PRRIA 2015

[Andrew]

What is the update on this bill?

 

[neroden]

-- Folded into the "DRIVE" bill in the Senate and passed.

-- Stalled in the House because the Republican House leadership is a clown show which seems to be unable to actually do legislative work.

 

[Andrew]

-- Folded into the "DRIVE" bill in the Senate and passed.

-- Stalled in the House because the Republican House leadership is a clown show which seems to be unable to actually do legislative work.

So that included Amtrak reinvesting their profits into the Northeast Corridor?

What about with the House Transportation mark-up scheduled for Thursday?

 

[WoodyinNYC]

-- Folded into the "DRIVE" bill in the Senate and passed.

-- Stalled in the House because the Republican House leadership is a clown show which seems to be unable to actually do legislative work.

So that included Amtrak reinvesting their profits into the Northeast Corridor?

What about with the House Transportation mark-up scheduled for Thursday?

Amtrak reinvesting the Acela "profit not including some stuff) into the NEC seems universally popular. Amtrak acts like its a done deal (read the Budget, for instance).

It gives all the politicians a good short answer to any unfriendly questions about the Amtrak loss. "Well, starting this year the operating profits from High Speed Rail between Washington, New York, and Boston can only be used for investment in that route. It won't be used to subsidize routes in other areas. Next question?" LOL. That suggested answer is so full of bull (the Acela is High Speed Rail only by America's low-sped definition, etc) and misdirection ("Will that mean less money for the daily train thru here in Cornpatch, Iowa, that my mother rides to visit her sister near Chicago?" Not asked, not answered.) … But of course, it's perfect, because it seems to give relevant information, so Senator Foghorn isn't seen as dodging the question, makes it seem like something real is being done when it's just moving money from one pocket to another, and it changes the subject!

If you know about a House Transportation mark-up scheduled for Thursday, then you know more than me, and you should tell us.

 

[jis]

All that the Senate Bill says is that it will be required to maintain separate accounts for the NEC and LD and transfer of money from one to another should be explicitly recorded and reported. It does not disallow such transfers, and clearly the way the appropriations have been worded so far transfers are expected or the LD network is expected to shut down. They have not mentioned any additional appropriation for the LD account to cover for money that will not be transferred from the NEC account. I find it hard to believe that the LD network will actually be shut down. So the political Kabuki dance shall continue. It is all wishful thinking and fantasy as usual.