When Sen. Kent Conrad announced the “Gang of 10” last week to coalesce around a centrist, bi-partisan solution to our energy problems, it was hard to miss the glaring omission from the proposal: Further investment in energy-efficient intercity passenger trains.

The latest federal figures on transportation energy consumption show a 2.2% increase in Amtrak’s energy efficiency, making Amtrak 17.9% more efficient than airlines. Edition 27 of the annual Transportation Energy Data Book – compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy – says Amtrak consumed 2,650 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per passenger-mile in 2006, versus 2,709 in 2005 – a 2.2% improvement. Airlines used 21.8% more energy per passenger-mile than Amtrak in 2006 vs. 20.5% in 2005. The inherent environmental advantage of trains should be obvious.

Recognizing the need for greater investment in green transportation, the House and Senate both passed S. 294, the bipartisan Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act to reauthorize federal intercity passenger train programs, by veto-proof margins. S. 294 is only a start, authorizing (but not appropriating) modest increases in Amtrak funding and giving states more leverage of federal dollars for their capital investments in passenger rail infrastructure. Yet it is an essential bill.

Ironically, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has vowed that Republicans will block S. 294 (for which the conference committee still needs to convene) and other bills until the Senate takes up domestic oil drilling legislation. Congressional Quarterly quoted McConnell as saying, “…Right now the No. 1 issue in the country is the price of gas at the pump. Why would we want to get off that issue and go to anything else?” Further delay of S. 294 clearly jeopardizes oil conservation efforts that the expansion of fuel-efficient passenger trains would represent. Other Senators should make this obvious point.

There is a deal to be made here, particularly since Republicans reportedly have proposed “that states be allowed to opt out of continental shelf drilling off their shores” [July 8 Politico quoting “one Democratic aide”]. Democrats should consider compromising on oil drilling if there is a production tax on resulting new oil whose proceeds go to green transportation including passenger trains.

Increasing the role of electric rail transportation in America would also give the traveling public a travel option that is 100% oil-free and contains emissions at the site of generation. In November, Californian voters will consider Proposition 1, a $9.95-billion bond measure to begin construction of their long-awaited high-speed rail system that would allow travel between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2 hours 38 minutes. Contrary to naysayers’ assumptions, California’s population and fiscal profiles compare favorably to nations like Spain that have strong high-speed rail systems.

The latest internal polling by the state’s High-Speed Rail Authority indicates 62% support for Proposition 1. If it passes, California will seek to match funds not only from the federal government, but also from the private sector. In Europe, investors have found high-speed rail to be a safe, lucrative investment. Their role should please fiscal hawks who agree with the Bush Administration’s assessment that the private sector should play an increasing role in transportation financing as America seeks energy independence.

Amtrak last month set an all-time record for monthly ridership, carrying 2,750,278 passengers, up 14% from July 2007. Individual routes reported increases as high as 43%. Amtrak’s potential for further growth is hampered by a constrained fleet of rolling stock that is increasingly unable to meet soaring demand. Meanwhile, according to U.S. Department of Transportation, Americans drove 4.7% fewer miles in June than a year earlier.

Set against the backdrop of strong public support for passenger trains and an increasingly unreliable and unsustainable oil supply, America needs strong federal leadership to build upon the valuable Amtrak system we currently have and correct for the decades of funding biases that have hampered our national passenger train system.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 17th, 2008 at 9:00 am and is filed under Politics .