Number
050089
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN
Title
Substitute resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee's support for U.S. House Bill 1630, the Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee's support for U.S. House Bill 1630, the Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005, which would provide Amtrak with $2 billion in annual funding for capital and operating expenses for 3 consecutive fiscal years, beginning with the 2006 federal fiscal year. This resolution also authorizes and directs the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to lobby for passage of H.R. 1630.
Body
Whereas, In 2004, Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, carried a record 25.1 million passengers, a 4.3% increase over 2003; and
Whereas, Amtrak provides Americans of all income levels, living in both rural and urban areas, with an alternative to travel by automobile and, where available, bus or airplane; and
Whereas, Amtrak has provided the financial and political framework for future high-speed rail corridor development in various parts of the nation, including the Midwest; and
Whereas, Amtrak currently serves Milwaukee with 16 trains daily and is a popular choice for both business and leisure travelers visiting this city, as well as for Milwaukee residents traveling to Chicago and other destinations; and
Whereas, In 2004, the downtown Milwaukee Amtrak station handled 438,220 passengers --- 413,523 on the Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line and 24,697 on the long-distance Empire Builder line; and
Whereas, Ridership on the Hiawatha line reached an all-time monthly high of 46,202 passengers in March, 2005 (a 23% increase from March, 2004), further evidence of the popularity and importance of Amtrak service to Milwaukee; and
Whereas, For Fiscal Year 2005, Amtrak is funded at the level of $1.2 billion - the same as 2004; and
Whereas, For Fiscal Year 2006 (which begins October 1, 2005), President Bush has proposed zero federal funding for Amtrak, while offering no plan for how Amtrak could continue to operate; and
Whereas, Amtrak would be required to file for bankruptcy protection, cease operations and liquidate its assets if federal funding were eliminated; and
Whereas, Since the states do not have the financial resources to fund intercity passenger rail service, nor the ability to coordinate service across state lines, the President's proposal to de-fund Amtrak would mean the end of intercity passenger rail service in the United States, leaving millions of riders and hundreds of communities without the essential and convenient service that Amtrak provides; and
Whereas, If Amtrak ceases operations, the United States would become the only industrialized country in the world without intercity passenger rail service; and
Whereas, Because of a backlog of necessary capital investment and maintenance, Amtrak has indicated that keeping its federal funding at $1.2 billion in 2006 would be inadequate, and that a funding increase to at least $1.8 billion is necessary to provide safe and efficient operation of the railroad; and
Whereas, On April 14, 2005, members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 1630), a bill to provide Amtrak with $2 billion in annual funding for capital and operating expenses for 3 consecutive fiscal years, beginning with the 2006 federal fiscal year, which starts on October 1, 2005; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Common Council finds that Amtrak is an important public service that contributes to the economic vitality of Milwaukee and provides Milwaukee residents with additional transportation choices and improved mobility; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee supports passage of H.R. 1630, the Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration is authorized and directed to lobby for passage of H.R. 1630; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send a copy of this resolution to each member of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB05179-2
JDO
05/09/2005