Associated Press
02/27/2006
WASHINGTON -- Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and two other Northeastern
state governors are complaining to the Bush administration about the
prospect of paying extra fees to run commuter trains on Amtrak's
rails.
Minner, Jon Corzine of New Jersey and Ed Rendell of
Pennsylvania asked Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta in a recent
letter to be kept informed about the access fees through an "open and
transparent process."
The governors also asked for a meeting to
discuss how the fees would be allocated.
Federal transportation
officials said today the fees are part of a "new congressional mandate"
that was included in the transportation appropriations bill for 2006
passed by Congress late last year.
Just how much more money states
will have to pay to use Amtrak's tracks is unclear, since no formula has
been set. President Bush's budget for the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1
calls for $59 million from commuter rail agencies.
The Northeast
Corridor, which runs from Boston to Washington, is used by several
commuter lines, Amtrak's intercity trains and some freight
trains.
In its 34-year history, Amtrak has never turned a profit.
It has a debt of more than $3.5 billion and its operating loss for 2005
topped $550 million.