Hotline #743

Due to the large number of bills enacted in the final days before Congress adjourned, the Amtrak reauthorization bill has not yet arrived at the White House to be signed into law by President Bush. It should arrive in the next 7-10 days.

Transportation Secretary Andrew Card announced yesterday the designation of a multi-state Midwest high-speed rail network, which hubs in Chicago and radiates out to Detroit, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. The Midwest network, whose funding totals $2.8 million, is the first of five high-speed rail corridors authorized under ISTEA. Making the announcement at the Dearborn, Mich., station, Card said, "The corridor designated today contains some of our country's most congested airports and freeways. High speed rail service will relieve congestion in these areas and benefit all transportation users." Federal Railroad Administrator Gil Carmichael made a similar announcement in Chicago. Also announced was a $160,000-allocation for preliminary engineering and design study for an intermodal terminal in Detroit, $160,000 for planning and design of a multimodal terminal at O'Hare Airport, and $100,000 for a multimodal terminal study in Milwaukee.

Prompted by increased federal and state interest in high-speed rail, Conrail has developed a policy regarding proposals for high-speed rail service on Conrail property. The policy says that "while Conrail will continue to work with advocates of high speed rail passenger service on a case-by-case basis, Conrail concludes generally that high speed rail passenger and rail freight services are incompatible on the same track system." The new policy says that any passenger rail service running over 90 mph must operate on a separate, dedicated right-of-way, physically removed from any freight service conflict.

As a step in its effort to improve employee relations, Amtrak conducted an internal survey of 300 Amtrak workers and managers. The survey findings, reported in today's Washington Post, indicate that Amtrak workers feel they are subjected to autocratic, sometimes intimidating, management that has placed financial performance above all else. Issues employees indicated they believe are not adequately valued by Amtrak include teamwork, respect for employees, customer focus, employee involvement and empowerment, quality service, and safety. Amtrak Government Relations and Public Affairs Vice President Tim Gillespie noted that the survey was taken during a time of labor strife after employees had gone years without a pay raise, but stated that employee reaction was a little harsher than expected. Amtrak President Graham Claytor has sent the survey results to all 23,000 Amtrak employees with a letter outlining planned changes in management style and communication.

A new Amtrak President of Passenger Services started work on October 15. Arthur McMahon, who comes from British Airways, replaces Gene Eden.

Using Transportation Enhancement funds established under ISTEA to rehabilitate historic railroad stations appears to be a favored project choice by preservationists, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In Worcester, Mass., efforts are underway to use enhancement monies to restore historic Union Station. In Florida, nearly $1 million in ISTEA funds will be used to restore Tampa Union Station. In Caliente, Nev., the city council supports an ISTEA proposal for restoring their historic station.