Passenger Trains > Politico on the USDOT's view of Amtrak

This could easily fly under the radar--but it should not. DOT Secretary designate Sean Duffy, quoted in today's Politico Weekly Transportation letter, in response to written questions from the Democrats on the Commerce Committee, offered this comment on his plans re-Amtrak.

 — The nominee said he would support Amtrak leadership when it comes to their decisions on Northeast Corridor and long-distance services and routes.

 For better or for worse if this is true we will soon discover the real views of the Coscia/Gardener Amtrak management.

I will not predict on this. We will know when we know--but it looks like. that won't be much later.

My only observation is that by deferring a clear statement of his own views Duffy has offered us no real Trump DOT policy insights.

We must watch and listen!          

I believe that someone recently looked back to Trump 1.0 and found that Trump lamented the fact that China has bullet trains and the U.S. didn't and didn't seem to want to bother state-supported services but did complain about the "money-losing long-distance trains."  Apparently he didn't say much about the NEC.  I agree, we should know soon.  

If Amtrak management endorses cutting the National Network trains in a way it will be liberating for us as advocates. We will no longer seem paranoid when we allege what until now we could not prove-e.g. that they never were committed to the long hauls and intended that they should fail.

Posted from iPhone

From how Amtrak's been ran under these idiots, we'll know really soon and hopefully a better leadership, not hearing 180 day notices!

Posted from Android

And, Trump has just "paused" all additional spending from the Infrastructure Act.

This will delay---and run up the cost---on Amtrak projects like the Portal Bridge;
the Baltimore tunnels, etc.

In my view -- "pausing" is a fake name for "impounding"--which has been illegal for
the President to do since Nixon.  It also subverts the will of Congress -- also illegal
for a President to do.

The Supreme Court should initiate a case on their own volition -- to determine if Trump
is acting in a Constitutional manner with these "executive orders"

The Supreme Court rarely, if ever, initiates cases on its own. Generally, an aggrieved party (a state, Gateway Authority, etc) files suit in District Court and asks for an expedited appeal if it loses at the trial level.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Supreme Court rarely, if ever, initiates cases
> on its own. Generally, an aggrieved party (a
> state, Gateway Authority, etc) files suit in
> District Court and asks for an expedited appeal if
> it loses at the trial level.

I don't think the Supreme Court or any court can initiate a case on it's own, it's not their job.

ronald321 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And, Trump has just "paused" all additional
> spending from the Infrastructure Act.
>
> This will delay---and run up the cost---on Amtrak
> projects like the Portal Bridge;
> the Baltimore tunnels, etc.
>
> In my view -- "pausing" is a fake name for
> "impounding"--which has been illegal for
> the President to do since Nixon.  It also
> subverts the will of Congress -- also illegal
> for a President to do.
>
> The Supreme Court should initiate a case on their
> own volition -- to determine if Trump
> is acting in a Constitutional manner with these
> "executive orders"

I'm not sure that your characterization is correct. The "pause" is for climate projects not necessarily for infrastructure.

In the Wednesday memo, the Trump OMB clarified that the pause “only applies to funds supporting programs, projects or activities that may be implicated by the policy established in Section 2 of the order,” which includes funding related to climate change mitigation and incentives for electric vehicle charging.

See my comments in the thread linked below including the additional links at the end. There will need to be some sorting out of projects by the OMB to determine actual effects.
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,5976460

Rail Passenger Association email indicatesin fund raising email today that they understand the "pause" to be broader than climate related and to include appropraited funds for rail transportation projects 

According to the RPA all rail projects are also halted. Sad but true. Ross Rowland 

swirsk53 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rail Passenger Association email indicatesin fund
> raising email today that they understand the
> "pause" to be broader than climate related and to
> include appropraited funds for rail transportation
> projects 

Some tout rail transportation as a more 'green' alternative transporation option.  Perhaps because funding was tied to the 'green' movement, were the rail projects alluded to approved becasue of this and is why they got caught up in the 'pause'?  

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Some tout rail transportation as a more 'green'
> alternative transporation option.  Perhaps
> because funding was tied to the 'green' movement,
> were the rail projects alluded to approved becasue
> of this and is why they got caught up in the
> 'pause'?  

Correction: Many have touted rail transportation as "green" including the Association of American Railroads and Bombardier.  That should not be a negative in any administration's transportation policy.

swirsk53 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rail Passenger Association email indicatesin fund
> raising email today 

???

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> swirsk53 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Rail Passenger Association email indicatesin
> fund
> > raising email today 
>
> ???

Many organizations will use worst-case scenarios to raise money, from political organizations during campaigns to environmental organizations to charities. RPA is no different. 

No doubt voices from "flyover states" will have the weightier voices if and when long distance is threatened. They are the ones MOST affected since coast to coast passengers are not in the majority though they (and I can include myself) certainly exist.. With the recent FRA releases, those will add some volume. I believe there is now a new Amtrak Board member Elaine Clegg who will certainly want to be heard as well as others who are not happy with National RR Passenger Corp ignoring most of the states.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> longliveSP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > swirsk53 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Rail Passenger Association email indicatesin
> > fund
> > > raising email today 
> >
> > ???
>
> Many organizations will use worst-case scenarios
> to raise money, from political organizations
> during campaigns to environmental organizations to
> charities. RPA is no different. 

Is that what the group of letters "indicatesin" means???