Save Our Trains Michigan
Conductor
WASHINGTON - Traditionally I've supported Amtrak, though, at times, I've
questioned my own reasoning for doing so.
My misgivings always prompt me to ask questions like: How many more highway
lanes can we widen? How many airport runways can we construct?
When you think long term, it's clear that to sustain our quality of life and
economic growth, America needs a complete package of transportation options
- roads, ports, runways and full-service rails, too. That's why I've
introduced a sweeping Amtrak reform bill aimed not just at keeping Amtrak trains
running another year but at improving rail passenger service and fundamentally
changing Amtrak's culture.
After talks with management, labor, interested members of Congress and
virtually every group associated with Amtrak, the Senate Surface Transportation
Committee, which I chair, introduced a bipartisan reform bill. The Passenger
Rail Investment and Improvement Act has three themes.
First, it will reform Amtrak, making it more accountable. Second, it will
cut Amtrak's operating costs. Third, it will enable states to establish their
own passenger rail service, if needed. In fact, this legislation aims to cut
Amtrak's federal taxpayer subsidy by a whopping 40 percent so that Amtrak
doesn't have to live from congressional appropriation to congressional
appropriation - paycheck to paycheck.
Story
questioned my own reasoning for doing so.
My misgivings always prompt me to ask questions like: How many more highway
lanes can we widen? How many airport runways can we construct?
When you think long term, it's clear that to sustain our quality of life and
economic growth, America needs a complete package of transportation options
- roads, ports, runways and full-service rails, too. That's why I've
introduced a sweeping Amtrak reform bill aimed not just at keeping Amtrak trains
running another year but at improving rail passenger service and fundamentally
changing Amtrak's culture.
After talks with management, labor, interested members of Congress and
virtually every group associated with Amtrak, the Senate Surface Transportation
Committee, which I chair, introduced a bipartisan reform bill. The Passenger
Rail Investment and Improvement Act has three themes.
First, it will reform Amtrak, making it more accountable. Second, it will
cut Amtrak's operating costs. Third, it will enable states to establish their
own passenger rail service, if needed. In fact, this legislation aims to cut
Amtrak's federal taxpayer subsidy by a whopping 40 percent so that Amtrak
doesn't have to live from congressional appropriation to congressional
appropriation - paycheck to paycheck.
Story