MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile City Council, which had been expected to vote today on funding to support the return of Amtrak service to the city, is now likely to delay that decision.
AL.com reports that the vote is likely to be delayed because council members learned a deadline to submit matching funds for a federal grant has been extended to February. The original deadline was Jan. 6, 2020. [See “Mobile city council to vote on financiual support for Gulf Coast Amtrak service,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 18, 2019.]
Mobile is being asked to make a financial commitment of $2 million to $3 million to match federal funds covering operating costs for the first three years of service between New Orleans and Mobile. The decision is independent of at least $2.2 million which must come from an Alabama source for capital improvements before the service could begin.
If you look at how much some poorer states (read Alabama) get in return for their federal taxes, compared to wealthier states, it’s not remotely equitable. Alabama is the 5th most federally dependent state. Mass is 44th and pays more in federal taxes than it gets back. But it’s not a zero sum game. Poorer states need more in aid than richer ones. I, for one, do not begrudge them that.
In order to leverage x amount of money you have to pony up. And $2M is actually a very small amount money.
I’m with Gerald on this. This is a new service, which I believe would bring in more bang for the buck, especially with the matching federal funds. Mobile spent many millions, with matching federal transportation funds, to build a Maritime museum that’s hardly seen any visitors. Maybe if they would invest a little in a new way to visit the city the museum, along with the rest of the city would benefit. But unfortunately, even if the Mobile City Council votes for the funding, which I’m pretty sure they won’t, the state won’t contribute anything. The Governor here has already made her decision and I doubt she’s going to change her mind. She’s pretty hardheaded to say the least.
How much has Westwood, Massachusetts (Route 128 Station); New London, Connecticut; Kingston, Rhode Island; Wilmington, Delaware, etc. etc. etc. ponied up in local funds (city or town) for Amtrak???? If I’m on the city council of Mobile, those would be among my several questions.
Oh, Gerald, Gerald, Gerald. Two million quahogs is a drop in the bucket compared to the economic development … yeah, right. By the way, Gerald, you really didn’t speak to my point. Why does everyone else have to pay for trains (state and local both in this case) when the northeast states don’t? What’s good for Alabama is good for Rhode Island or Maryland.
Charles, this is for new/re-introduced service, not existing service…which most of the cities you listed have had since the inception of Amtrak. Don’t compare apples to oranges, it doesn’t work. 2 million dollars is a drop in the bucket compared to the economic gain from having rail service, even if it does start out as only twice daily.