Hotline #755

DOT Secretary-nominee Federico Pena yesterday appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee for his confirmation hearing. Pena and most Senators stressed the need for increasing airport capacity, except for John Kerry (D.-Mass.). He told Pena that high-speed rail was a priority, including the Boston electrification project. Kerry said he hoped that President-elect Clinton would be able to ride the first electric train to Boston before his next election. In response, Pena referred to Clinton's stated commitment to high-speed rail.

However, Kerry, due to the Massachusetts location of Raytheon Corporation, stated the need to keep defense workers busy with maglev. Pena replied, "We should be the leaders in new technology. No matter how costly and complicated it may be, we need to be behind it."

Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D.-Colo.) described Pena as always willing to learn and listen. Also, in written answers, Pena said, "We need to support Amtrak's capital needs ... it is my intention to be an advocate for ... Amtrak ..." Pena likely will be confirmed by the Senate.

DOT Secretary Andrew Card reappointed Haley Barbour and replaced Paul Weyrich in the one-year Amtrak Board slots not requiring Senate confirmation. Amtrak's new board member is Leon Lombardi, a Boston attorney and former Massachusetts state legislator who recently resigned as chairman of the Republican State Committee.

At the last minute, Alabama has signed a Gulf Breeze contract with Amtrak, so the train will continue to run. Amtrak had threatened to suspend the train on January 10 for lack of state payments.

The Bush Administration released a 1994 budget outline on January 6, which does not even show a breakdown among the administrations within DOT. Bill Clinton will flesh it out after the inauguration.

The Empire Builder was suspended between Spokane and St. Paul for all trips originating December 30 through January 2. Amtrak blamed severe weather and delays over Marias Pass where just one track was open, and concern over passenger safety. NARP won't argue passenger safety, but has made clear that we think a late train is better than no train. We reminded Amtrak that the Empire Builder's all-weather reliability is a big lobbying point. Southern Pacific kept its line over Donner Pass open, but with some delays, during a bad storm.

A fire completely destroyed the historic Santa Fe station in Albuquerque, N.Mex., early on January 4. The platform area used by Amtrak's Southwest Chief was not damaged and is in use. Amtrak is talking to Greyhound about using their ticket office and waiting room directly across the street from the burned-out 1902 station.

Pennsylvania Governor Casey stunned rail supporters by using his line item veto to eliminate $10 million passed by the legislature in November for the purchase of two train sets for a second Pennsylvanian. Casey vetoed many other transit projects, while completely sparing all highway projects. He also left in $2 million for a local maglev project in Pittsburgh. One good project that survived involves the former Lackawanna line east of Scranton. As recently as two days before the veto, Casey told a legislator who supported the train-set money that it would be approved.

The General Accounting Office has released a report on Amtrak safety-related training. It concluded that training of engineers and assistant conductors was adequate, but that changes needed to be made in the training of signal maintainers, carmen, and mechanical foremen. Amtrak accepted the findings and agreed to make changes.

The EPA this week officially named second-hand tobacco smoke as a known carcinogen. This can be expected to generate more calls for smoking restrictions in public places, including aboard Amtrak trains.

The South Shore Railroad reports that since moving its South Bend station to the airport in November, its monthly ridership at South Bend is up 78%. The old location, which Amtrak still uses, had limited parking and was not in a good neighborhood.