INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

WHEREAS, since 1974, Amtrak passenger rail service through East Lansing as part of the International= s route between Chicago and Toronto has been a valuable service to the residents of Ingham County, surrounding counties, and to the tens of thousands of students who attend Michigan State University from throughout the United States and from around the world; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners wishes to express its concern over the recent announcement by Amtrak that it intends to eliminate this service as early as May 31, 2000, as part of strategic efforts to comply with Congressional mandates for financial self-sufficiency by the end of federal fiscal year 2002; and

WHEREAS, the concerted economic development efforts in Ingham County all factor in the benefits of having passenger rail service available to the area for marketing, business retention, job development, and training resources, all of which could be severely hampered by these recent developments; and

WHEREAS, questions of ridership, have been raised; however, they do not address the totality of the quality of life issues that are realized as a direct result of having the International continue its service through East Lansing, and represent only a microcosm of a true cost/benefit analysis that would demonstrate the broader range of value that this service has provided for the past 26 years; and

WHEREAS, the ridership at the East Lansing station has stabilized in the range of 41,000 to 45,000 passengers during each of the last eight years, when data from both the Amtrak train and thruway connecting bus services are analyzed; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak has required a $2.9 million increase in state subsidy from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in order to continue the service and at the same time comply with its Congressional mandates; and

WHEREAS, MDOT has yet to address questions justifying, among other things, its decision to eliminate required funding for this particular route compared to others in the state, what the total costs savings to MDOT would be, and whether or not an analysis was ever undertaken to determine how the elimination of this major route would affect the state= s overall transportation system.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners stands with Greater Lansing= s business, government, educational, industrial, and community leaders urging Governor John Engler and the legislature to appropriate the amount of state subsidy needed to continue the much valued East Lansing

Amtrak service and to lobby to federal government to adjust the mandate.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to John Engler and to state and congressional representatives of Ingham County.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES/PERSONNEL: Yeas: McDonald, Lynch, Pratt, Minter, Severino

Nays: None Absent: None Approved 3/7/00