NJ-ARP Hotline #616
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
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NJ-ARP Hotline #616 |
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Bush FY09 Budget Proposals: Anti-Rail AgainAnother federal budget proposed, another attempt to slash Amtrak and take down public transit. So it goes for the recommendations floated by the Bush Administration for Fiscal Year 2009, which begins Oct. 1, 2008. The Administration recommends $900 million for Amtrak, the same amount it proposed for FY08. That includes $300 million for operations, $500 million for capital expenses, including upgrades to the Northeast Corridor, and $100 million for grants to states to increase service between heavily traveled cities. Congress likely will have its own view of such funding, much as it did in FY08 when it granted Amtrak $1.3 billion. Acknowledging Congress' action for the FY08 budget, the White House Office of Management and Budget insists its Amtrak recommendation "represents a significant but necessary cut." Somewhat brazenly, OMB claims the proposal also "reflects that Amtrak has taken few steps to align its business with the traveling public's demand for inter-city rail service and that it consequently continues to hemorrhage taxpayer funds." That's a fascinating statement, given that from NJ-ARP's point of view the public demand is for more service, which OMB's budget would deny. NARP Executive Director Ross Capon said the proposal was "not surprising, given this administration's eight-year lack of vision for a balanced transportation network and most recent hostility to the recommendations of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission (NSTPRSC), a federal blue ribbon panel." Public transit, including rail transit, doesn't do much better in the FY09 proposal, receiving $10.1 billion. Though that's though somewhat higher than last year's $9.4 billion, it also reflects a cut from levels originally authorized in 2005 when SAFETEA-LU, the current multiyear transportation bill, was enacted. In addition, the Bush Administration also wants to transfer an estimated $3.2 billion dedicated for public transportation to fund highway projects. The American Public Transportation Association promptly issued a statement saying it was "outraged that the Bush Administration's request for FY 2009 would cut $202.1 million for public transportation and proposed to transfer an estimated $3.2 billion dedicated for public transportation to fund highway projects." APTA said the Bush proposal would reduce the balance in the Mass Transit Account "to the point where, absent new funding, the federal transit program could not be funded in 2010 at even the current level. We urge the Congress to find a different solution to fixing the shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund, such as adopting the proposal already drafted by the Senate Finance Committee to adequately fund the highway program in FY 2009."
TransAction 2008 SetA repeat announcement noting that on April 2-4, 2008, Wednesday through Friday, the 2008 TransAction conference in Atlantic City will take place, occurring this year at a new location, the Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino. NJ-ARP has registered for the conference as an exhibitor and will have officers present at the show -- and possibly as panelists -- to keep passenger rail upfront as a transportation choice for New Jersey's future. We've received no detailed agenda yet. Doubtless an overarching concern among all those attending will be New Jersey's budget crisis and various proposals to address same, proposals that include transportation both as a revenue generator (tolls, fuel taxes) and expenditure. More roads? More rail instead? TransAction 2008 may provide clues to any approach.
Chatham Cafe Hosts NJ-ARP Board MeetNJ-ARP members and invited guests are welcomed to attend the February NJ-ARP Board of Directors meeting Saturday, Feb. 9, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Cafe Beethoven, 262 Main Street, Chatham Borough (map), one block north of the Chatham train station. Continental breakfast foods and beverages will be available during the meeting at a reasonable cost. Part of the agenda includes a segment for NJ-ARP members to suggest or recommend action items, or otherwise identify potential NJ-ARP activities or roles, that the group might pursue in 2008 and the future (available people-power permitting, to be sure).
NJ-ARP's Hotline is normally updated weekly, more often as events warrant. Thank you for checking in.
Copyright ©2008 NJ-ARP Opinions expressed in NJ-ARP's Hotline are those of the organization, as determined by its Board of Directors. Questions, comments, and/or criticism can be addressed to NJ-ARP at P.O. Box 68, Chatham, N.J. 07928, or by calling NJ-ARP's telephone Hotline at 201-963-8979. |
