HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12201994 - S1 S. 1
IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
SUBJECT: In the.Matter of Opposition to AMTRAK's Unilateral )
and Inequitable Decision to Eliminate Federal )
Support for the CAPITOL ROUTE intercity passenger )
rail service )
RESOLUTION NO. 94/639
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County RESOLVES THAT:
WHEREAS, a new state-sponsored intercity passenger rail service opeiated by AMTRAK, known as the
CAPITOL ROUTE, was introduced on December 12, 1991 with an initial three daily round trips between Sacramento,
Suisun/Fairfield, Martinez, Richmond, Oakland, and San Jose, and then extended service to Roseville;
WHEREAS,the CAPITOL ROUTE,operated by AMTRAK under provisions of its agreement with Southern Pacific
Transportation Company, was created through a partnership between the California Department of Transportation
(CALTRANS) and AMTRAK, using both federal and state funds;
WHEREAS, the AMTRAK Board of Directors on December 13, 1994 approved a $430 million budget reduction
plan which involves a major restructuring of routes and schedules, including the elimination of approximately $2 million
annually as the federal share for operation of the. CAPITOL ROUTE,
WHEREAS, California voters approved Propositions 108 and 116 in 1990 which included funds to implement
the CAPITOL ROUTEand provided more than $70 million to fund capital upgrades to tracks, facilities, and rolling stock
for the CAPITOL intercity service;
WHEREAS, after considerable state and local investment in the corridor the CAPITOL service has shown a
steady increase in ridership, now approaching 370,000 annual riders;
WHEREAS, other states, particularly those in the Northeast corridor, make virtually no contribution of state
funds toward operating AMTRAK intercity services;
WHEREAS,the State of California has made significant annual contributions to defray the operating and capital
costs for three AMTRAK operated intercity routes, the SAN DIEGAN, SAN✓OAQUIN, and CAPITOL trains;
WHEREAS, the decision by AMTRAK's Board of Directors to eliminate funding for the CAPITOL ROUTE, was
not only made in a unilateral manner without consulting its partner, Caltrans, but AMTRAK's budget reduction also
unfairly burdens California after years of state funding support toward AMTRAK intercity service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS strongly opposes the AMTRAK
Board of Directors unilateral and inequitable decision to withdraw from its partnership with CALTRANS on the CAPITOL
ROUTE by eliminating the federal funding share for operation, and, furthermore, calls upon AMTRAK to restore its
funding commitment to the CAPITOL ROUTE.
PASSED by the following vote of the Board of Supervisors on the 20th day of December, 1994:
AYES: Supervisors Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Powers
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Supervisor Bishop
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of an order entered on the minutes of the Board of
Supervisors on the date aforesaid.
Contact: Patrick Roche (510/646-2835)
cc: Community Development Department (CDD) Witness my hand and the Seal of the
AMTRAK Board of Directors (via CDD) Board of Supervisors affixed on this
Federico Pena, Secretary, USDOT (via CDD) 20th day of December, 1994.
California Congressional Delegation (via CDD)
CA Assemblyman Hannigan, 8th District (via CDD) Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of
James Spering, MTC Commissioner (via CDD) Supervisors and County Administrator
By: U
Deputy k
M(GEBROCI:Amtr"t.Ros RESOLUTION NO. 941L39