The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that could boost Amtrak service in the popular Northeast corridor while giving states more authority over the routes they help subsidize.
The bill was approved Wednesday by a vote of 316 to 101. It authorizes $7.2 billion over the next four years, keeping Amtrak subsidies nearly the same as current spending levels.
U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, a Republican who represents parts of Berks, Chester, Lebanon and Montgomery counties, went before his colleagues to speak in support of the bipartisan measure.
"Amtrak's Northeast and Keystone rail lines are a critical thread in the transportation fabric of my district in southeastern Pennsylvania," Costello said.
Amtrak supporters had urged an increase in funds to address a backlog of infrastructure projects.
But the bill also allows Amtrak to use profits from its Northeast corridor service between Boston and Washington to make improvements that could speed up trains and enhance service in the corridor.
"This important legislation does something very significant," Costello said. "It keeps revenues generated on the Northeast corridor for investment on the Northeast corridor.
Amtrak officials have long complained that they've had to use Northeast corridor profits to subsidize unprofitable, long-distance routes.
Senate approval of the bill is still required.
"For my district, it offers more promise for the Schuylkill Metro project, for the concept of utilizing existing rail beds, known as the Green Line along Route 29 in Montgomery and Chester counties, and, of course, it makes more available federal funding for new train stations to replace aging train stations such as Paoli and Downingtown," Costello said.
The latest version of the long-proposed Schuylkill Valley Metro project involves restoring passenger train service between Reading and Philadelphia by way of Norristown and SEPTA's existing commuter rail line.
One proposal has called for adding tolls along Route 422 to help pay for both the rail line and the highway.
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