Re: Too much ‘demand’ for Amtrak parking; so ‘supply’ gets more expensive
Taxpayers already provide too much of a subsidy for Amtrak riders.
If you want to ride the train to Philly or Harrisburg, pay your own way and that includes parking.
Stop expecting the majority of people, who never use Amtrak, to provide you with a big discount on your travel to and from work in Philly or Harrisburg.
EDITOR: Is the contributor certain that the “Patriot” from New York to Harrisburg requires subsidy? Or are all those lines serving areas of far less demand running up Amtrak’s losses? That is our understanding.
Perhaps a parking garage at the station be self supporting. A study should be made.
Also, aren’t there a lot of environmental ’savings’ from commuters using rail rather than driving? it also is a boost to productivity since many are working while riding.
Our goal is to facilitate greater use of rail service.
The article talks about Lancaster to Philadelphia, the Keystone line, which is heavily subsidized by state taxpayers. What environmental savings? These are diesel powered trains and even if they were electrified, the electricity comes from a power plant that pollutes one way or another.
Doubt that many people go from Lancaster to NY using Amtrak and Amtrak is subsidized by all taxpayers. Since the people who use Amtrak save a considerable amount of money by not having to park in Philadelphia, I would think that the price they are paying to park here is a steal. A garage here may or may not be self supporting, but any study will cost taxpayers money and how do we know that the study will be accurate? Remember we were told that the convention center would be self sustaining also.
As for a boost in productivity, let their employer pay for that, not the taxpayer. Does the Editor possibly use the Keystone line frequently, and thus wants another perk at taxpayer expense? Too many people in this country believe they are entitled to services at taxpayer expense. It’s why we are so far in debt as a nation.
How about a new national motto, “If it doesn’t pay it’s own way it goes away”.
EDITOR:
1) We believe the pollutants thrown off by the locomotives, whatever the prime source of the energy, is far less than gas fumes from cars when passengers would otherwise drive.
2) How to provide added parking space, not the cost of parking, is the main issue at hand.
3) We do often use the Keystone service to Philadelphia and New York. We drive some of the time.
4) We understand the Keystone service to be a profitable line for Amtrak. They could use the added revenue to offset losses.
Who pays for the parking is the main issue. If you want a parking garage, pay for it yourself and leave your hands out of the pockets of those who don’t use the service. If you want the better pay from a job in Philly, then pay your own way or move to Philly.
PennDOT pays Amtrak over $8 million per year to subsidize the Keystone Line. On top of that, they spend 10’s of millions of dollars per year on station upgrades etc.. This money would be better spent on highway and bridge repairs.
EDITOR: By the same logic, all roads should be toll roads. Let those who drive in your neighborhood pay for the roads in your neighborhood.
More seriously, without Amtrak there would have to be more roads, they would have to be repaired more often, and certainly more fumes.
There are no forms of transportation that are not taxpayer subsidized – airports, harbors, highways, bike paths, and railroads all get gov’t funds.
On business recently, I traveled to the same destination by rail and later by air. Air from Harrisburg with a transfer did not save 1 minute of travel, cost three times as much, and did not allow me wireless computer access. If the train travels to where I’m headed, I’ll almost always choose that option over air.