This summer, commuters and travelers on America’s busiest passenger railway, the Northeast Corridor, have endured significant heat-related delays and cancellations, complicating the transit legacy of President Joe Biden, affectionately known as “Amtrak Joe.” Record heat has exposed longstanding infrastructure issues along the route from Boston to Virginia, highlighting the urgent need for improvements funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Infrastructure Woes and Political Repercussions
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), a potential 2025 gubernatorial candidate and key negotiator for the infrastructure law, expressed frustration over the delays. “People are going to lose faith in the transportation system,” he said. The summer’s struggles threaten Amtrak’s post-COVID rebound, which saw Northeast Corridor ridership exceed pre-pandemic levels and spurred expansion plans to double ridership by 2040. A 2022 Amtrak report projected hotter and wetter conditions could lead to $220 million in losses over the next decade, complicating efforts to make rail travel a climate-resilient option.
Immediate Impact and Future Plans
Despite the Northeast Corridor’s special emphasis in the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law, immediate solutions to service disruptions are lacking. The corridor’s trains had an on-time rate of 69 percent in June, a drop from the previous 12-month average and below the 80 percent standard. NJ Transit experienced its fourth-worst month of cancellations in June, with 63 percent attributed to Amtrak-related issues. In response, both companies have accelerated inspections and maintenance.
New Jersey’s entire U.S. House delegation requested Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg investigate the issues. Gov. Phil Murphy and Rep. Tom Kean Jr. have called for accountability from Amtrak, highlighting the impact on commuters and property values. The White House and Amtrak officials have been in close contact to address the problems.
Broader Regional Challenges
Other transit systems, including New York’s MTA and Washington’s WMATA, have also faced heat-related challenges, though not as severe as Amtrak and NJ Transit. Reduced train speeds, power system vulnerabilities, and track malfunctions have been common issues.
Looking Ahead: Balancing Growth and Maintenance
Amtrak aims to capitalize on President Biden’s push for rail expansion with new routes and improved infrastructure. Significant projects, like the Gateway tunnel under the Hudson River, are underway, supported by more than $32 billion in federal infrastructure funds. However, there are concerns about the pace of federal spending and Amtrak’s ability to balance expansion with maintaining high-quality service. The Northeast Corridor alone has a repair backlog exceeding $100 billion.
Despite these challenges, officials remain hopeful that overcoming current setbacks will lead to smoother service in the future. “Train service is permanently attractive,” said Adie Tomer, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “The only thing holding back Amtrak will always be the quality of its service.”
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