Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Amtrak

Smaller Cities Propel Amtrak Ridership to a New High

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 15, 2013 | 14 Comments

It’s been another year of ridership growth for Amtrak, despite the difficulties caused by Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast. In fiscal year 2013, the nation’s intercity rail service saw its 10th ridership increase in 11 years, carrying a record 31.6 million passengers [PDF]. The Northeast Corridor still accounts for a huge share of Amtrak’s total […]

As Deadline Approaches, Amtrak’s Indy-Chicago Line Faces Cuts

By Angie Schmitt | Sep 17, 2013 | 8 Comments

Notices may soon start appearing at train stations around the United States warning of possible service disruptions as states struggle to finalize funding agreements with Amtrak. All “state-supported” Amtrak routes — those shorter than 750 miles — are up against an October 16 deadline to come up with state funds to support passenger rail operations […]

Columbus, Ohio, Wants In on the Midwest Rail Renaissance

By Angie Schmitt | Aug 26, 2013 | 8 Comments

Columbus, Ohio, population 800,000, is among the biggest U.S. cities without passenger rail. But its time may have finally come. A college town and state capital, Columbus has bucked the trend of urban decline in Ohio and built a strong economy on insurance and retail. The culture here has been famously resistant to rail plans, but it’s […]

BTS Releases Confusing, Erroneous Transit Stats

By Tanya Snyder | Aug 16, 2013 | 2 Comments

I was all set to write a feel-good story about how the latest report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics [PDF] shows that transit ridership is up and driving is down. I made up my mind to write that story before I even looked at the report, so sure was I that that was the […]

Amtrak Foe Mica Meets His Match in John Robert Smith

By Tanya Snyder | Jul 9, 2013 | 7 Comments

I just sat through a pretty boring hearing on rail financing. But I’m glad I stuck it out, because the fireworks came at the end, when Rep. John Mica picked a fight with the wrong man. John Robert Smith is familiar face in transportation reform circles. The former Republican mayor of the town of Meridian, […]

Will the Next Rail Bill Make Trains Competitive With Highways and Aviation?

By Tanya Snyder | Jul 2, 2013 | 1 Comment

It may have taken three years for Congress to get it together to pass a surface transportation reauthorization, but House Republicans say that won’t happen this time. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), chair of the Rail Subcommittee in the House, opened last Thursday’s hearing by making sure everyone in the room knew that. “Chairman Shuster and […]

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