Amtrak gets $1 Billion in the Dec 2020 Emergency Appropriation Bill

[jis]

Amtrak got $1.018 Billion in the Emergency Appropriation Bill. Has money both for Amtrak's own operations and for States to pay their share of PRIIA 209 operations.

FTA got $25 Billion to support Transit Agencies in financial distress.

https://www.appropriations.senate.g...Supplemental Appropriations Summary_FINAL.pdf

 

[tgstubbs1]

Amtrak got $1.018 Billion in the Emergency Appropriation Bill. Has money both for Amtrak's own operations and for States to pay their share of PRIIA 209 operations.

FTA got $25 Billion to support Transit Agencies in financial distress.

https://www.appropriations.senate.g...Supplemental Appropriations Summary_FINAL.pdf

I know Amtrak needs more than that but it could be worse.

 

[jis]

Interestingly, New York MTA gets around $4 Billion out of this via the FTA bucket. I am sure NJT gets a substantial mount too, as does SEPTA, MBTA and MARC.

 

[jis]

I know Amtrak needs more than that but it could be worse.

Amtrak had requested $2.3 Billion and it got $1 Billion.

 

[tgstubbs1]

That doesn't seem fair.

 

[jis]

That doesn't seem fair.

AFAICT no one got the full amount that they requested, which in general is par for the course. For example NY MTA requested $10 Billion and got $4 Billion.

 

[Siegmund]

Amtrak had requested $2.3 Billion and it got $1 Billion.

I have to scratch my head a bit at the size of some of these requests.

They ran the entire system -- with CZ, Pioneer, Desert Wind, Broadway, Lake Shore, Capitol, all daily -- on a $600 million a year subsidy up to the early 90s, which just happens to scale up to very close to $1 billion in 2020 dollars. (Yes, it needed more money then, and was really scraping to invest in new equipment.)

Feels like something went horribly amiss with the finances in the last 20 years. I don't know what. Though I have my suspicions it's a 5-letter word starting with a-c-e-l.

 

[tgstubbs1]

I know the PTC is super expensive.

 

[joelkfla]

PTC

Translation please?

 

[jis]

Translation please?

PTC => Positive Train Control - an FRA Specification of features that must be included in a safety system installed on all routes meeting certain traffic characteristics, like carrying more than a certain number of passenger trains and total nnumber of trains a day, carrying hazardous materials etc.

 

[TinCan782]

Translation please?

Positive Train Control
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_train_control

 

[20th Century Rider]

I know Amtrak needs more than that but it could be worse.

Now that the most recent economic aid bill passed by Congress has not been signed into law... I wonder what's next for all of us??? Evictions can now be served... and basic financial relief will not materialize. All this while between 100,000 and 250,000 Americans contract the Covid virus every single day!

BTW: Please wear your mask and wash your hands... if you must go out for essentials. Otherwise stay home and stay safe!

 

[joelkfla]

PTC => Positive Train Control - an FRA Specification of features that must be included in a safety system installed on all routes meeting certain traffic characteristics, like carrying more than a certain number of passenger trains and total nnumber of trains a day, carrying hazardous materials etc.

Positive Train Control
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_train_control

Thanks. I knew that, but my brain didn't make the connection. I was searching for a train or service. It's not in the "Frequent abbr." thread; guess that thread was closed out before PTC became an issue.

 

[jis]

I have started a separate thread with a pointer to the entire 2021 Appropriation and COVID Supplemental Bill and a summary of Amtrak related items...

https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...ing-the-supplemental-covid-relief-bill.78130/

 

[MARC Rider]

Now all that's needed is a presidential signature. ... oops.

 

[jis]

Now all that's needed is a presidential signature. ... oops.

Pocket veto or at least a threat of such to maximize chaos of course

 

[MARC Rider]

Well, looks like the President signed the bill.

Trump signs stimulus bill into law and averts shutdown - The Washington Post

 

[IndyLions]

I have to scratch my head a bit at the size of some of these requests.

They ran the entire system -- with CZ, Pioneer, Desert Wind, Broadway, Lake Shore, Capitol, all daily -- on a $600 million a year subsidy up to the early 90s, which just happens to scale up to very close to $1 billion in 2020 dollars. (Yes, it needed more money then, and was really scraping to invest in new equipment.)

Feels like something went horribly amiss with the finances in the last 20 years. I don't know what. Though I have my suspicions it's a 5-letter word starting with a-c-e-l.

During the pandemic, the fare box has been reduced by something like 80%. Hence the recent need for large subsidies to cover large shortfalls. Maybe that’s overly simplistic, I don’t know.

 

[jis]

During the pandemic, the fare box has been reduced by something like 80%. Hence the recent need for large subsidies to cover large shortfalls. Maybe that’s overly simplistic, I don’t know.

Yeah, it is Apples and Banans The $1 Billion is to cover revenues shortfall due to the pandemic and has nothing to do with normal subsidies. That is in a different part of the bill which appropriates $1.3 billion for the National System and $655 Million for the NEC.. I have presented outline details of all that at

https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...ing-the-supplemental-covid-relief-bill.78130/