Amtrak official says GOP proposal forces “an unwelcome decision on states” that want passenger rail service. Oklahoma and Texas give funding for the Heartland Flyer.
NewsOK
BY CHRIS CASTEEL ccasteel@opubco.com
Published: September 13, 2011
WASHINGTON — Amtrak would no longer be able to subsidize the Heartland Flyer train that runs from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, Texas, under a Republican spending bill now before a U.S. House panel.
According to Amtrak, the bill would eliminate nearly 150 weekday state-supported trains in the country and affect Oklahoma and 14 other states.
“The Republican proposal forces an unwelcome decision on states who clearly want to preserve and expand passenger rail service,” Amtrak board Chairman Tom Carper said.
The bill was approved by a House appropriations subcommittee last week and is now before the full committee.
It would cut Amtrak's funding by about 60 percent and prohibit Amtrak from spending any money on “state-supported routes.” FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Tue, September 13, 2011
by John Cox