Fight the Amtrak fare increase for commuters!

Amtrak is planning a 50% fare increase for for regular commuters throughout the Northeast corridor. Such a plan would:

• Result in reduced revenues for Amtrak - most commuters will choose another method of transportation fares are raised to this level. Some, like myself, would consider leaving my current jobfor one closer to home - even if it required a substantial decrease in salary.
• Endanger the still fragile economic recovery by reducing disposable income and causing hardship to
  working people who commute long distances to support families.
  
• Increase air pollution and related health risks in congested urban areas by forcing more people to
  drive to work.
  
• Increase our energy dependence on countries that harbor terrorists.
  

As a commuter, a voter and an environmentally concerned citizen I strongly urge everyone to fight the increase by contacting your elected representatives, regulatory agencies and Amtrak management. Tell them you oppose any plan for an Amtrak fare increase. A list of contacts appears below.

Senators Lott and Lautenberg are now pushing to get Amtrak's funding approved. Drop them a line and let them know that Amtrak doesn't deserve a taxpayer subsidy if fares are so exorbitant that no one can afford them.

Email me with any related news you may hear or other people or agencies to contact at empirecommuter@yahoo.com

Thanks!

David Solomonoff

Contacts and Links

Mr. David L. Gunn, President
Amtrak Customer Relations
60 Massachusetts Avenue
Washington DC 20002
fax: 202-906-2211

Note: It is best to call 1 800-USA-RAIL, then press "0" and ask for customer relations, explain why you are
calling and ask for a reference number. Include the number in your letter to Mr. Gunn.

Kate Warr, Administrator
Amtrak Customer Advisory Committee
900 E. Second Street, NE, Suite 308
Washington, DC 20002

Secretary of Transportation
Norman Y. Mineta
Norman.Mineta@ost.dot.gov
Telephone: 202-366-1111
FAX: 202-366-7202

AMTRAK REFORM COUNCIL
Gilbert E. Carmichael - Chairman
Thomas A. Till - Executive Director
tom.till@oig.dot.gov
Telephone: 202-366-0591

Amtrak Office of the Inspector General, http://www.amtrakoig.com/

NARP - National Association of Railroad Passengers, http://www.narprail.org

American Public Transportation Association (APTA), http://www.apta.com/

Friends of Amtrak, http://trainweb.com/crocon/amtrak.html

Save Amtrak, http://www.saveamtrak.org/

Amtrak Reform Council, http://www.amtrakreformcouncil.gov/

Federal Railroad Administration, http://www.fra.dot.gov/site/index.htm


U.S. Department of Transportation, http://www.dot.gov/

The Empire State Passengers Association, http://www.trainweb.com/espa/


Tri-State Transportation Campaign, http://www.tstc.org/


New York Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
http://www.state.ny.us/governor/


Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
(212) 788-9600
FAX (212) 788-2460
E-MAIL: http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html



President Mr.George W.Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
SWITCHBOARD: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
Web Site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

NY Senators

Schumer, Charles (D - NY)
313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
Web page to send email:
http://schumer.senate.gov/webform.html

Clinton, Hillary (D - NY)
476 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
Web page to send email:

http://clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html


To find your Congressperson, go to this website:


http://www.house.gov/writerep/
and enter your full nine-digit zipcode.