Access fees on Amtrak tracks has some states roiling

[Eugene]

Access fees on Amtrak tracks has some states roiling

By DONNA DE LA CRUZ
Associated Press Writer

February 27, 2006, 6:34 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- Three Northeastern state governors are complaining to the Bush administration
about the prospect of paying extra fees to run commuter trains on Amtrak's rails.

The governors _ Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware, Jon Corzine of New Jersey and Ed Rendell of
Pennsylvania _ asked Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta in a recent letter to be kept
informed about the access fees through an "open and transparent process." The governors also asked
for a meeting to discuss how the fees would be allocated.

But federal transportation officials said Monday that the fees are part of a "new congressional
mandate" that was included in the transportation appropriations bill for 2006 passed by Congress
late last year.

<snip>

Just how much more money states will have to pay to use Amtrak's tracks is unclear,
since no formula has been set. President Bush's budget for the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1
calls for $59 million from commuter rail agencies.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--amtrak-accessfees0227feb27,0,6762927.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

[marmar]

1. BushCo probably loves this...

They would love nothing more than to pull the plug on Amtrak.