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What is next for Amtrak now that the composition of both the Senate and the House of Representatives has changed? Will Amtrak be less likely to receive its full requested funding level?
The most reasonable answer seems to be that among advocates with close ties to Washington DC, the belief is that Amtrak will receive the $1.2 billion for this year that it has requested. NARP Executive Director Ross Capon has been quoted as saying that no one in Washington, except perhaps for a few diehard Amtrak haters, wants to see another crisis situation such as occurred this past summer.
The difference between the two fund-ing levels so far set by the House and Senate is only $438 million. Would it be logical to risk a huge debacle and possible shutdown of the Amtrak system over this amount, which in the federal budget is only a drop in the bucket? Congress and the White House have much bigger issues to worry about—issues of war, terrorism, a faltering economy, etc.
Probably Amtrak’s strongest card now is its new President, David L. Gunn. He is viewed as a no-nonsense, effective and efficient person who can be trusted to do his best to set Amtrak on an even keel. He is seen as a business-oriented person (who also loves trains, analogous to Graham Claytor under the conservative Reagan administration) and chances are he will be given an opportunity to work his magic with our national passenger rail system.
Beyond the current fiscal year, however, there will most likely be increasing pressures on Amtrak to adopt some of the reforms that its would-be reformers have proposed, such as trials at privatization of some services. Rail advocates may be working hard then to assure that they have made the best possible case for their favored transportation mode.
