Amtrak tries to outlive its death sentence, yet again.
Funding for Amtrak has always been a contentious issue, including fights over subsidies for the pretzels, beer, and, well, disgusting hot dogs that are served on board the trains. Amtrak faces frequent criticism for being run inefficiently but certainly has its champions in Congress, not the least of whom are the congresspeople who actually use Amtrak to commute to and from Washington.
The House, following in the Senate's footsteps, today reauthorized Amtrak through FY2013. One of the more interesting provisions of the House version is a grant program for intercity passenger rail. The program would provide funds for the construction of new projects and the improvement of old. Although the money provided - $350 million a year - does not at all mean the sprouting of intercity rail throughout the United States, at least the House's heart is in the right place. The legislation also provides capital and operating grants to Amtrak, authorizes funding for high-speed rail corridors, and puts out a Request for Proposal to private companies for a private high-speed rail connecting New York and D.C. An amendment includes funding for D.C.'s Metro. President Bush has, of course, threatened to veto the measure.
The House debate on Amtrak reauthorization creeped up much more quietly than in past years (including only one hour of debate). I wonder if this implies that debate is shifting from consideration of whether to fund Amtrak to how best to make Amtrak thrive? Indeed, funding Amtrak and especially intercity rail appropriately signals an increased emphasis on reducing traffic and emissions and on facilitating city living.
DCist has a good post outlining Obama and McCain's positions on transportation. In sum, Obama supports Amtrak (some even suggest his campaign decal is modeled after Amtrak's) - but his plan includes the "increased accountability" language favored by the subsidy-elimination crowd - while McCain, accustomed to his wife's corporate jet, has never been much of an Amtrak fan. That is, unless he's traveling to Philadelphia. Neither Senator was present for the vote on the Senate authorization of Amtrak.