The politics of keeping Amtrak rolling last week appeared to herald a running battle that could spill into next year’s federal transportation reauthorization. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta’s vague policy speech (MTR #371) and attempt to deny Amtrak a needed $100 million loan guarantee had the hallmarks of an ideological assault, especially coming in the same week that major airlines were also back in the news seeking billions in federal guarantees. 

But the Bush administration may not have anticipated as vociferous a reaction as it received from both coasts soon after Mineta’s speech, or to have understood the role of Amtrak in many metropolitan commuter rail systems. “The Bush administration has a very thin skin,” Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon told reporters. “What they proposed last week was a thinly veiled attempt to kill Amtrak. They backed off. Obviously, they feel there's a constituency.”

Amtrak President David Gunn said Mineta had not spoken with him before making the speech.  It looks as though there was no consultation between the administration and the governors of states where Amtrak is an important part of the transportation system. Senators Biden and Clinton told reporters that saddling the states with Amtrak costs was, respectively, “cockamamie” and “a non-starter.”

Still, the threat of cutting Amtrak off gave the administration some momentum.  The deal worked out over the weekend includes an Amtrak pledge to find $100 million in budget savings and to refrain from planning new services through the fall of 2003.In return, the railroad gets a $100 million loan guarantee and administration backing for an additional congressional appropriation later in the year, and avoids for now any deal over long-term restructuring.  However, the administration will try to keep Amtrak on a short leash and exact more concessions in time.

Butthe burden will be on Mineta to show that the administration has a sincere belief that inter-city passenger rail service has a role in easing highway and airport gridlock, and that the reforms he proposes will lead to better, more attractive rail service. 

“Every form of transportation in this country receives federal support,” Senator Schumer told press.

Bush to Bankrupt Amtrak? 
(June 24, 2002)

Train Beating Plane on D.C. Run,  
But Lacks Juice on Capitol Hill 
(June 10, 2002) 

MTR search facility and back issues:

Search our database of all past issues of Mobilizing the Region since Fall, 1994.

Go to index of all Mobilizing the Region back issues