Destiny RemezasDaily Egyptian
While funding for Amtrak may have temporarily derailed, the future is looking better for the passenger rail service, U.S. Rep Jerry Costello (D-Belleville), said at a news conference in Carbondale Saturday.
The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Thursday, approved $1.45 billion for Amtrak in 2006. This is $250 million more than it received last year but $170 million less than what Amtrak has asked for.
"I don't think there is any question the $1.4 billion will remain intact," Costello said.
He said he was confidant Amtrak would receive at least $1.2 billion, which is what it received in 2004 and 2005.
However, Amtrak will be able to continue its operations more so with the $1.4 billion, said Marc Magliari, Amtrak's Chicago based spokesman, but will work with Congress to try to continue services.
Glenn Poshard, SIU presidential candidate, was the first person to contact Costello and tell him how much the area depends on the passenger rail system, Costello said.
"Our University absolutely depends on this for many, many reasons," Poshard said.
He said he did not want to see the Carbondale route, which had 62,998 passengers in 2003, in danger of being shut down.
Getting at least $1.2 billion was good news for Amtrak, Costello said, because it is critical for the United States to keep a passenger rail service. He wants to make certain the system stays for the University.
"If we want a good transportation system in the United States, we are going to have to pay for it," Costello said. "$1.2 billion to keep passenger railroads in U.S. is a very small amount of money."
President George W. Bush's administration requested Amtrak be given no support for 2006.
The railroad subcommittee recommended giving Amtrak $550 million in June, which David Gunn, president and CEO of Amtrak, said would not be enough to run any trains.
Costello, who is on the subcommittee, said this is not the time to stop the system and compared the United States system to those in Asia and Europe, which, unlike the system here, have been expanding.
"I think the administration is trying to make cuts to fund the war in Iraq," Costello said.
The $5 billion that goes to support the United State's involvement in Iraq each month is money no one in the administration thought they would have to spend, Costello said.
The federal government has given Amtrak more than $29 billion in monetary support since 1971.
Reporter Destiny Remezas can be reached at
destiny_remezas@dailyegyptian.com.
