President Signs Amtrak Reauthorization Into Law

Press Release

Yesterday, President Bush signed HR 2095, a bill to reauthorize Amtrak and rail safety programs under the Federal Railroad Administration. Amtrak has not been reauthorized for more than a decade, and the new law authorizes $13.1 billion for Amtrak improvements. Secondly, the legislation authorizes $1.5 billion over five years for grants to states and/or Amtrak to develop high speed rail lines. Congressman Jim Costa supported the legislation when it came before him on the House floor and has been a strong advocate in the House of Representatives for high-speed rail development across the nation.

"Amtrak has been long overdue for reauthorization, and I am very happy that the President supported this legislation," said Costa. "This authorization will allow California to make major improvements to existing intercity rail service, such as adding more trains, increasing speed of service, and upgrading train stations."

Amtrak's authorization expired in December 2002, and was not reauthorized during the last three Congresses. As the nation's only provider of intercity passenger rail service, the lack of funding caused the system to suffer. The legislation signed by the President authorizes $13.1 billion over the next four years for Amtrak, including $5.3 billion for capital grants to the passenger rail road, and $2.9 billion for operating grants. Amtrak's San Joaquins line, which runs from Bakersfield to Oakland/Sacramento, is the 6th busiest rail corridor in the country, with approximately 799,879 riders in fiscal year 2006.

"California has the highest Amtrak usage of any state in our nation, and I know that we will see the benefits of the reauthorization in the coming months and years," Costa stated.

High-speed rail funding is a key part of this reauthorization bill to speed travel from city center to city center. First, it directs the Department of Transportation to accept bids from private companies to develop, build and operate high-speed rail systems in the 11 named high-speed rail corridors. It also authorizes $1.5 billion over five years for grants to states and/or Amtrak to develop high-speed rail lines that can accommodate speeds of 110 mph or greater. During the 110th Congress, Costa introduced two high-speed rail bills and encouraged the House Committee on Transportation to hold field hearings in California on high-speed rail development.

"The bigger part of this bill is the federal money being put forward to develop high speed rail in our nation, especially in California. Once Proposition 1A passes this November, our state will be at the front of the line to see the federal dollars set aside to develop, build and operate a state-of-the-art high-speed rail system," added Costa.

Another essential part of the legislation will authorize $1.6 billion over five years for rail safety programs, including $1.3 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration. It requires large and passenger railroads to submit a plan to install equipment on trains by the end of 2015 that can sense an impending collision and stop the trains. Some experts have argued if there had been "positive train control" systems in place, the collision between a passenger train and freight train on September 12, 2008 in Southern California could have been avoided.

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