Hotline #729

The full House last night approved the 1993 DOT appropriations bill, H.R.5518, 306-74. There was a long debate, mainly over an amendment by Rep. David Obey (D.-Wis.). That was a variation of last March's bill to break down the "firewall" between domestic and other spending, as set up by the 1990 budget agreement.

This time, the proposal was to take $2.6 billion in spending authority from foreign aid programs and transfer it to Public Works transportation programs, in order to stimulate the economy. That would add $400 million in actual funding in 1993. Unfortunately, Obey was not interested in including Amtrak and it appeared that Northeastern Representatives, including powerful Rules Committee Chairman Moakley (D.-Mass.), who would benefit from the Boston electrification, did little to change Obey's mind. The Obey amendment passed 213-190 on largely partisan lines, but is considered to be veto bait.

Despite all our efforts this week, no Representative rose to express concern over the cut in Amtrak capital funding, though Neal Smith (Ia.) referred to it in passing when criticizing the President's proposed budget.

Amtrak released its report on certain routes not currently served to the two Congressional Commerce Committees on July 6. These new services are -- Vancouver-Los Angeles second Coast Starlight; a section of the Empire Builder branching off at Fargo to Bismarck, Billings, and Seattle; Denver-Billings-Seattle; Denver-Oklahoma City-Dallas; Minneapolis-Des Moines-Kansas City; Omaha-Kansas City; Chicago-Milwaukee-Green Bay; Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison; New York-Allentown-Harrisburg; a Cincinnati section of the Lake Shore Limited; New York-Roanoke-Knoxville-Atlanta; and a third "Silver" train to Charlotte and Florida. That last one would eliminate service between Raleigh and Columbia.

Also mentioned were these routes previously studied -- the Sunset extension to Miami; a central Iowa train; Chicago-Oklahoma-Dallas; Chicago-Atlanta-Miami; and Boston-Portland. More details on that in the next newsletter.

In the wake of the June 26 legislation ending the rail strike, talks have been progressing. Already on June 27, the Maintenance of Way Employes settled with Conrail and Amtrak. That leaves just the Engineers and Machinists without a tentative agreement with Amtrak. This week, arbitrators were selected for the general Machinists disputes and the Amtrak disputes.

The Postal Service says it wants to be reimbursed for breach of contract because mail did not move by rail during the strike. It's not clear how Amtrak fits into that, but several freight railroads involved in the June 24 lock-out also move mail. The Postal Service said it would withhold payments from the railroads if it is not reimbursed for the delays.

The Illinois legislature at the end of June failed to approve plans for a third Chicago airport at the Lake Calumet site. Chicago Mayor Daley, very angry, said that was the end of the airport plan and he would not go back to the legislature in the fall with it. It remains to be seen if he is serious, but any delay for the airport is good news.

Amtrak began operation of the Caltrain commuter service between San Francisco and San Jose on July 1. Also, some trains were extended south to Gilroy for the first time. Two rush-hour trains operate to Gilroy on weekdays only. Southern Pacific had operated the service since 1864.

San Diego opened a one-stop light-rail extension north from the Santa Fe depot on July 2.

Conrail has broken off talks with Canadian Pacific over the sale of the Southern Tier line in New York State.