Passenger Trains > New Amtrak Funding in Proposed CA Budget

Governor Gray Davis' 2001-02 Proposed Budget released on January 10th includes new intercity rail funding for the following items:

o $48 million for additional doubletracking on the Pacific Surfliner corridor.
o $29.4 million for additional doubletracking on the San Joaquin corridor; specifically mentioned is Oakley/Pittsburg.
o $20.6 million for additional doubletracking on the Capitol corridor; specifically mentioned is Sacramento/Davis.
o $9.5 million in additional operating funds to run additional intercity rail services.

These funds are above and beyond current commitments to rail capital and rail operations, and are subject to modification through the legislative budget process.

No additional funds for rolling stock are identified beyond current commitments.

I wonder what the $$#'s would be if this was for Amtrak as a whole, if all the other states joined in?

And I wonder why no comparisons have been made about the multi-hundred car and locomotive order that Chicago (Metra), a LOCAL TRANSIT SYSTEM, made as compared to what the numbers would (make that SHOULD) for an Amtrak system order???

Just thinking out loud here...