Durbin Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators in Reauthorizing Amtrak for 6 Years

DURBIN JOINS BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS IN REAUTHORIZING AMTRAK FOR 6 YEARS

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in introducing The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007. The legislation, introduced with Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Trent Lott (R-MI), Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), and Ted Stevens (R-AL), among others, reauthorizes Amtrak funding for 2007 through 2012.

"Today, we are introducing a reauthorization bill for one of the most valuable transportation programs for Illinois and the nation," said Durbin. "Amtrak provides quick, cost-effective, and reliable public ground transportation to 30 communities and more than 3 million people in Illinois. It's now up to us, as lawmakers, to pass this reauthorization measure and subsequent appropriations bills to provide Amtrak with sufficient funds to keep things on track."

Amtrak's reauthorization expired in 2002. Since that time, no consensus has been reached on Amtrak policy, and Amtrak reform efforts and funding have stalled while Congress and the Bush Administration decide Amtrak's fate. Passage of an Amtrak Reauthorization measure will help build a consensus around increased Amtrak funding while introducing needed reforms.

"More than 25 million people rode Amtrak in 2006, the fourth straight year of ridership increases. These record high ridership numbers on Amtrak show the general public feels that Amtrak is a vital element of our national transportation system," said Durbin. "This bill shows that the Senate is committed to ensuring that Amtrak maintains and builds its system to meet the growing needs of the traveling public."

Last week, Durbin spoke with Amtrak President and CEO Alex Kummant about funding for the three Illinois intrastate lines, as well as initiatives to fund new lines in Rockford, Peoria, and the Quad Cities. During Wednesday's conversation, Kummant noted that the Amtrak feasibility study on extending Amtrak service to Rockford and the northwest region of Illinois will be completed shortly.

"The $24 million commitment from the State of Illinois and four new trains from Amtrak have put Illinois Amtrak expansion on the right track," said Durbin. "It's time to take advantage of this momentum, bring northern Illinois on board and Amtrak service to growing regions of our state."

Durbin noted that Illinois benefits, both directly and indirectly, from Amtrak jobs and service. An average of 48 Amtrak trains run 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.

Durbin recently helped secure a commitment from Amtrak to supply four new trains for additional round - trip service on the three Illinois routes. The 2007 Illinois budget committed to finance the service for these trains by doubling their Amtrak funding to $24.3 million. As result of this state and federal cooperation, new service on the Carbondale, Quincy and St. Louis lines began in October, 2006. Durbin is a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=267589&&