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Title:

AMTRAK SUBSIDIES AND THE TRANSPORTATION EXTERNALITIES

Accession Number:

00748180

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Find a library where document is available


Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515

Abstract:

Amtrak revenues have never been sufficient to cover costs. The U.S. General Accounting Office has warned recently that, despite large annual federal subsidies for operating and capital, Amtrak is in danger of running out of cash in 1998. The Clinton Administration has proposed an answer to the Amtrak financial crisis which would make the corporation eligible for funding from the national Highway Trust Fund. This paper argues that non-user benefits (externalities) do not provide a rationale for non-user subsidies to Amtrak. While intercity highway and air transportation do generate significant external costs in the form of congestion and pollution, the best means for government to deal with these external costs are regulation and pricing. Intercity rail service may play a significant role in intercity markets where congestion and pollution are properly controlled, but this does not justify subsidies to intercity passenger rail. The prescription suggested for Amtrak is to provide the highest level of service possible at the lowest possible cost in order to compete effectively in markets which are rationally priced. One would not expect access to the Highway Trust Fund to move Amtrak necessarily in this direction.

Supplemental Notes:

Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Monograph Accession #:

00748171

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

McCullough, G J

Pagination:

p. 27-29

Publication Date:

1998-3

Serial:

Transportation Research Circular

Issue Number: 484
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 0097-8515

Conference:

National Conference on Critical Issues for the Future of Intercity Passenger Rail

Location: Washington, D.C.
Date: 1997-6-10 to 1997-6-11
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board, National Research Council; National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); Federal Railroad Administration; and Environmental Protection Agency.

Media Type:

Digital/other

Identifier Terms:

Amtrak; Highway Trust Fund

Subject Areas:

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Apr 13 1998 12:00AM

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