The Times of Trenton (NJ), 7/1:
Safety has to be rule number one for Amtrak, but at what cost? | Editorial
The Amtrak rail derailment last month in Philadelphia that took the lives of eight people and injured scores more was a monumental tragedy, but the even bigger tragedy is that it could have been avoided if a safety system had been in place at the accident site.
Safety has to be rule number one for Amtrak, but at what cost?
Last month, the House, voting on party lines, passed a transportation spending bill that would cut Amtrak's budget by $242 million. This upset Democratic members of Congress, including many from New Jersey, who question if inadequate funding for safety improvements played a role in the May 12 derailment.
Should Amtrak funding be fast-tracked?
But Republicans, particularly from states where Amtrak is not a major carrier, are reluctant to commit more tax money to a rail system that consistently runs in the red.
Both sides make valid points, but let's consider some crucial facts.
SNIP
We have to be wise with how we spend our tax dollars. Lawmakers would be wise to keep adequate funding to ensure our passenger and freight rail lines sun smoothly, safely and economically.
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