RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AMTRAK REAUTHORIZATION
WHEREAS, Amtrak annually provides intercity passenger rail travel to over 23 million Americans
residing in 46 states; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak trains carry 60 million commuters to and from work in congested
metropolitan areas each year and affect over 1 million daily commuter travelers through operating
agreements and shared infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak not only provides critical services to major metropolitan areas, for many
rural Americans, Amtrak represents the only major transportation link to the rest of the country;
and
WHEREAS, passenger rail provides a more fuel-efficient transportation system thereby providing
cleaner transportation alternatives and helping to reduce our dependence on foreign oil; and
WHEREAS, the United States government has significantly undercapitalized the national Amtrak
system for decades, failed to provide passenger rail with a dedicated secure source of funding like
other modes enjoy and required Amtrak alone to achieve operating self-sufficiency; and
WHEREAS, no comparable national passenger rail system in the world has succeeded without
operating subsidies; certainly no system has ever succeeded without substantial public capital
investment; and
WHEREAS, the minimal savings from eliminating long distance trains does not justify
jeopardizing the only passenger rail service in 23 states; and
WHEREAS, the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21),
which is occurring at the same time as the reauthorization of the aviation and Amtrak programs,
offers a key opportunity to increase the strategic and economic security of our intercity
transportation system while providing an alternative to congested highways and crowded runways;
and
WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Mayors encourages a seamless transportation
system for all modal elements, including airports, highways, passenger and freight rail; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak President and CEO David Gunn and the Amtrak Board of Directors have
demonstrated sound fiscal stewardship by taking positive steps to reduce costs, streamline
corporate structure and dramatically increase the transparency of Amtrak's fiscal condition,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors calls
upon the Administration and Congress to invest in Amtrak by creating a long-term, sustainable
federal funding mechanism to provide Amtrak with a fair and consistent source of capital and
operating support for intercity passenger rail; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors calls upon the
Administration and Congress to provide at least $1.8 billion for Amtrak in FY04 to sustain our
national intercity passenger rail system over the next year and fund Amtrak's five year strategic
plan through FY08; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors calls upon the
Administration and Congress to reject efforts to break up and privatize Amtrak inter-city passenger
rail operations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urge the
Administration and Congress to create a congressionally chartered non-profit corporation to issue
tax credit bonds to fund a rail trust fund; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors urge the
Administration and Congress to create a rail trust fund; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors call on the
Administration and Congress to dedicate a portion of any new federal fuels excise tax increase for
inter-city passenger rail with Amtrak as the operator; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors call on the
Administration and Congress to dedicate a portion of any proceeds from the federal issuance of
bonds to fund transportation spending, including inter-city passenger rail.
©2003 U.S. Conference of Mayors 
