
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 22, 1994                   TAG: 9402220153
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COMMITTEES OK FUNDING TO STUDY AMTRAK SERVICE

Funding to study proposed Amtrak passenger service that would pass through Roanoke was included in separate versions of the state budget endorsed by Virginia House and Senate money committees on Sunday.

The House and Senate budget bills differ in their wording, though, and will have to be reconciled before the budget reaches Gov. George Allen's desk.

The Senate Finance Committee's version calls for $250,000 to be spent on a feasibility study of establishing Amtrak service between Washington and Bristol or Richmond and Bristol.

The version that passed the House Appropriations Committee leaves decision up to the state Transportation Board on the amount of money to be spent on the study.

If Allen signs a budget that includes funding for the study, the state Department of Transportation will be ready to move forward on July 1, said George Conner, an assistant administrator for rail programs.

It was reported in September that Amtrak and the state had agreed to cooperate on a study of the proposed new service.

The study probably would take 12 to 15 months and would look at any conflict with freight traffic, the engineering problems and the potential demand for the service.

Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which handles Amtrak legislation, said the study also would have to examine how the costs of operating the service should be split between the state and federal governments.

Amtrak has not begun any new passenger service on its own in about a decade. Amtrak has been cutting back on some of its service because of declining funding, Boucher said.

Any new Amtrak service started in recent years has been financed with state and local funds, he said.

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and the mayors of other cities in Virginia and Tennessee met with Boucher and Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, and Sens. John Warner, R-Va., and Charles Robb, D-Va., last year to push for new Amtrak service between New York and Atlanta through Virginia and Tennessee in time for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Roanoke Valley leaders have sought Amtrak service for the economic-development benefits it would provide the valley.

Norfolk Southern Corp. Chairman David Goode, a Vinton native, has said he doubts there is enough demand to support the proposed service.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994

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