With the attack on Amtrak from the current administration in DC, it is unlikely that will happen anytime soon. The Bush administration would like to see Amtrak privatized (a whole discussion in and of itself not meant for the Mpls list) and/or have the states take over all funding. The latter scenario has better odds of occurring, but that would take some planning from a state to state standpoint. In other words, many states currently subsidize Amtrak (i.e. California) while most don't pay their "fare share" portion (i.e. New York). Coming up with the difference can be billions of dollars (NY) which don't appear overnight.
George Warrington (past Amtrak President), Sharon Sayles Belton, Paul Wellstone and even then-mayor Norm Coleman had made a big splash four or five years ago regarding this topic. Since then however, the funding for Amtrak has continually been at risk, the leadership in all four categories has changed and luster behind the idea is now covered in dust. As one whose recent past job included lobbying Congress for Amtrak, I don't see any major movement on Amtrak for some time...unless Bush gets his funding (or lack thereof) request approved. That would force states to pony up or Amtrak to be privatized. Therefore, I think it is unlikely (sadly so) that we will see Minneapolis getting a train station downtown anytime soon. Tom Madden Lowry Hill On 5/9/05 2:25 PM, "Michael Jensvold" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > With all the proposed and existing commuter / light > rail lines (Hiawatha, University, North Star, etc), is > anyone thinking about where and when we might have a > train station once again downtown? > > How about getting Amtrak back to the heart of the > city? > > Mike Jensvold > Ward 10 > > Forward from Transit for Liveable Communities: > >> Community open houses on the Southwest transitway >> line >> >> This week, the Hennepin County Regional Rail >> Authority is hosting a >> series of community open houses on the Southwest >> transitway line. The >> purpose will be to talk about a study that is >> evaluating transit modes >> (bus or rail) and alignments (routes) to determine >> the best option for >> the southwest metro. The proposed southwest >> transitway line would run >> from downtown Minneapolis thru St. Louis Park, >> Hopkins, Minnetonka and >> Eden Prairie. >> >> >> >> They would like to hear from you. The meetings will >> be an important >> opportunity to learn more about the proposed >> Southwest line and offer >> your input. If you do attend please contact Dan >> Walsh at Transit for >> Livable Communities at 651-767-0298 or >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> . >> >> >> >> The details are below: >> >> >> >> Tuesday, May 10th >> >> 4:00 to 7:00 PM >> >> Southwest Metro Station >> >> 13500 Technology Drive >> >> Eden Prairie >> >> >> >> Wednesday, May 11th >> >> 5:00 to 8:00 PM >> >> Hopkins Depot >> >> Hwy. 169 & Excelsior Boulevard >> >> Hopkins >> >> >> >> Thursday, May 12th >> >> 6:00 to 8:00 PM >> >> Kenwood Rec. Center >> >> 2101 West Franklin Avenue >> >> Minneapolis >> >> >> >> For more information call 612-348-9260 or visit >> www.co.hennepin.mn.us >> <http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/> . >> >> > <http://www.tlcminnesota.org/Events/2005/Legislature/TranspoChoices2020/ >> SupportingOrgs.htm> >> >> >> ***** ------ ***** ------ >> >> You are receiving this e-mail because you are a >> member of TLC?s network >> ? a group of transit supporters willing to do more >> to promote transit, >> walking, biking and transit-oriented development in >> Minnesota. Visit >> TLC?s website at www.tlcminnesota.org for more >> information on our >> efforts. Thank you! >> >> > REMINDERS: > 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If > you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn > E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
