Amtrak inspector general warns that Biden’s infrastructure bill could ‘strain’ operations https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/apr/5/amtrak-inspector-general-warns-bidens-infrastructu/ Amtrak’s inspector general is warning that the passenger rail company is insufficiently prepared to deal with the influx of new money coming from President Biden‘s $1.2 trillion infrastructure law. In a new audit released Tuesday, Amtrak Inspector General Kevin Winters determined that the company had neither the proper workforce nor accountability measures to handle the $66 billion in additional funding it will receive from the legislation. “Safe operations and a safe workplace will remain the cornerstone of the company’s success,” Mr. Winters wrote. “Taken as a whole, however, the sheer size of the [infrastructrure] funding and requirements could strain the company’s ability to manage its current operations while concurrently planning and managing a long-term multibillion-dollar infrastructure portfolio.” The inspector general highlighted several high-profile challenges facing Amtrak as it gets ready to accept all of the new money Mr. Biden is pouring into the company. Most notably, Amtrak’s business and financial management systems are “outdated and do not provide timely and high-quality information.” This inefficiency, coupled with inadequate transparency measures, could be a lucrative target for fraud, waste and abuse...
IG's often say that about federal agencies when we get a new slug of money. Occasionally it proves true; mostly it proves not. Like any entity, Amtrak can't keep contracting officers and construction inspectors on the payroll waiting around for stuff like this to come along; and this sort of appropriation usually has restrictions or outright bars on using the funds to pay for such people. That is never the Agency's fault, but always a focus of Congressional and media blame when something goes wrong.
If 'man' were to wait for everything to be 'perfect' for advancement - we would still be looking out of our natural caves that we call home. If Amtrak is not 'ready' for a influx of money today - make it ready. With the IG's thinking, Amtrak's enemies are within the organization not outside.
Amtrak needs better management, pure and simple. They apparently don't think 'outside of the box' or have any sort of contingency plans. They've wanted more funding for a long time, and now...........
What do you expect? ATK's top brass are selected, or at least lobbied for by Congressional members based on favoritism, contributions, and cocktail party friendships. ATK has no board of directors or shareholders who are concerned about returns on investment. ATK is nothing more than one more federal department, where every imaginative idea or concept is squashed by political controllers above. No strategic planning, just reaction to the unforeseen. Ken, you have my permission to delete, or edit this as you wish. Though, sadly, I've witnessed this culture during my many years as a federal contractor.
For fifty years we've seen what a contrast that is to the halcyon days of private rail enterprise, the limiteds and specials, Century and Capitol, Silver Meteor and Comet, Crescent, Panama, Broadway, Empire and Main Street, Meteor, Eagles and Zephyrs, City trains, Daylights and Chiefs. Tip Top Taverns, Blue Bird Domes, and Fred Harvey french toast. We went horribly wrong along our way. Somehow our westbound got on an eastbound track.
There's a lot of utter waste in the plan, with one example being $150 Million to $170 Million borrowed and spent to add extra mainline tracks, add three new interlockings and expand nine other interlockings mostly in PA on NS's mainline so that <drum roll> a second Amtrak Pennsylvanian train can be added. Even if the additional train doubles ridership (which is very doubtful), that's $700 spent for every ticket sold in the first year. On it goes.
While I don't disagree, what kind of 'better management' can a organization that is living on intermittent scraps from the Federal Treasury attract. Congressional grandstanders work for the elimination of Amtrak from the federal budget every year and when they are beaten back Amtrak ends up just enough funds to sustain the lousy product they are selling at the same or slightly reduced level into the next year. When you can only pay bottom dollar for management you get bottom rank talent. Amtrak was designed by Congress to fail when it was created - the fact that Amtrak has made it past 50 years in existence says something about its management being able to turn Congressional lemons into a sustaining lemonade.
I am well aware of how Amtrak has limped along to this day. I am certain we all are. All that I had in mind there is someone who knows how to run a business, especially a railroad. Someone who can take this additional funding and turn it into something far better than just lemonade.
