Received a newsletter earlier this week in which was noted that there is a shortfall in funding for 2016. If the amount, just over ten million dollars, is not raised, the Portland to Eugene, Oregon segment may be eliminated. I would be very surprised if Oregon folks don't get behind this and raise the capital. It certainly seems like a very small number, in today's rail transportation subsidy world.
Sadly, Boxcab, it seems that many state legislatures are really reining in the pursestrings these days. What we need is more awareness that public transit requires more money than can be raised by private capital and/or the "farebox". The nickle trolley fare ceased to be relevant over 100years ago but the public's consept hasn't changed. Charlie
It has not helped with the image created for Amtrak. From their being very poorly planned before start up, to a disinformation campaign on costs which has worked all too well. Too many people associate Amtrak style money troubles with other heavy rail passenger efforts. It is interesting that Oregon presents as a State wanting to lead in such development, yet here we are... Ten million dollars is chump change by comparison to other places throwing hundreds of millions, and even billions into these enterprises.
Where is the shortfall coming from? Is it coming from the Oregon paid portion or is Amtrak getting a haircut at the Federal level and the Oregon portion of the ride, which generates less money and has fewer trainsets is what's being cut? Or did ridership with the new passenger sets that Oregon bought not meet expectations? No offense, but the OP is too vague to mean much of anything to me given that Cascades is funded by Fairbox, Fed Subsidy, Wa Subsidy, Or. Subsidy and I think even BC Canada chips in for the trains that travel that far.
That's what I am hoping to learn. As I understand it, the State needs to come up with ten million dollars. But how and why, I don't know.
Found this. Not very specific. Will look for more, later. http://seattletransitblog.com/2015/04/07/oregon-amtrak-cascades-funding-troubles/
And this: http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/237839-amtrak-route-at-risk Seems to read that funding problems are with the State of Oregon, not Amtrak.
That makes sense. Oregon is very progressive, but they've always been hit or miss with the cascades, because so little of the run is in Oregon. Basically, They pay a lot of money for what they have and from what I understand, most of the ridership is between Vancouver Washinton and Seattle. Because why deal with downtown Portland when you can park at Vancouver. I don't know how the Eugene to Portland segment fares, but it has always been a funding challenge because of the above stated reasons.
Going back a few years, it was Oregon, (especially Portland area folks), who went after adding that portion of the run. I voiced some doubts about it, and was trampled under foot for doing so. Now here we are, and.... To me, being so-called "progressive" should mean they'd step up and lead the way. If they can approve half the amount, in today's dollars, the rest is not a giant leap. I wonder how much they've flushed away on pot legalization baloney? If they'd tax that garbage, the funds would be raised, quickly.
Actually, most of this issue is federal funding of Amtrak. Recent legislation eliminated Amtrak funding of state regional services, forcing states to pick up the entire tab. The 10 million shortfall will be funded especially since the state bought two trainsets just a couple years ago. Currently there is an environmental study going on thru the whole corridor and once that is done, the door will be opened for federal funding of improvements (longer sidings, more sidings, higher speed switches, etc). Washington State did that years ago which is one of the reasons that allowed the large amount of improvements there to occur. Peter