SENATORS FEINSTEIN AND BOXER CALL ON PRESIDENT TO
APPROVE $200 MILLION LOAN TO PREVENT AMTRAK SHUTDOWN
June 24, 2002

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) called on President Bush today to approve a $200 million federal loan guarantee to allow Amtrak to continue to operate.

In a letter to President Bush, the Senators wrote: "Amtrak is extremely important to California. After New York, California has the second highest ridership in the country. Without this funding, thousands of people in California who depend on Amtrak service every day will be stranded."

"Just last week, a respected analyst rated Los Angeles and San Francisco-Oakland as the two urban areas of the country with the longest annual delays per rush-hour driver. Californians have gridlock," the Senators continued.

"Without Amtrak, the 69,000 daily commuters that use the three Amtrak commuter train systems will not be able to get to work. These services also have financial support from the state of California, which spent $72 million in the state's fiscal year 2002.

Amtrak is important and growing outside the Northeast Corridor. For example, California has the second most traveled line in the country: the "Pacific Surfliner"- from San Diego through Los Angeles. Amtrak West has increased the daily number of trains from 36 intercity trains in 1995 to 64 intercity trains in 2001, which is a 78 percent increase. All but three of these are in California. The number passengers has increased by 52 percent and passenger related revenues have increased by 49 percent during the same period of time.

We strongly believe that the federal government must continue to support Amtrak and the partnership with the State of California for a viable national intercity passenger rail service. Again, we urge you to provide a $200 million loan guaranty to prevent a shutdown of Amtrak service in California and the rest of the country."