Trump’s proposed budget cuts of $630k to Amtrak will surely disrupt our national long-distance railway system throwing it into a possible melt down. To think that this summer’s travel season may be the last with passenger trains for millions of Americans, is ridiculous and will put the U.S. far behind most other countries. This Administration’s proposed budget will wipe out funding for long distance train service in over 220 cities and towns and 20 cities including: Alexandria, VA; Birmingham, AL; Charlottesville, VA; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH; Denver, CO; Martinsburg, WV; Meridian, MS; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; Portland, OR; Richmond, VA; Sacramento, CA; San Luis Obispo, CA; Toledo, OH; Washington, DC; Wilmington, DE and Whitefish, MT. will lose train service completely.
This proposed 2018 White House budget would slash funding for Amtrak, leaving 140 million Americans without access. Also, these cuts to transit and commuter rail programs will cost thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs, especially in small town America because these cuts will place a disproportionate amount of pain on rural and working class communities who rely on rail and public transit services for everyday travel. Commonly called long-distance trains, they also serve as local and regional transportation for the communities they serve. In Montana and North Dakota, for example, Amtrak’s long distance routes connect nineteen towns and cities on a single corridor. In Florida, twenty eight communities are bound together by long distance routes that provide an important travel option for family and business travelers.
Millions of people will be left isolated, and those who will be suffering the most are those who rely on passenger rail to get to their job, for an ADA-compliant mode of travel.
My advice to anyone visiting Europe or the U.K. in the near future is stick with train travel because you will find there is no need to rent a car. Travel by long distance trains will safely and efficiently transport you pretty much anywhere in Europe or the U.K. you want to visit. It is a most enviable travel system they’ve constructed, so much so that any American who uses it, comes away with envy. Obviously, our train system in the U.S. needs improvements, not this reckless hindrance. For the U.S.to now cut back on our train travel options flies in the faces of Americans seeking to protect our environment. Although, Donald Trump probably hasn’t taken a train in decades nor been concerned about his carbon footprint most citizens of this planet do care and know cutting our train options, surely don’t help us combat the climate issue.
Let’s hope that everybody is paying attention to this budge issue and we get it corrected before it goes over a cliff!
To contact members of Congress Re: FY2018 Budget, visit TownsWithoutTrains.com
$630k sounds like a drop in the bucket as far as budget cuts go. Still, any cut to Amtrak will be a punch in the gut to this country. Hrumph doesn’t want to make America great again; he wants to bring us 99% to our knees.