March 14, 2011.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two key Republicans said Monday the federal government should not be in the business of building more railways — because that’s the private sector’s job.
“Amtrak’s plan doesn’t cut it,” House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said in a statement. “Amtrak operates a Soviet-style passenger rail service, with a high rate of subsidization by the taxpayers. Last year, every single Amtrak ticket was underwritten by $54.48.”
He and Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials supanel, say that new railways are needed but that private businesses are better suited to build and operate them.
Shuster’s committee held a hearing last week to find ways to increase private investment in rail, measures he and Mica touted Monday. Their stance comes as a transportation advocacy group, the American Public Transportation Association, called Monday for more public transit to be built to combat rising gas prices.
The full story appears at www.TheHill.com.