By Kevin McCarty
June 2, 2008

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman James L. Oberstar (MN), recently approved new legislation that significantly increases future federal funding commitments to Amtrak and other state-led intercity passenger rail efforts.

As reported on May 22, the “Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008” (HR 6003) authorizes $14.4 billion for both Amtrak capital and operating needs, state intercity passenger grants, and high-speed rail over the next five years. This action by the key House transportation panel occurred less than one week from introduction of the legislation by a bipartisan group of panel members.“Today’s markup is a historic milestone, because the legislation we approved today is a truly significant and long overdue investment in the nation’s passenger rail system. We can address many of the nation’s most pressing transportation problems by improving Amtrak’s service and operations, because increased passenger rail ridership will alleviate growing highway and airport congestion,” Oberstar said.

In other comments on the legislation, Oberstar emphasized the importance of increased passenger rail investment to support metropolitan economic growth, a longstanding theme of the Conference and its member mayors on the need for strategic investments in transportation infrastructure. “These grants (state matching program) will help develop rail systems in the emerging ‘mega-regions,’ bringing greater mobility to the fastest growing regions of the country. H.R. 6003 ensures the continued success and growth of our safe, efficient, and essential national passenger rail system, and through this legislation, we have created a lasting legacy for America,” he said.“Passage of H.R. 6003 will be the first major step in bringing our nation’s intercity passenger rail system into the 21st Century. The American people deserve the best passenger rail system in the world, and I believe this Amtrak Reauthorization will go a long way to raise the United States to its rightful place as a world leader in passenger rail,” said Representative Corrine Brown (FL), Chairwoman of the panel’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

The bill helps Amtrak bring its assets to a state-of-good-repair, improves service reliability and increases train speed; helps Amtrak replace its aging rail fleet; provides grants to pay salaries, overtime, and benefits to Amtrak employees; provides grants to alleviate “choke points” across the nation where lack of rail capacity is hampering ridership growth; and provides grants to enable states and Amtrak to develop and construct high-speed rail corridors throughout the country. Major provisions of H.R. 6003 include:

• authorizing $4.2 billion (an average of $840 million per year) to Amtrak for capital grants and $3.0 billion (an average of $606 million per year) for operating grants;

• creating a new State Capital Grant program for intercity passenger rail capital projects;

• authorizing $1.75 billion ($350 million per year) for grants to states and/or Amtrak to finance the construction and equipment for 11 authorized high-speed rail corridors;

• providing congestion grants to Amtrak and the states for high-priority rail corridors in order to reduce congestion and facilitate ridership growth;

• authorizing $345 million each year for debt service through FY2013;

• directing the Secretary of Transportation to issue a request for proposals for projects for the financing, design, construction, and operation of an initial high-speed rail system operating between Washington (DC) and New York City; and

• establishing a forum at the Surface Transportation Board to help complete stalled commuter rail negotiations.

H.R. 6003 closely follows legislation passed last year by the full Senate. The outlook for final action during this Congress remains uncertain, given the consistent opposition of key Bush Administration officials to any increased funding commitments to Amtrak and intercity passenger rail.