(The Brattleboro Reformer posted the following story by Howard Weiss-Tisman on its website on July 30.)
BRATTLEBORO — With the ink still wet on a Bush administration proposal to decrease federal funding of Amtrak and force state governments to manage the nation’s rail system, Vermont transportation officials were trying to understand Tuesday how it could affect service in the state.
Vermont’s U.S. senators, however, were clear that the administration is heading down the wrong track.
On Monday, U.S Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta submitted the Bush administration’s proposal to replace subsidy payments to the National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak). After a six-year transition period, the plan states, federal grants would pay for half the rail system’s needs, while state funds would be expected to cover the rest. States would be allowed to operate their services with a private company or a public transit agency.
“This came out of the blue. We are trying to piece this together,” said Vermont Agency of Transportation spokesman John LaBarge.
LaBarge said he spent Tuesday morning on a conference call discussing the Amtrak proposal with transportation officials from the Coalition of Northeastern Governors, a non-partisan association that encourages cooperation among eight Northeastern states.
According to Charlie Miller, Agency of Transportation Rail Program manager, the state is expecting its yearly contract with Amtrak to be inked this week. He said Vermont’s rail service is a bit complicated because the tracks are owned by private companies, while Amtrak runs the service.
He also said there are separate rail bills in the House and Senate, and it will be a while before a national agenda is set.
“This is not the end of it,” Miller said. “There will be a lot of public discussion in the process of reviewing the federal proposal.”
While transportation officials were downloading the proposal on Tuesday and starting to look at it, Vermont’s senators were clear on their opposition to the plan.
“The Bush administration’s proposal for Amtrak reflects the White House’s lack of a strong commitment to having a national passenger rail system,” stated Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., in an e-mail message.
Leahy added that even Vermont, whose finances are in relatively good shape, would have trouble coming up with new funds to pay for a national rail system.
Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., believes the Bush proposal would hurt the nation’s passenger rail system, a spokeswoman said.
“The senator believes the administration’s position is unrealistic in a time when states are struggling with deficits,” said press secretary Diane Derby. “They need the federal government’s help and instead the federal government is asking states to put out more money, and the states simply can’t afford it.”