Editorial: "Congress not improving Amtrak"

[BNSF 1088]

Editorial: "Congress not improving Amtrak"
(The following editorial from the Bloomington, Ind., Pantagraph appeared Monday, November 29, 2004.)
Annual subsidies to Amtrak are like feeding a junkie's habit -- they don't cure the problem. The subsidies keep trains running, but they don't address better service or needed capital for such things as replacing and/or refurbishing equipment or replacing rails.

If Congress and the Bush administration aren't willing to give Amtrak the money it needs or approve tough route-cutting decisions, then they should tell Amtrak this is the last year for subsidies. The $1.2 billion authorized in Saturday's spending bill will just allow Amtrak to limp along another year. Amtrak asked for $1.8 billion.

Kenneth Mead, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation, says lawmakers must restructure Amtrak. That sounds like passing the buck. You would think David Gunn, Amtrak's president for the past 2 1/2 years, would be making those decisions. However, reality is that Gunn's decisions have to please members of Congress. And members of Congress don't have the gumption to say its OK to pull the plug on money-losing routes through their districts. After all, it could mean losing some votes. So, Amtrak limps along.

In the meantime, Congress is defying its own law. A 1997 law said Amtrak had to be self-sufficient by 2002. It is still losing more than $500 million a year.

Congress has to get off its duff and decide what to do with Amtrak.

November 29, 2004