By Staff
WASHINGTON, DC -Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) hailed today's adoption in the House of Representatives of an amendment to restore Amtrak's funding to its 2005 level.
Amtrak had been funded at $550 million for 2006, well below the $1.2 billion it currently receives. Today's amendment provided an additional $650 million to ensure level funding for Amtrak in 2006. The amendment was approved by voice vote during debate of the FY06 Transportation-Treasury Appropriations bill.
By restoring $650 million to Amtrak's budget, the Wolverine Line along the Detroit-Chicago corridor, the Blue Water line to Port Huron and the Pere Marquette line that runs to Holland will continue to provide first rate service to Michigan's rail passengers."
In 2004, Amtrak had a record ridership of 25.05 million riders, a 4.3 percent increase over the prior year's record of 24 million riders.
Ridership was up on corridor and long-distance trains across the nation. Without Amtrak there would be an additional 7,500 fully booked 757 airplanes crowding the U.S. skies.
Amtrak is an essential transportation link for small urban and rural communities across America; for many it is the only affordable and convenient public transportation. Amtrak serves 519 U.S. cities and communities.
Michigan's Amtrak lines also enjoyed a boost in ridership over the last year. Ridership on the Wolverine trains in 2004 was 366,291 passengers, up 12.2 percent from the 326,367 passengers who rode the trains during the 2003 fiscal year.
Ridership on the Pere Marquette was 87,767 passengers, up 19.6 percent from the 73,392 passengers who rode that rail line in 2003.
And the Blue Water train had 94,378 passengers in 2004, up 16.7 percent from 80,890.
The original FY06 transportation spending bill provided just $550 million for Amtrak, far less than the $1.2 billion Congress provided for Amtrak in FY2005.
Funding of $550 million would have forced Amtrak to shutdown all operations and declare bankruptcy.
Adoption of $550 million or anything below $1.2 billion would guarantee insolvency by spring and force Amtrak to shut down the railroad stranding millions of rail passengers in this country.
Amtrak's $1.2 billion request will allow Amtrak to continue to operate its current system, continue its work toward a state-of-good-repair and stability, and make critically needed investments to return rolling stock and infrastructure.