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November 23, 2007
By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
An Amtrak appropriations bill
winding its way through Congress includes a study to look at
restoring the Pioneer Route, which used to stop in Hood River
and The Dalles.
Amtrak shut the Pioneer Route down
in 1997 because of budget constraints and replaced its service
with the Empire Builder line that runs through Bingen, Wash.
“I would love it; it would be great
to have that line re-established,” said Les Perkins, Hood River
County Commissioner.
“I think rail, as far as passenger
transport, is going to become more and more important especially
with the cost of fuel continuing to increase.”
Senate Bill 294, the Passenger Rail
Investment and Improvement Act of 2007, would reauthorize Amtrak
for fiscal years 2007 through 2012 at a cost of $11 billion.
While it focuses primarily on
appropriations for the rail system, it also includes a section
that would have an independent auditor look at the addition of
intercity passenger routes.
If the bill were to pass, the
provision calls for within one year having a one-time evaluation
of rail service between Seattle and Chicago along two separate
routes — the Pioneer and the North Coast Hiawatha. The Hiawatha
runs through southern Montana and was shut down in 1979.
The study would be sent to the
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate;
and to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives.
The Pioneer originally ran between
Seattle and Salt Lake City connecting with the California Zephyr
in Salt Lake. Later, the Pioneer was rerouted through Wyoming to
Denver for that link.
When service ended, the Pioneer
made stops in Hood River and The Dalles three times a week. In
Oregon, it also serviced Pendleton, Hinkle-Hermiston, LaGrande,
Baker City and Ontario. Idaho stops included Pocatello and
Boise.
Amtrak cut the route at the time
because it had lost $50 million in federal funding. The agency
thought the Empire Builder line held more promise for future
growth.
The last authorization bill for
Amtrak expired in 2002. Since then, its funding has been
completed through the annual appropriations process.
The bill was approved by the Senate
and is now in the House at the committee level. |
