Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 28, 1993 TAG: 9308280090
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On Monday, Bowers will meet with Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson to seek his support for a proposed new Amtrak route from New York to Atlanta.
Next month, he'll go to Washington to meet with Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., to ask for his backing in the effort to get federal funds for the passenger service.
The proposed route would pass through Roanoke, Southwest Virginia, Bristol and Eastern Tennessee.
Officials from a half-dozen cities in Tennessee will join Bowers in trying to convince Jackson that a new Amtrak route would help bring more people to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics.
Bowers said the Tennessee officials also will accompany him when he meets with Robb.
Bowers has spurred the campaign for the Amtrak service. Originally he proposed passenger service between Roanoke and Chattanooga, Tenn., as part of his plan to bring more tourists to the Roanoke Valley.
The proposal quickly was expanded, however, after it was learned that Amtrak has studied a new route between New York and Atlanta. Tennessee officials endorsed Bowers' proposal and joined the campaign to get Amtrak service.
The major stumbling block is the lack of funds for equipment - $60 million - and an annual subsidy of about $10 million that would be needed to keep the train running.
Amtrak says it would like to provide the service, but it doesn't have the money for the route or for 12 others under consideration.
If Congress reduces Amtrak funds, Bowers said, it could hamper the campaign for the new route.
Meanwhile, Bowers said he is not familiar with details of a state senator's proposal for a state rail service that would link Southwest Virginia with Richmond and Washington.
This week, Sen. William Wampler Jr., R-Bristol, said the state could provide passenger service in Southwest Virginia, and it would be less expensive than Amtrak's.
If the state leases the rail equipment and uses existing rails, he said there would be little, if any, startup cost.
Wampler and Bristol officials have asked the Virginia Department of Rail and Transportation to develop a marketing plan for the service.
If an average of 200 tickets was sold for each trip, he said, the service could break even.
Virginia already has rail service between Washington, D.C., and Fredericksburg, and plans to extend it to Tidewater.
Wampler said he wants to get passenger service for Bristol and Southwest Virginia as quickly as possible. He said his proposal could be an enticement for Amtrak. And it would show the demand for the service, he said.
If Amtrak does come, Wampler said, the state service could be phased out, or both services could be retained.
Bowers said Wampler's proposal sounds good, but he wants to consult with officials in Eastern Tennessee before endorsing it. Apparently the plan wouldn't provide service for cities and towns in Tennessee, he said.
Virginia's senators, Robb and Republican John Warner, back the proposed Amtrak route, as do Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, and Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon.
A top official with the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has written a letter of support for the Amtrak route, saying that passenger service could be beneficial for the Olympics.
"We support additional Amtrak service for Atlanta, and the route by Knoxville, Chattanooga and other cities would be especially good," said Jeff Rader, manager of transportation programs for the Atlanta chamber.
by CNB