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A Message from President Gunn on the FY '06 Budget
Dear Amtrak Co-workers:
Earlier today here in Washington, the House subcommittee responsible
for proposing how much Amtrak receives in federal support voted $550
million for Amtrak for the entire fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.
That's a 55-percent cut from our present funding level.
There's still a long process ahead and this is not a done deal.
Nevertheless, the practical impact of $550 million in federal support
would be the same as zero funding for Amtrak, and they know it. It
can't run a single train from point A to point B - not on the Northeast
Corridor and not anywhere.
Seven weeks ago today, I testified before the House subcommittee,
reporting on all of the progress we've made lately. I reported that
Amtrak had:
· Decreased our deficit per train mile from $22 in FY '00 to
$13 in FY '04
· Increased system-wide ridership to 25 million - an all-time
record
· Lowered headcount by 20 percent since FY '01
· Established a stable, efficient and vertically integrated
management structure
· Completed millions of dollars in work to reduce the
catalogue of deferred maintenance plaguing plant and equipment
· Presented Congress with a package of strategic reform
initiatives that, if adopted, would transform the funding and
development of passenger rail service
In addition to appearing before the subcommittee formally, I have had
numerous private meetings with these same members. They know that this
amount of money will result in the termination of all intercity
passenger rail service. Comments otherwise are just political spin.
In light of all the progress you and I have accomplished, I am sadly
disappointed at the subcommittee's action, and I imagine you are as
well, given how dedicated so many of you are to your responsibilities
and our passengers. Don't waver in your focus on passenger service
and
I won't in mine to secure adequate funding to operate our services
and
continue to make good on the reforms we've planned. Regardless of the
subcommittee's vote today, I don't believe that rational people -
lawmakers, governors or simply our regular passengers - want to see
passenger rail service shut down, and I continue to hope in the end
that reason prevails.
Sincerely,
/s/ David Gunn
President and CEO
