Every day sees new horror stories about life under Republican rule, so many things that it’s hard to keep track. ICYMI, Amtrak is on the chopping block. It’s always been on the GOP hit list, but now that the Heritage Foundation is writing Trump’s budget, they’re finally getting started on demolishing the only thing America has that comes close to being a national rail passenger system.
Via the National Association of Railway Passengers, here’s what’s going down.
The proposed 2018 White House budget would slash funding for Amtrak, leaving 140 million Americans without access. Other cuts to transit and commuter rail programs will cost thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs, especially in small town America. Budget cuts will place a disproportionate amount of pain on rural and working class communities who rely on rail and public transit services for everyday travel.
Although the threatened services are commonly called long-distance trains, they also serve as local and regional transportation for the communities they serve. In Montana and North Dakota, for example, Amtrak's long distance trains connect nineteen towns and cities on a single corridor. In Florida, twenty eight communities are bound together by long distance routes that offer an important travel option for family and business travelers.
"Millions of people will be left isolated, and those who will suffer the most are those who rely on passenger rail to get to their job, for an ADA-compliant mode of travel, and for people where other transportation options are limited," said NARP Chairman Peter LeCody. "The voices of these people must be heard by members of Congress, and we plan to make that possible during our 'Rally For Trains.'"
Under President Obama, Amtrak got new equipment, improved service, and saw ridership going up. There’s a growing interest in restoring passenger rail service to communities that haven’t seen it in years. (As for example, the Gulf Coast.) California, Texas, Canada are all looking at their own High Speed Rail systems, in a mix of public and private efforts. Florida is getting upgraded conventional rail. (Higher Speed Rail, as they call it.) Rail travel is looking up again — or would be in a sane America run by competent people.
The Trump budget is all about tax cuts and shrinking government. It’s a road map for turning America into a third world country run by a kleptocratic oligarchy. This will kill jobs, weaken the economy in places that need all the help they can get, turn us away from sustainability, and enrich the few at the expense of the many. It’s a DE-investment in infrastructure.
This is literally putting America on the wrong track. A subsequent administration might try to restore Amtrak service — but it would be an uphill battle because of all the infrastructure and legal arrangements needed to run Amtrak trains that would have to be rebuilt.
Want to fight back? RALLY FOR TRAINS Call your congress people. Call your state legislators too — in some states Amtrak service depends on state funding — and Amtrak service contributes to the state economy regardless. There will be rallies in several cities to support Amtrak. Want to find one or organize one? Check here. There’s also downloadable art for signs. There are more links and information here at the NARP home page.
If you want to see what a modern passenger rail system looks like, better plan a trip to China. If you want a list of what will be gone and who to call about it, here you are.