The Bush administration on Wednesday postponed a much-awaited presentation to Congress about the future of Amtrak and passenger train service, saying it needs more time to finish drafting a plan. Allan Rutter, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, pulled out as a scheduled witness less than 24 hours before Thursday's hearing before the House panel overseeing railroads. ``Unfortunately, after many meetings with the highest levels within the administration, our work is not yet complete,'' Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta wrote in a letter to the subcommittee's chairman, Rep. Jack Quinn, R-N.Y., and ranking Democrat, Rep. Bob Clement, D-Tenn. Administration officials are said to be split over at least one key issue - whether to let Amtrak continue to monopolize intercity passenger rail or allow franchising of at least some Amtrak services. The two lawmakers said Mineta and Rutter promised to outline the administration's views next week. ``The administration needs to weigh in at this critical juncture as we in Congress seek to strengthen Amtrak and passenger rail throughout the country,'' Clement said. Congress is due to vote this year on Amtrak's continued existence. Amtrak, which failed to meet an order by Congress to begin operating without federal subsidies, has said it will need to cut routes unless it receives $1.2 billion for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Bush has proposed $521 million. Mark Yachmetz, associate administrator for railroad development in the Federal Railroad Administration, said in November that the White House would present a proposal as part of its 2003 budget. But the document, released in February, addressed Amtrak only in general terms. It said the federal government, states and the private sector should work together to provide ``high-quality, cost-effective service on viable routes or where the states have declared a public need they are willing to fund.'' At congressional hearings since then, lawmakers from both parties have criticized administration officials for not contributing ideas to the debate. Thursday's hearing will go on without Rutter. Witnesses representing government, academia, freight railroads, rail advocacy groups and the private sector will discuss whether there should be competition to run passenger trains and whether Amtrak's management and structure should be changed.
They need a good plan....but what we railroad people should do is draw up a plan of our own and send it to our congressman....
