Durbin Asks Amtrak President to Join State of Illinois in Expanding Amtrak Routes

DURBIN ASKS AMTRAK PRESIDENT TO JOIN STATE OF ILLINOIS IN EXPANDING AMTRAK ROUTES

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Acting President of Amtrak, David Hughes, urging Amtrak to join the State of Illinois in committing funds to the expansion of Illinois Amtrak routes.

"The State of Illinois is not only willing to pay its fair share for passenger rail service but has recognized the recent surge in ridership by considering proposals to double their funding to add additional roundtrip routes," said Durbin. "The equation is simple- if Amtrak covers the cost of four new trains, the state will cover the cost of operating them. That will result in additional roundtrip service for residents from Quincy to Chicago to Carbondale. If Amtrak fails to provide funds on their end, state money that could go towards improvements and expansion will have to be used to compensate for the lack of adequate federal funds."

The Illinois Legislature and Governor are currently considering proposals to more than double the State of Illinois' current $12 million commitment to Amtrak routes. Durbin's letter asks Amtrak to provide federal funds to cover costs of four new trains so that the state can fund the operation of additional roundtrip service on the three Illinois routes.

"Last year, almost every Amtrak line in Illinois saw an increase in ridership- and the state has responded with a proposed increase in funding," said Durbin. "It is time for Amtrak to get on board."

Durbin noted that Illinois benefits, both directly and indirectly, from Amtrak jobs and service with an average of 48 Amtrak trains running each day on more than 1,000 miles of track in Illinois. Amtrak employs more than 2,000 Illinois residents and annually spends $56 million for goods and services in the state. Illinois is the central rail hub of the North American continent, bringing 2.5 million passengers through Amtrak's Midwestern hub in Chicago each year.

In spite of dramatic increases in Amtrak ridership last year, the President's 2007 budget included just $900 million for Amtrak operations- $700 million less than Amtrak itself requested for 2007 and $400 million less than Congress put aside for 2006. This under-funding could force route reductions and service cuts at the 29 Amtrak stops in Illinois that serve over 3 million passengers a year.

Durbin's letter notes the critical importance of funding partnerships between Amtrak and states in expanding service on increasingly successful state routes. The state of Illinois is already one of the top states in the nation in helping to pay for Amtrak's operating costs and has contributed $250 million total to date.

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=253290&&