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I just read a news story about more funding for Amtrak. You can read it at, http://www.utu.org/worksite/amtrak.cfm then click on Oberstar's Priorities: Amtrak, rail funding. I sure hope he can do it!
Mike Smith Member # 447
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Whoever is in his district needs to write him and push for a dedicated 2 cents per gallon gas tax for Amtrak, taken from the 1993 gas tax increase. Every bit of that 4.3 cent a gallon tax increase went into the general fund. None of it went for transportation.
train lady Member # 3920
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thanks for the article. It is certainly interesting. Let's hope he is successful
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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Rep. Oberstar is now in an influential position for transportation funding, and has always been a supporter of Amtrak. He was involved in obtaining Amtrak service from MSP to Duluth (his district) in the 70's, which was very successful until Minnesota withdrew their 403b funding portion in a lean budget year. A local rail supporter brought up the fact that funding that rail service cost less than maintaining 5/8 of a mile of local Interstate. Rep. Oberstar was just re-elected by a huge margin running against former US Senator Rod Grams(R), an Amtrak opponent.
On another local note, today's Minneapolis paper had a cover page article on Thanksgiving travel that included 3 pictures of people enjoying laid back holiday long distance travel on Amtrak, in contrast to problems others had with air travel. They mentioned all trains were sold out, and that bedrooms had been sold out for months.
This is the paper's 3rd prominent favorable news item on Amtrak in the last month. Pretty good for a one train town. So many people here hardly know rail alternatives exist, or that the demand exceeds supply. It is good the word is getting out.
A long time prominent state Senator who was Minnesota's most vocal critic of any rail, lost his bid for US Congress in the primary, and then was actually unseated as state Senator in a Democratic sweep. His district is soon to be served by commuter rail, which he opposed, and he fought the now hugely successful Minneapolis light rail line.
Gov. Pawlenty originally opposed commuter rail, then reversed his position after polls showed locals stuck in traffic really wanted rail service. He was the only Republican re-elected for statewide office, and his new-found support of rail may have been the difference.
And then we have Trent Lott, a friend of Amtrak, elected to a national leadership position in the Republican party. These are small, but important gains. There will probably be much pressure to reduce expenses and debt, so Amtrak needs all the friends it can get.
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