National Association of May

Railroad Passengers
2011
NARP NEWS Vol. 45, No. 5

[Link] Trains: A Travel Choice Americans Want

GAO Praises FRA’s Amtrak Ridership Just Keeps Growing

Grant Process Amtrak announced that March was 2009, and slightly above FY 2008 when,
The Government Accountability Office the 17th consecutive month of year-over- influenced by big gasoline price increas-
praised the Federal Railroad Administra- year ridership growth. es, Amtrak ridership rose 11.2% over the
tion (FRA) handling of High-Speed and Ridership for the first half of Fiscal 2007 level. „
Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) grants 2011 (Oct.-March) was 5.9% and 10.5% Updated Amtrak ridership sheets by
for projects across the country since mid- above the same months in FY 2010 and state, route, station and Congressional
2009. GAO is the investigative arm of 2009, respectively. district, produced by NARP Council mem-
Congress. Compared with 2010, the 2011 lev- ber Matt Fels, are at [Link]/amstats.
GAO said FRA “established a fair and els were up 3.9%
objective approach for distributing these in the Northeast
funds and substantially followed recom- Corridor, 7.7% for
mended [grantmaking] practices used other short cor-
throughout the government.” ridors and 5.3%
The report credits FRA, traditionally for long-distance
a safety oversight agency, with building trains. This was
a generally well-run grant program from in spite of a harsh
scratch in just two years. Pacific Northwest
GAO found that “an application’s tech- winter in which
nical review score was largely the basis mudslides “result-
for the selection deliberations.” ed in frequent track
Also, “FRA publicly communicated at closures.”
least as much outcome information as all For all of FY
but one [of the] Recovery Act competitive 2010, record rider- -Malcolm Kenton
grant programs we reviewed.” ship of 28.7 million Passengers board southbound Amtrak San Joaquin train 704 at Sacra-
(continued on p. 2) was 5.7% above FY mento, CA, on Apr. 23. This train was nearly sold out.

Amtrak Makes Case to House Appropriators 2011 Budget Zeroes

“I expect that trend [of strong ridership
growth] to continue—and if gas prices
about the outcome, Latham told Board-
man, “Amtrak will always have a warm
High-Speed Rail
continue to rise, to accelerate; our only spot in my heart. When I was dating my Amtrak Capital Reduced
restriction will be the available capacity.” wife—well, she was my girlfriend then, The law that funds the federal govern-
--Amtrak President & CEO Joseph H. thank goodness she is my wife now—she ment through Sept. 30 zeroes out the
Boardman on April 9 lived in Northeast Colorado, in Brush. I popular High-Speed and Intercity Pas-
used to get on Amtrak on a Friday night senger Rail (HSIPR) grant program. It
The House Appropriations Subcommit- in Osceola [IA] and get off at Fort Morgan even rescinds (cancels) $400 million of
tee on Transportation, Housing and Ur- [CO] at about 7:00 in the morning to visit previously appropriated HSIPR funds.
ban Development held a lengthy hearing her.” Now, U.S. DOT has just $2 billion in
on Amtrak’s Fiscal 2012 funding request Here are a few hearing highlights: old HSIPR funds left to distribute.
April 7. Amtrak’s Joseph Boardman was • Steve LaTourette (R-OH) continues as Amtrak’s capital grant is cut $78 million
the sole witness. a strong Amtrak supporter. He reminded below the 2010 level. The transit New
The civilized nature of the hearing colleagues that, over the past 37 years, Starts program is $502 million below
contrasted sharply with the acrimonious the federal government has invested one 2010.
budget fight and threat of a government trillion dollars in highways, $421 billion in “With gas prices soaring above $4
shutdown that engulfed Washington at aviation, and just $36 billion in Amtrak. per gallon, cutting funding to passenger
the time. Later in the hearing, he said funds Amtrak trains and transit is bad policy that will
Many NARP members will be inter- has gotten “pale in comparison to what hurt American families,” NARP’s Ross
ested in the way Chairman Tom Latham the other modes have gotten.” He called Capon said in a statement. “We plan on
(R-IA) closed the hearing. Acknowledg- Amtrak’s strong ridership growth “proof in working with Congress and the President
ing the difficult budgetary environment the pudding” that Amtrak is doing well. “I to make sure that the newly-established
and that he could make no promises (continued on p. 2) (continued on p. 4)
GAO Praises FRA from page 1 Boardman Testifies to House Appropriations from page 1

Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

Moreover, GAO said praise for FRA have great faith in Joe Boardman. I had asked about
also came from state agencies which ap- great faith in Joe when he was [Federal the top speed
plied for the grants. Applicants praised Railroad] Administrator.” “this side of
FRA officials for providing comprehen- • John Carter (R-TX) asked about high New York.”
sive information and for answering ques- Northeast Corridor fares. Boardman: “We Boardman:
tions during the periods leading up to charge the maximum we can so that we “135 mph. We
deadlines. minimize our cost to the taxpayer.” LaTo- would need
GAO did have urette: “If Amtrak charged lower fares and power, sig-
some critical com- required more taxpayer dollars, we’d be nal, track and
ments, as the re- criticizing them about that, too.” catenary im-
port’s title suggests: • Carter said he had taken Amtrak from provements to
“Recording Clearer Austin to Washington when his doctor go faster.” Boardman on Apr. 9
Reasons for Awards wouldn’t let him fly. He had a good expe- • Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) said she “comes
Decisions Would rience. He also got the impression that from a part of the country where we
Improve Otherwise the overnight trains are heavily used by love railroads... How do you look at the
Good Grantmaking retirees. relationship with VIA Rail Canada, and
Practices.” • John Olver (D-MA), the ranking mem- with the freight railroads? Your rider-
FRA Administrator GAO said FRA ber, was impressed with the fact that 43% ship growth is impressive. It means your
Joseph Szabo
“recorded general of Amtrak’s disabled passengers use the people are working really hard, especially
reasons for selecting applications and overnight trains. He found this “startling,” with old equipment. We want to thank
publicly posted broad descriptions of the since so many of the stations along those your people.”
selected projects. However, the docu- routes are not ADA-compliant. Board- There also was discussion about Am-
mented reasons for [FRA’s] decisions man emphasized that Amtrak handles trak’s seemingly high overtime costs.
were typically vague or restated the crite- lots of disabled passengers at stations Boardman said this was largely a function
ria listed in the funding announcement.” that are not ADA-compliant. of staff shortages and the fact that much
It also said, “Decision rationales provided • Steve Womack (R-AR) said he had not of the work must be performed within a
little insight into selections.” ridden Amtrak. He is from northwestern short timespan, often on short notice.
For its part, FRA said it “worked hard Arkansas, which Amtrak does not serve, However, he also said that Amtrak had
to ensure that the program was both thor- although Boardman noted the potential made changes aimed at better manage-
ough in its evaluation of project merits for Thruway bus linkage between that ment of overtime. „
and fair in its decision making.” corner of the state and the Texas Eagle.
To date, about $5.7 billion dollars in Womack expressed some skepticism
HSIPR funds have been obligated nation- about the value of the Eagle.
wide for projects funded by the Recovery • Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) wondered
Act and by regular, annual appropria- why freight railroads could make a prof-
AMTRAK’S TOP PRIORITIES
tions. „ it and Amtrak cannot. He also asked Asked to identify Amtrak’s “bare-
GAO Report 11-283 is at [Link] whether Amtrak could get rid of “those bones” 2012 capital needs, Board-
gov/gaofra [PDF] routes that don’t make a profit.” man gave the following list.
• Olver wondered what would happen • $350m - NEC safety
with Amtrak in a government shutdown, • $250m - overhauls of cars and
which loomed at the time. Boardman: locomotives
“We see ourselves being able to operate • $175m to continue Americans
TRAVELER’S ADVISORY for an additional month,” because Amtrak with Disabilities Act work at current
General Amtrak timetable chang- gets 75% of its revenue from passengers levels
es take effect May 1. Some key and another 10% from things like leases • $63m to continue the 130-car
changes: at Philadelphia 30th Street and New York acquisition
• Northbound Silver Meteor departs Penn Stations. • $17m - reservation system up-
Miami 20 minutes earlier; overall run Olver asked about the status of Am- grades (“need to continue”)
time 11 minutes shorter. trak’s fleet plan. Boardman: “As I said at • $12m - labor management system
• Northbound Carolinian and mid- a NARP meeting, responding to critics, • $17m - Fix the garage where ce-
day Raleigh-bound Piedmont (#74) isn’t it great that you have a fleet plan to ment is falling at Philadelphia’s 30th
depart Charlotte 30 mins. earlier. criticize? Until 2010, there wasn’t one.” Street Station
• Eastbound Capitol Ltd. leaves Chi- Olver asked if there was a manufacturing • $12m - Upgrades to Chicago
cago 30 minutes earlier due to CSX base in the U.S. Boardman mentioned Union Station
tunnel work Pittsburgh-Washington. CAF-USA, which is building the 130 sin- Add $271 million for debt ser-
• Westbound Cardinal leaves Wash- gle-level cars. He also said, “we’ve been vice, to avoid defaulting on leases,
ington 5 minutes earlier. Eastbound debating whether Superliners need to be and the capital+debt service total is
trip lengthened 15 minutes. replaced or simply overhauled.” $1,167 million.
• Charlie Dent (R-PA) rides Amtrak. He
 Federal HSR Rail Program: Bipartisan Appeal Govs. Walker
(left) and
The New York Times in an April 21 edi- million for previously announced grants. Christie
torial said 11 Republican governors are The biggest went to Washington State, (official photos)
seeking more federal rail funds. The edi- Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey and
torial lambasted Congress for dramatic California.
cuts in the High Speed and Intercity Pas- Missouri’s $3.8 million would fund im-
THIS YEAR’S AWARDS
senger Train program. provements at 13 grade crossings west
Notable among the grant applications, of Sedalia, preliminary work for a second NARP’s Golden Spike Award this
which were due April 4: Wisconsin Gov. main track (Lee’s Summit-Pleasant Hill) year goes to Sen. Susan Collins (R-
Scott Walker, who famously rejected and development of a State Rail Plan. ME), Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
funds for Milwaukee-Madison, wants New York gets $3.3 million to “add track and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME).
$150 mill. for Chicago-Milwaukee; New and rail capacity” near Ballston Spa. This The first NARP Academic Award
Jersey Gov. Chris Christie requested will improve reliability of the Adirondack goes to Dr. Vukan Vuchic, emeritus
$570 million to replace the century-old and Ethan Allen Express. „ of the University of Pennsylvania.
Portal Bridge (December News). FRA’s release for the NY grant is at The Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safe-
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood [Link]/frany; release covering the ty Award, presented by the Burch
Family, goes to J. Blair Slaughter,
on April 8 reported obligating over $300 rest is at [Link]/411fra
Amtrak Principal Engineer, Indus-
trial Design. Stay tuned!
VICTORIES IN N.C., MISSOURI
State legislators in Missouri and Report: Florida HSR Would Have Turned Profit
North Carolina rejected attempts
to block the use of federal High- A few weeks after Gov. Scott can- Feb. 16, the study is being delivered to
Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail celed the Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail the Federal Railroad Administration.
(HSIPR) funds. project, two consulting firms completed The study found more people express-
N.C. State Rep. Ric Killian (R- a study saying that the line would have ing a preference for high-speed rail than
Mecklenburg) introduced a bill to been profitable by its first year. did a 2009 report, causing a jump in pro-
prohibit the state from accepting The system would have generated jected ridership and revenue.
HSIPR funds without legislative ap- $62.9 million in revenue in its first year South Carolina-based Wilbur Smith As-
proval. But after citizens pushed of operation (2015) resulting in a $10.24 sociates and international firm Steer Da-
back, state Sen. Bob Rucho (R- million profit, according to the findings. vies Gleave undertook the study. „
Mecklenburg) told a business group Florida DOT released the study in early Source: Engineering News-Record
that his party “will support the $545 March. Since Scott canceled the project Southeast ([Link]/flhsr)
million” in federal funds awarded
last month to modernize the Ra-
leigh-Charlotte corridor (Charlotte Builder Faces High Water in North Dakota
Business Journal, Apr. 8). North Dakota has had an unusually suspension of service and a temporary
The House Transportation Com- wet spring. “Heavy rain and blizzards reroute of the Empire Builder.
mittee Apr. 19 approved an amend- have caused eight rivers in the state to A study conducted for BNSF by Barr
ment to Killian’s bill. The result is swell to flood levels” (Scientific American, Engineering ([Link]
that NCDOT is simply required to March 25). This has caused problems found a $77 million price tag for raising
notify the legislature of the use of for Amtrak’s Empire Builder both on the the bridge, and $22 million net cost of
such grants. Some Republicans regular route through Devils Lake, Grand replacing jointed rail on the line. State
joined all committee Democrats in Forks, and Rugby, and on those occa- or federal funds would be required. The
supporting the amendment. sions when it has used BNSF’s alternate work would take two years to complete.
The bill next goes to the House route through New Rockford. The possibility exists that the $77 mil-
Commerce Committee, then to the At this writing, it seemed likely that a lion might be lowered, for example, if the
full House. Further amendments are rising Devils Lake could soon force BNSF pumping station works and eliminates the
still possible. North Carolinians to declare its bridge near Churchs Ferry need to raise the track level.
should call their state Represen- (photo, Oct. 2010 News) impassable. Amtrak has begun qualifying its crews
tatives. BNSF says that Amtrak is the only user to operate through New Rockford over the
In Missouri, State Sen. Jim of a 17-mile segment that includes this Surrey Cutoff (a.k.a. “K.O. Subdivision”).
Lembke (R-St. Louis) moved to strip bridge. This is BNSF’s Fargo-Minot mainline and
from the state budget $37 million The State of North Dakota is construct- is 45 miles shorter than the route through
in Recovery Act funds for improve- ing a pumping station designed to reduce Grand Forks. There are no passenger fa-
ments to the St. Louis-Kansas City the lake’s level by one foot. However, cilities at New Rockford, much less ADA
corridor. The amendment was voted this is to become operational sometime compliant ones. Connecting buses will
down in a Senate committee. during 2012. That could be long after serve the missed stops for at least the first
Amtrak has implemented what it calls a month of a detour. „
 National Association of Robert J. Stewart, Chairman; John Delora, Albert L. Papp, Jr., Arthur Poole, David Randall, Vice
Chairs; Stephen J. Salatti, Secretary; Kenneth T. Clifford, Treasurer
Railroad Passengers Ross B. Capon, President & CEO; Sean Jeans-Gail, Vice President; Malcolm M. Kenton, Director of
Outreach & Engagement; Mary Beth McCall, Coordinator of Resource Development; Lawrence E.
NARP NEWS Scott, Special Assistant to the Chairman.
National Association of Railroad Passengers NARP News (ISSN 0739-3490), published monthly (ex-
cept Nov.) by NARP; 505 Capitol Ct. NE, Suite 300; Washington, DC 20002-7706; 202/408-8362,
fax 202/408-8287, narp@[Link], [Link]. ©2011 National Assoc. of Railroad Pas-
Vol. 45, No. 5 May 2011 sengers. All rights reserved. Membership dues $35/year ($20/student, $25/senior), of which $5
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(This has news through April 27. Vol. 45, No. 4 was mailed April 13.)
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our mission: a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice americans want.

NARP Files Comments For Two House Hearings

“The importance of passenger train de- should not be retroactive; Highway System. „
velopment...is underlined now as gaso- • The freeze on longer/heavier trucks NARP’s full statements are at [Link].
line prices again are driving up Amtrak should be extended to the entire National ly/tiregs and [Link]/pvtsect
ridership and leaving too many Ameri-
cans without access to trains and with Modern Train Board for Washington Main Hall
less freedom to travel. That is in part be-
cause the U.S. gasoline pump price, with
its relatively low gasoline tax, is extrao-
dinarily sensitive to fluctuations in world
oil prices.”
That is how NARP Pres. Ross Capon
began his statement for the record in the
House Railroads Subcommittee’s March
11 hearing on “Finding Ways to Encour-
age and Increase Private Sector Partici-
pation in Passenger Rail Service.”
NARP defended U.S. DOT’s intercity
passenger train grants, and underlined
that “Amtrak has a great advantage over
other carriers...their ability to provide li-
ability for passenger rail service and their
statutory right of access to operate over
freight lines” (quoting written testimony of
NC DOT’s Patrick Simmons).
Capon’s statement for the subcommit-
tee’s April 7 hearing on reducing regula-
tory burdens included recommendations
on how a restored “Build America Bonds” - Malcolm Kenton
program could be more train—and pas- After a long hiatus, train information in late March was restored to the majestic main hall in
Washington Union Station. A similar digital board has replaced the Solari “flip board” at Balti-
senger-train—friendly. more’s Penn Station. Philadelphia, Newark and New Haven Solaris will be replaced next.
We supported a flexible, “sliding scale”
approach to Buy America requirements. Current Year Funding from page 1
We listed issues on which we agree ‘zero baseline’ for the high-speed rail pro- states with Republican governors (see p.
with the railroads: gram does not stand in the 2012 budget 3).
• The Section 130 grade crossing “set process.” It’s partly up to you to see that HSIPR
aside” program should be retained; For the last round of HSIPR funds, gets funded in FY 2012. Contact your
• The rehabilitation tax credit for short line states that met the April 4 deadline con- representatives by calling 202-224-
railroads should be extended; stituted half of the United States, and 3121 or by going to [Link].
• Any new passenger-related liability law well over half its population, including 11 Urge friends to do the same. „