The good news for passenger rail is that the administration is proposing $100 million for the Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program, up from the $30 million that was approved in this year's omnibus appropriation. The criteria for this year's program is due to be released by the Federal Railroad Administration any day now, and I have no doubt that the financial needs of the worthy projects will be many times more than this first capital grant program to the states has available.  Also, transit is slated for the highest funding level ever, at $10 billion.

While the stage is set for another battle over scraps, we will continue to work towards the realization of a truly national passenger rail system, providing the frequencies and efficiencies that record ridership on our regional corridor routes continues to demonstrate as not just desirable, but necessary.

The bad news is that the overall funding level the president proposed for Amtrak is $455 million less than the level at which it was funded this year, setting up the perennial battle between Congress and the administration to at least provide life support for our national passenger rail system. Again, officials are reportedly citing Amtrak's "lack of reform" as rationale.