Breaking News
Home / News / Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Of Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Amtrak Withholding Funding For Southwest Chief Route

Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Of Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Amtrak Withholding Funding For Southwest Chief Route

By Martin Heinrich Press Office
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) led a bicameral, bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging Amtrak to uphold its side of a longstanding public-private partnership to maintain the Southwest Chief passenger train and long-distance passenger service. The Southwest Chief runs from Chicago to Los Angeles, and stops in several New Mexico communities, including Raton, Las Vegas, Lamy, Albuquerque, and Gallup.
Members of the New Mexico delegation, along with lawmakers from Colorado and Kansas, wrote to Amtrak’s CEO today stating that they had deep concerns with Amtrak considering withholding its contribution to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) award under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) to Colfax County, New Mexico, and the detrimental impact such a decision will have on operation of the Southwest Chief.
“The Southwest Chief is vital to the economic well-being of our communities. In many cases, the line is the only affordable alternative transportation option to the highways for our citizens, and is an important link to public and private services in larger cities along the route for rural residents, including the elderly and disabled. Every summer, the Southwest Chief also transports thousands of Boy Scouts from across the country to Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron, N.M., generating economic activity for businesses in these rural areas along the way,” wrote the lawmakers.
The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), and Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.).
“The lack of transparency by Amtrak management about its changing position on the Southwest Chief is troubling, particularly for a Government-Sponsored Enterprise entrusted with an important public transportation mission,” the lawmakers continued. “We request Amtrak take the lead in developing cooperative plans to ensure the Southwest Chief’s successful operation, including seeking funding from the various federal grant programs established to address these specific issues. These programs were well-funded in the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bill as was Amtrak itself. It is essential these available funds be applied across the system to address national priorities such as maintaining the Southwest Chief on its current route.”
The lawmakers requested a meeting with Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson as soon as possible to discuss these issues and to determine a path forward that ensures continued successful operation of the Southwest Chief.

Check Also

God’s Encouraging Word of the day

“Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31 Since God …