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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 09162008 - C.40 TO: Board of Supervisors Contra FROM: Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee - Costa (Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, Chair) °' � . ,-�o� DATE: August 18, 2008 County SUBJECT: U.S. Senate bill 294 on Amtrak reauthorization SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPT a position of "Support" for S. 294 (Lautenberg, D-New Jersey) which reauthorizes Amtrak for six years, and AUTHORIZE the Chair to sign a letter supporting the bill but requesting more grant funding for state-sponsored intercity rail programs, as recommended by the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee. FISCAL IMPACT NONE to the County. If the bill becomes law, more funding will be available to improve Amtrak and state-sponsored intercity rail services, including the routes that serve Contra Costa County. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS Amtrak, the nation's passenger rail system, provides long-distance train service across the country. Amtrak also partners with states, including California, to operate intercity services, which are typically routes of 100 to 500 miles. Intercity routes that serve Contra Costa County are the Capitol Corridor service, which links the Bay Area and Sacramento, and the San Joaquin service, which links the Bay Area with Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton and other Central Valley cities. The growth in ridership in recent years on both of these services helps reduce traffic on local highways, notably Interstate 80, Interstate 680 and State Route 4. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOM ION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE (S): Su rvisor Ga le B. Uilkema rvi or Ma N. Piepho ACTION OF BOARD ONS 14 --ooe APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED �eDTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND Y UNANIMOUS (ABSENT �A CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND AYES: NOES: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: John Greitzer (925/335-1201) ATTESTED ,L cc: Community Development Department (CDD) DAAD TWA, CLERK OF Members, Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Adv Committee THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS S. Kowalewski, PWD AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY ., DEPUTY G:\Transportation\Committees\TWIC\2008\Board Orders\sept 16_2008 amtrak reauth.do S. 294 AMTRAK REAUTHORIZATION BILL AUGUST 18, 2008 Page 2 BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS (Continued) In its earlier years Amtrak received its funding and policy direction through multi-year authorization bills from Congress. However, its last multi-year reauthorization expired in 2002, and since then Amtrak has relied on yearly budget appropriations of about$1.3 billion which are considerably below the amount needed for Amtrak to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure and acquire enough new equipment to meet its growing ridership demands. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) has sponsored S. 294, which would reauthorize Amtrak for six years at an annual funding level of $1 .9 billion, which is a 46 percent increase in annual funding. The bill provides both capital and operating funds to enable Amtrak to upgrade its tracks, stations, tunnels and bridges and to acquire new train sets. Of particular interest to Contra Costa County is the bill's provision for a new grant program that would provide grant funding for states, or groups of states, who sponsor their own rail services. The grant program would require a 20 percent local match. The $11 .4 billion bill includes $1.4 billion for the grant program. California's intercity rail services, such as the Capitol and San Joaquin routes, would appear to be strong candidates for the grant program because of their growing ridership, importance in reducing congestion on both highways and the aviation system, and because Caltrans likely would be able to provide the 20 percent matching fund because of California's historically strong investment in rail service. S. 294 is now the subject of a conference committee between the House and Senate to hammer out a compromise bill. The House's Amtrak bill included more funding overall ($12 billion) and more funding for the state grants program ($2.5 billion). The County's Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee (AIRAC) reviewed S. 294 on July 24 and recommended the County support the bill but ask that the state grants program be funded at the higher level of $2.5 billion. The Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee reviewed AIRAC's recommendations on August 18 and concurred with the recommendations. The Committee now recommends the Board adopt a position of "Support" for S. 294 and authorize the Chair to sign the letter in Exhibit A, which expresses support for the bill and requests the higherfunding level forthe state grants program. The Board of SupervisorsDavid Twa Contra Clerk ofthe Board and Count Administration Building 9 CoSta County Administrator 651 Pine Street,Room 106 (925)335-1900 Martinez,California 94553 County John Gioia, 1"District Gayle B.Uilkerna,2 District Mary N.Piepho,3"District Susan A.Bonilla,4°i District Federal D.Glover.5"District September 16, 2008 The Hon. Jim Oberstar, Chairman, The Hon. Daniel K. Inouye, Chairman House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee 2165 Rayburn 254 Russell U.S. House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Hon. John Mica The Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchinson Ranking Member Ranking Member House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee 2163 Rayburn 560 Dirksen U.S. House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman and Committee Members: As you begin to prepare for conference on S. 294, the Amtrak reauthorization bill, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors would like to express its support for the bill as amended in the House. When enacted, this legislation will be the first multi-year reauthorization of Amtrak since 1997, providing adequate funding to improve Amtrak's infrastructure and operations. Importantly, the bill also provides for grants to intercity rail programs such as those in operation in California. Several of the San Francisco Bay Area's most congested freeways transverse Contra Costa County, and we are supportive of all feasible transportation alternatives to highway commuting. Amtrak is a critical part of our transportation network, along with the state-sponsored intercity services such as the highly successful Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin lines, which partner with Amtrak. We would urge the Senate to recede to the House on Title 1, Section 101 (e), Authorization for State Capital Grants, as the House provision authorizes higher funding levels for the intercity rail grant program that will be so important in relieving the congestion that is sapping the Nation's economy. Amtrak Reauthorization Bill Support Letter September 16,2008 Page 2 of 2 We commend you for your efforts on behalf of this critical reauthorization which will help Amtrak and our state-sponsored rail lines provide the level of rail service that our constituents need. Sincerely, F eral D. Glover, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors FG\JG C: Members.Board of Supervisors The Hon. D. Feinstein The Hon. B.Boxer The Hon. G.Miller The Hon. E.Tauscher The Hon.J. McNerney Members, Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee D. Barry, Interim Director, Dept. of Conservation&Development L. Delaney,County Adminstrator's Office P. Schlesinger, Alcalde& Fay