United Rail Passenger Alliance

Volume 3 Number 23

1. A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) was released in Washington earlier this week under the signature of JayEtta Z. Hecker, the Director for Physical Infrastructure Issues of the GAO. The report purports to predict what will happen to commuter agencies if the sky starts falling in the highly unlikely event Amtrak would cease operations because of its many financial and other struggles.This report can be considered from two different viewpoints. For Amtrak apologists and those wishing to prop up Amtrak at any price, “Commuter Rail: Commuter Rail Issues Should Be Considered in Debate over Amtrak” provides plenty of ammunition why Amtrak should be kept at least in a minimum level of existence, if for nothing more than a convenience for hidden funding and cheaply available workforce for some commuter agencies.For those more enlightened, this report demonstrates vividly why the Northeast Corridor infrastructure desperately needs to be pulled away from Amtrak in its present form and put under a separate, more accountable structure for the benefit of everyone including Amtrak, contracting NEC commuter agencies, commuters themselves, taxpayers on every level, and the commonweal. The report, as others before it, also points out a number of issues which need the utmost attention of the next President and CEO of Amtrak. Again, we see unforgivable business practices by past stewards of Amtrak which have caused the company - and the entire issue of viable passenger rail for the United States - to constantly be questioned as to practicality and desirability. Not until these issues are solved will Amtrak be able to begin to move forward to its rightful place as an important part of our domestic transportation network.

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