Number
041678
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN, WITKOWSKI, ZIELINSKI, MURPHY, D'AMATO, DONOVAN AND BOHL
Title
Resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee's opposition to the elimination of federal funding for Amtrak.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee's opposition to the proposal of President Bush to provide no federal funding for Amtrak in Fiscal Year 2006. It also expresses the City's support for maintaining the current nationwide passenger rail network and for funding Amtrak at the level of at least $1.8 billion for Fiscal Year 2006 - the amount necessary for Amtrak to continue to reduce its backlog of needed capital investment and to provide safe and efficient railroad operation.
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, 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, 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 opposes the elimination of federal funding for Amtrak, as proposed in the Fiscal Year 2006 budget presented by President Bush; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City of Milwaukee supports maintaining the current nationwide passenger rail network and funding Amtrak at the level of at least $1.8 billion for Fiscal Year 2006 - the amount necessary for Amtrak to continue to reduce its backlog of needed capital investment and to provide safe and efficient railroad operation; and, be it
Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution shall be sent to each member of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB05118-1
JDO
03/24/05