Amtrak seeks more capital investment, less operating support for FY14

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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In its FY 2014 funding request to Congress, Amtrak is emphasizing the need for more federal capital investment to improve and expand intercity passenger rail, while requesting significantly less in federal operating support.

“If we truly want to realize our vision of what rail can offer America, in terms of real mobility improvements and rational modal choices, policy decisions must be made and funding provided to match them. These are big decisions and will require bold thinking, but they will deliver value for the money,” said President and CEO Joe Boardman.

Boardman explained Amtrak ridership, revenue, on-time performance and other indicators are at record levels or improving. According to Amtrak, since 2010, for every dollar of federal investment, the railroad has placed nearly $3 back into the economy. These achievements, he said, provide “tangible evidence of the public benefit federal investment in Amtrak delivers to the taxpayer, the traveling public and the American economy.”

He stressed that since the federal government established Amtrak as the foundation of a national intercity passenger rail system, the modernizing and maintaining of that system is a significant federal responsibility, including the operation of long-distance routes.

For FY 2014, Amtrak is seeking $373 million in federal operating support or about 17 percent less than it requested in FY 2013. This is made possible by an improved financial position where last fiscal year Amtrak covered 88 percent of its operating costs with ticket sales and other non-federal revenue sources, up from 85 percent the prior year. In addition, if current service levels are maintained, Amtrak’s state revenues in FY 2014 should increase by approximately $85 million, as Amtrak and the states implement a Congressional requirement on cost allocation for short-distance routes.

Also for FY 2014, Amtrak is requesting $2.065 billion in federal capital support to maintain the Northeast Corridor and other Amtrak-owned or maintained infrastructure and equipment; advance the Gateway Program to expand track, tunnel and station capacity between Newark, N.J., and New York Penn Station; acquire new equipment and improve accessibility for passengers with disabilities. Amtrak is also requesting $212 million for debt service.

“In recognition that the Amtrak network is a national asset operated on behalf of the federal government, the highest imperative of passenger rail legislation should be to provide dedicated, multi-year operating and capital funding to support existing intercity passenger rail services and assets and the development of new ones,” Boardman stated.

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