INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL: Congress Faces Critical Decisions in Developing a National Policy

Abstract

This testimony discusses the future of intercity passenger rail. Intercity passenger rail in the United States is at a critical juncture. It has become increasingly clear that the current approach to intercity passenger rail is not likely sustainable. Given Amtrak's worsening financial condition and opportunities for intercity passenger rail to play a larger role in our nation s transportation system, there is growing agreement that the mission, funding, and structure of the current approach to providing intercity passenger rail needs to be changed. There is less agreement on how they should be changed. Both longer-term fiscal pressures and the new commitments undertaken after September 11th sharpen the need to look at competing claims and new priorities. Stated differently, there is a need to consider what is the proper role of the federal government in intercity passenger rail.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 11, 2002
Accession Number
ADA400593

Entities

People

  • Jayetta Z. Hecker

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • California
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Dielectric Gases
  • Energy Conservation
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Governments
  • Land Transportation
  • Law
  • Money
  • National Governments
  • New York
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Rail Transportation
  • Transportation
  • United States
  • United States Government

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Maritime Security/Maritime Homeland Security