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WASHINGTON – Senate leaders agreed to add $5 billion to the mass transit budget bringing proposed spending to $41.3 billion over the next six years.

But the big winner, as usual, is the highway budget, which was boosted by $26 billion to $173 billion through 2003.

Sen. Al D’Amato (R-NY) built the coalition to get more mass transit funds. He said he was able to build a coalition of Senators because even Western state senators, who previously had little interest in public transportation, are seeing the consequences of urban overcrowding. For example, Las Vegas is looking at mass transit options, and Utah needs mass transit for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

However, a prominent House democrat said the Senate should give mass transit an additional $6 billion – not $5 billion – and should stick to the formula of giving mass transit 20% of transportation dollars.

FTA proposes drug and alcohol testing

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) proposes to require drug and alcohol testing of all maintenance workers, including those engaged in engine, revenue service vehicle, and parts rebuilding and overhaul.

This change by the FTA would eliminate the distinction between maintenance workers involved in on-going daily maintenance and repair work and those, who on a routine basis, perform rebuilding and overhauling work.

Amtrak service in Missouri threatened

ST. LOUIS – Amtrak service between St. Louis and Kansas City is threatened by possible state budget cuts.

Recently, the Missouri House Appropriations Committee voted to cut the Governor’s budget request for this service. All passenger rail advocates who use the Missouri Amtrak service should immediately contact the Missouri legislature.

Five Amtrak Reform Council members appointed

WASHINGTON – Five of the 11 members of the newly formed Amtrak Reform Council have been appointed.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) appointed Paul Weyrich, a former Amtrak board member, Gil Carmichael, former head of the Federal Railroad Administration, and author Joseph Vranich.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) named former Senate staffer Dan Sweitzer, a former aide to former Senator Howard Metzenbaum and an ally of rail labor.

House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) named S. Lee King, a banker and former Missouri DOT commissioner.