(The Associated Press circulated the following article on September 21.)
WASHINGTON — Illinois officials’ ambitious plans to expand Amtrak’s intrastate rail service could be thrown overboard as Congress and the Bush administration struggle to determine Amtrak’s long-term future nationwide.
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, a longtime advocate for federally subsidized rail service, voiced concerns Wednesday in a meeting with Alexander Kummant, the new Amtrak president and chief executive officer only a week into his new job.
It is uncertain how and when Amtrak will get a new budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Temporary resolutions could push it into next year.
President Bush recommended $900 million; the House passed $1.1 billion; the Senate approved $1.4 billion. Amtrak supporters in Illinois such as Democrats Durbin and Gov. Rod Blagojevich favor a no-cuts figure of $1.6 billion.
In an upbeat joint interview with The Associated Press, both Durbin and Kummant saluted Illinois’ efforts to aid Amtrak.
Kummant, citing his newness to his post, deferred to the senator when asked to predict Amtrak’s budget.
“I know our (train) run rates are within the ranges being talked about,” Kummant added.
Durbin did not predict a final figure but said he hoped $1.4 billion would be sufficient to allow Amtrak to basically continue Illinois’ current rail service and expand in some areas.
“The good news is that Congress has shown its commitment to Amtrak on a bipartisan basis. The number we are going to produce is going to be significantly higher than the president’s budget, which I think is a vote of confidence for Amtrak and its future,” said Durbin, the Senate’s second-ranking Democrat.
Matt Vanover, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said Amtrak cutbacks historically have led to reduced rail trips.
“Illinois cannot afford to shoulder this burden alone and should the federal government reduce its commitment to Amtrak, rail passenger service in our state and all of the Midwest would be severely impacted or in some areas may cease,” Vanover said.
For the year that ended in June, a record 952,529 passengers rode Amtrak trains in Illinois under a $12.1 million contract with the state’s Department of Transportation — an 11 percent passenger increase over the previous year.
Despite keen competition for state general revenue fund dollars, Blagojevich and state lawmakers doubled Illinois’ contribution for the current fiscal year to nearly $24.3 million to help improve rail passenger service. The added funding is expected to result in the first Midwest Amtrak expansion in 20 years next month.
Durbin, a member of the Senate subcommittee on transportation funding, secured commitments last spring for three Amtrak trains to help provide an additional run on the Carbondale, Quincy and St. Louis lines each day.
The state also would like to see Rockford-to-Chicago service restored. Amtrak is studying the proposal.
The Amtrak board has proposed passing on certain overhead operating costs to states, which has Illinois officials worried.
Kummant said whatever happens would not be done “cold turkey” or without budget planning on the states’ parts.
“Our strategy really is engagement and reaching out to the states, working with the (Departments of Transportation) and coming up with really a multiyear plan,” he said.
Kummant also suggested Illinois should not be as concerned as most states with possible financial consequences.
“There’s no doubt the leading states — like Illinois — put out big commitments and not all states have committed to that degree,” he said. “We are looking for a degree of parity, but the numbers vary a great deal.”