The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi with assistance from James Zumwalt, the passenger association’s director of policy research, says those losses stem from cancelled operating spending, fewer visitors and visitor spending, and higher travel costs for families along the route. It also estimated there would be an additional $64 million in losses across the three states in pollution controls, highway fatalities, highway maintenance, and foregone trips. It also says the negative effects would hit the areas along the Chief route which already are home to the lowest median household income.
“Regular and frequent train service has proved to be an economic engine for communities large and small time and again,” Jim Mathews, president of the Rail Passengers Association, said in a press release accompanying publication of the study. “This study illustrates not only the damage that would have come from Amtrak’s proposed ‘bus bridge’ for the Chief, but also the real ‘return on investment’ for robust rail funding in both urban and rural communities nationwide. … The bus bridge is not a realistic option for Amtrak passengers and surrounding communities. It would create longer travel times and a financial loss for the region. It will be critical for lawmakers to take this study into consideration when developing a surface-transportation bill reauthorization in 2019.”
The full study, including a detailed look at its methodology, is available here.
