Railroads

Ridership and revenue estimates for a controversial high-speed railway proposal in California are “reasonable,” according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Republicans in Congress have questioned estimates for the proposed railway, which has received more than $3 billion in funding from the Obama administration.

However, the GAO said this week that the numbers being used by backers of the project are OK, even as the agency called for further study of the figures.

“GAO found the [California High Speed Rail] Authority's ridership and revenue forecasts to be reasonable; however, additional updates are necessary to refine the ridership and revenue model for the 2014 business plan,” the report said.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Your morning transportation speed-read:

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) is praising Amtrak for reaching an agreement with his state to retain train service there.

Amtrak has considered eliminating portions of the Pennsylvanian line, which runs from New York City to Harrisburg, Pa., with stops in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

At issue was the portion of the line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, which is the Pennsylvania state capital.

House Republicans have often clashed with Amtrak officials, but Shuster said the company made a good decision on its service in the Keystone State. 

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and David Vitter (R-La.) have filed a bill that would eliminate antitrust exemptions for freight railroad companies.

The bill, dubbed the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act, would prevent freight rail companies from operating monopolies in rural areas, the lawmakers said Thursday.

“It’s simply unfair that companies like Blandin Paper Company in Minnesota pay higher prices because railroads enjoy an exemption from the antitrust laws,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “This legislation makes commonsense reforms that will require the railroad industry play by the same antitrust rules as other industries and will help keep costs down for businesses, farmers and consumers.”

Your morning transportation speed-read: 

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Your morning transportation speed-read: 

The budget unveiled Tuesday by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would slash transportation spending in an effort to as part of an effort to cut federal spending by $5.7 trillion.

The plan from Ryan, who is the chairman of the House Budget Committee, is intended to balance the federal budget by the year 2023.

The Ryan budget will serve as the House GOP's answer to President Obama's spending proposals, which are expected to be released later this year.

But whereas Obama has called repeatedly for increasing transportation, Ryan said that the DOT was rife with possibilities for cutting spending.

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