By Ron Thaniel
February 4, 2002

Calling development of a national rails policy "essential for our economy and our security," the nation's mayors urged President Bush and Congress to support reauthorization of Amtrak, the nation's passenger rail carrier, and to develop a national rails policy that includes expanded inter-city passenger service.

Most of the approximately 300 mayors from across the nation meeting in Washington boarded an Acela Express Train to New York January 24th where they continued their 70th Annual Winter Meeting in New York in a show of support for Amtrak.

"Mayors from across the country are riding the train to New York City today to demonstrate our bipartisan support for the reauthorization of Amtrak and for the establishment of a national passenger rail system," said Conference President New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial who joined Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith and Amtrak President George Warrington.

Amtrak's Future
The support of the mayors is particularly valuable to Amtrak because it comes as the Bush Administration and Congress prepare for decisions on the future of the passenger train in America.

Amtrak must be reauthorized this year, and numerous ideas are being discussed on future structure for train operation, ranging from giving Amtrak more money to breaking up the company into smaller, private companies serving only major passenger corridors. The Amtrak Reform Council, a group established by Congress that is monitoring Amtrak's financial performance, will issue a report in February that is all but certain to recommend some private-sector solution.

The restructuring plan would split Amtrak's operations into three entities. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation would become a management agency responsible for managing passenger rail franchise rights, securing funding from Congress and overseeing the performance of the entire system.

One government-owned company would own the Northeast Corridor and other Amtrak assets. Another company, which at least initially would be federally owned, would operate the trains.

After a transition period, the New National Railroad Passenger Corporation could explore with the operating company if and how to franchise corridors or trains to other operators, such as private companies, freight railroads or states.

Mayors Respond to Possible Breakup of Amtrak
Mayor Morial said that would be unwise and said that there is a transportation crisis in America. "We support the idea of Amtrak being the primary passenger rail system in America," he said. "I don't see that any of the other alternatives would be better service or more efficiency. Amtrak was created because the old system was not working," he added.

Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith discussed Amtrak with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and said Mineta "understands there certainly must be a strong rail component in transportation."

"What that is, as the White House sees it, has yet to be determined," said Mayor Smith, a member of Amtrak's governing board. "An interstate rail system must be built with the same zeal as the interstate highway system was built. It is about a national rail system for our people."

The Conference released a poll in January 2001 that showed strong public backing from residents outside of urban areas for passenger rail investment and overwhelming support (82 percent) for the creation of a rail service network as an alternative to driving.

Following the press conference the mayors sent letters to President Bush and congressional leaders urging the reauthorization of Amtrak and development of a national rail policy for the 21st century.

Amtrak President George Warrington said the letters show the nation's mayors want "to strengthen our economy and strengthen our security by investing in intercity passenger rail, especially high-speed rail.

Morial said the mayors' lobbying effort isn't meant to replace or hurt air travel — just supplement it. While airplanes could carry people to faraway destinations, passenger rail could be used for "shorter hauls," he said and also take some traffic off the nation's congested highways.

"We're about giving people some options," he said.