(The following story by Trish Choate appeared on the Times Record News website on July 14.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The congressman representing Wichita Falls gave a thumbs down to a funding boost for Amtrak though rising gas prices are hitting North Texans in the pocketbook.
U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, said he voted against House Resolution 6003 because Amtrak is a losing proposition for the 13th Congressional District.
“I don’t think my constituents ought to subsidize something for which they essentially receive no benefit,” Thornberry said.
In Texas in 2007, Amtrak operated a shorter-distance train and two long-distance trains, according to the passenger rail service. Total train station usage added up to 262,081 in 2007, but the trains didn’t serve Wichita Falls.
It’s been 10 years since Congress considered a bill to reauthorize Amtrak and six years since the last reauthorization ran out. Lawmakers have been reluctant to invest in the passenger rail service.
President Bush has promised to veto H.R. 6003, contending it doesn’t tie funding to reforms or provide much chance for competition on the service’s existing routes.
Bush’s 2009 budget proposes to slash Amtrak funding by $535 million or 40 percent, according to the National Association of Railroad Passengers, an advocacy organization for train and rail passengers.
But both House and Senate have passed Amtrak legislation with veto-proof margins. Lawmakers must still work out a compromise bill.
H.R. 6003 approves $14.9 billion to rebuild Amtrak and construct high-speed rail in corridors around the country, U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., said on the floor last month.
Congress created the service in 1970, and it’s time to inject more funds into Amtrak, Oberstar said.
“We are on the cusp of an intercity passenger rail renaissance in this country,” he said.
Thornberry said Amtrak loses a tremendous amount of money.
“As I understand it, studies show the only place that possibly makes sense economically is the northeast corridor, basically Washington up to Boston,” he said.
Amtrak should be on “a pay as you go basis rather than have these massive subsidies from the taxpayers,” he said.
His Democratic opponent said Amtrak serves the public interest.
“We should continue to subsidize it, or risk a disruption of commerce that would surely exacerbate our current recession,” Roger Waun of Wichita Falls said in a statement.
In addition, the service saves millions of gallons of fuel while helping meet mass transit needs, Waun, a businessman and pastor, said.
Amtrak trains in Texas in 2007
The Heartland Flyer – shorter-distance train traveling through Fort Worth, Gainesville and Oklahoma City, according to Amtrak.
The Sunset Limited – long-distance train running tri-weekly through Houston, San Antonio and El Paso.
The Texas Eagle – long-distance train running daily through Chicago, Dallas and San Antonio, as well as tri-weekly service via the Sunset Limited to Los Angeles.