Hotline #762

New York police are reporting that a bomb may have caused an explosion below the World Trade Center today, collapsing the ceiling of the PATH rail station and perhaps killing two and injuring 300. Very little is known at this time.

Congress is under growing pressure to cut spending, rather than go along with the Clinton economic stimulus package. Some columnists are attacking such items as the added $188 million for Amtrak capital and the long-term high-speed rail money. So tell your Senators and Representatives that you support those items and the energy tax.

Both the Senate and House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittees on February 23 held hearings on the Clinton spending package. The House subcommittee approved it on February 24. However, floor action on the full package is now expected in early April, when nervous legislators also will be able to vote for a budget resolution with spending cuts. This weekend's McLaughlin Group television program will be devoted to suggestions for spending cuts.

The complete Clinton budget for 1994 is now expected to be released on April 5, but Congress will have enough details to do a budget resolution sooner.

Debate proceeds within the DOT on whether high-speed rail money should be for maglev or for steel-wheel technology. The media calls this $646 million over five years, but that is what the budgeteers call an "outlay figure;" we urge you to use the higher "budget authority" figure of $1.3 billion. Let Secretary Pena know your views on how to spend it and share with him copies of your supportive letters to your legislators.

Rep. Bob Clement (D.-Tenn.) on February 24 introduced H.R.1090, a bill requiring Amtrak to begin western-route Chicago-Florida service by 1996 and authorizing funds to pay for it. Co-sponsors are Lipinski (Ill.), Costello (Ill.), McCloskey (Ind.), Myers (Ind.), Barlow (Ky.), Gordon (Tenn.), Lloyd (Tenn.), Darden (Ga.), Rowland (Ga.), Deal (Ga.), McKinney (Ga.), and Lewis (Ga.).

Landslides blocked Amtrak's San Diegan route on February 22 near San Clemente, Cal. Train service is offered between Los Angeles and San Juan Capistrano and replacement buses south to San Diego. However, northbound buses run through and do not connect with trains at San Juan Capistrano. The Santa Fe attempted to bulldoze away the soil, but was blocked by local officials who feared the work would cause loss of more houses, so there is no word on when the line will reopen.

Los Angeles Metrolink added a few off-peak runs to existing routes and extended peak service to Claremont on February 15. On February 21, the Chicago Howard-Dan Ryan rapid transit link was opened, but two trains collided in the new link, injuring 30.

The State of North Carolina took delivery of four coaches on February 24, to be used on a second 403(b) train between Raleigh and Charlotte. The new train, to be called the Piedmont, is expected to start up in June. The cars' interiors are beautiful and they ride smoothly.

The New Mexico DOT issued a request for proposals to start up passenger service between El Paso and Denver, to be due March 15.

Amtrak will add two Saturdays of X2000 revenue service beyond what was previously announced. They are March 6 on trains 104 and 125; and April 3 on trains 108 and 125.

A few Amtrak trains were annulled around Chicago on February 24 during a cold spell. A new FDA-related problem has surfaced -- whereas in past years Amtrak has released cars with frozen water lines, including frozen toilets, this year the FDA agreement doesn't allow that. So the whole car has to be bad-ordered until it thaws and if that happens to enough cars, a whole train, and its return trip, may be annulled.

New York State Transportation Commissioner Franklin White has been named chief of the new Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.