Amtrak releases new strategic guidance and five-year plan
Written by jrood
With the release of new Strategic Guidance and the FY 2010-2014 Five Year Financial Plan, Amtrak aims to continue the solid ridership growth seen in recent years and position itself to maximize this historic moment in federal and state support for more passenger rail service, including for the development of high-speed rail corridors.
"Amtrak
is moving into the future with clear goals and specific initiatives to secure
and expand our leadership position in the increasingly competitive passenger
rail industry," said Thomas Carper, chairman of the Amtrak board of directors.
Carper
said the new Strategic Guidance sets the foundation for the FY 2010-2014 Five Year
Financial Plan, and together they encompass the strategy for continuing Amtrak’s
ridership growth that has increased steadily from 21.6 million in FY 2002 to
27.2 million in FY 2009, with an all-time record high of 28.7 million in FY
2008.
"We
must think big, be innovative and pursue opportunities and decisions that make
good business sense because the competition is real," said Amtrak President and
CEO Joseph H. Boardman, stressing that he believes the national railroad’s
experience and depth of expert knowledge are assets that make Amtrak the right
choice to operate new or expanded service.
The
Strategic Guidance outlines the opportunities and challenges facing Amtrak in
the new passenger rail environment where states have the primary role in
developing new or expanded intercity and high-speed rail service. It
establishes six broad goals to be safer, greener and healthier and to improve
financial performance, customer service and meet national needs. Plus, it
creates key performance indicators to measure progress.
The
FY 2010-2014 Five Year Financial Plan for the first time provides substantially
detailed financial projections for Amtrak’s revenue, operating costs, capital
programs and debt service obligations. It also provides a comprehensive
discussion of initiatives Amtrak is taking to fulfill its goals and key
performance indicators with targets by which it will be measured.
Among
the specific plans to be accomplished by the end of FY 2014 are to increase
ridership by 15 percent, grow ticket revenue by 20 percent, expand service on
eight existing state-supported corridors, form two new state partnerships and
improve reliability of service across the railroad.
The
two documents combined create a new vision that supersedes Amtrak’s 2005 Strategic
Reform Initiatives and align Amtrak’s goals with those passed by Congress in Passenger
Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 and in the Obama administration’s Vision
for High-Speed Rail in America.
Amtrak
also is partnering with and assisting states as they apply for federal grants
to develop high-speed rail corridors, preparing a new fleet plan to replace
aging locomotives and passenger rail cars, upgrading tracks and other
infrastructure and installing Positive Train Control technology to enhance
safety. In addition, Amtrak plans to deploy Wi-Fi technology on Acela Express,
implement next generation reservation and eTicketing programs and improve accessibility
for persons with disabilities to Amtrak trains, platforms and stations.
Further,
Amtrak is continuing to make lasting investments in all aspects of the railroad
including improved business management processes, better on-board services, and
modernizing existing passenger car interiors.
