(The Associated Press circulated the following article on February 27.)
WASHINGTON — After failing in a three-year effort to hand over Amtrak’s Washington-to-Boston tracks and their costs, to a new federal-state consortium, the Bush administration is seeking tens of millions of dollars in extra fees from states for use of the tracks by commuter railroads.
But the states are complaining that they already have contracts with Amtrak that specify what they should pay, and that Washington has not explained its demand for more money.
As a result of their concerns and other complaints, representatives of 10 agencies will meet with federal transportation officials here in early March to discuss the charges and how they should be calculated.
“The states feel their pocket is being picked,” said Peter A. Peyser Jr., an aide to Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell.