Issue Position: Transportation - Rail

Issue Position

California High Speed Rail

The proposed California High Speed Rail system stretches from San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento in the north to Los Angeles and San Diego in the south. Operating at speeds up to 220 mph, the express travel time from downtown San Francisco to Los Angeles will be just under 2 ½ hours. The service will be an exciting an attractive option for intercity travel and will reduce congestion at California airports.

Caltrans is currently in the process of selecting a route for the train into the Bay Area. I have joined a number of other Bay Area representatives in sending a letter supporting a southern route that is not only sensible from an environmental and construction standpoint, but which will also provide the maximum benefit for Santa Clara County, passing through and stopping in a number of towns in our area. Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature have both recognized the importance of this project by funding aspects of the project in the FY2008 budget.

Amtrak

Even though I am no longer a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I strongly support Amtrak and the critical role intercity passenger rail service plays in our national transportation network. As we have seen in California, Amtrak service reduces traffic congestion, as well as automobile emissions. The State of California also understands the value of Amtrak. California has the largest State-supported intercity passenger rail program today. Over 3.5 million passengers traveled on the three routes that Amtrak operates for California, which, in FY 2001, represented 15% of Amtrak's total ridership.

Amtrak was created in 1970 to preserve intercity passenger rail service after freight railroad companies successfully lobbied the federal government to relieve them of their common carrier responsibilities. Since its formation, Amtrak has been plagued by financial woes. The strong partnership between Amtrak and California should serve as a model for other states, and I will press this point with my colleagues as the Congress moves to reform Amtrak. But even greater state involvement in Amtrak operations cannot completely address Amtrak's long-term financial issues. The Amtrak Reform Council and the DOT Inspector General's Office have both estimated that Amtrak, as currently structured, requires around half a billion dollars in operating support and around a billion dollars in capital spending annually, a considerably higher level of funding than Amtrak has ever consistently received.

While I am open to considering structural reforms at Amtrak, I will not betray my support for Amtrak and the important role it plays in our nation's transportation network. I will continue to be an advocate for Amtrak and for greater federal investment in rail infrastructure. As congestion worsens on our highways and in our airways, I am committed to preserving and improving all critical modes of transportation, including rail.

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