June 07, 2018

Manchin Secures Language to Ensure Amtrak Ticket Agent in West Virginia

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) secured language in the FY19 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that will ensure Amtrak has to employ one ticketing agent in every state, including West Virginia. This comes after weeks of Senator Manchin fighting to keep the one and only ticketing agent in West Virginia after Amtrak announced they were terminating the position, which took effect yesterday. 

“After weeks of speaking with Amtrak, I am glad to have secured language in this spending bill that will guarantee Amtrak employs at least one ticket agent in every state. When Amtrak announced it was terminating the only ticket agent position in West Virginia, I have been fighting to keep it. I know how important having a ticket agent in West Virginia is and removing the agent at the Charleston station will make it harder for Amtrak to attract new customers and retain the ones they already have.

“Amtrak has told me that most of their sales are now online, but West Virginians buy far more tickets at the Charleston station than most places around the country. That’s not surprising, as nearly 30% of West Virginia is without internet access, and mobile broadband access is also difficult in my state’s rugged, mountainous terrain, making online ticket sales difficult. Our population includes many working class families and elderly residents who are less likely to have a credit card or another means to purchase tickets remotely, but rely heavily on the train as an alternative to driving or flying. Although Matt Crouch’s job was terminated today, once the bill is passed by the House and Senate and signed by the President, Amtrak will have to reinstate a position in the state and I will do everything over the next few months to make sure that happens,” Senator Manchin said.

Yesterday Senator Manchin spoke with Amtrak Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Gardner to urge him to reverse its decision to remove its ticket agent from the station in Charleston until they can agree on the fundamental facts about how ticket sale and daily ridership are calculated. In May, when Amtrak announced that they would be terminating the ticket agent position in Charleston, Senator Manchin sent a letter to Richard Anderson asking him to postpone its decision. To read the letter click here.

Read Senator Manchin’s amendment that will require Amtrak to employee a ticket agent in every state below and information on two other provision he got in the appropriations bill below:

  • Amtrak Station Agents – The Committee recognizes that while the majority of Amtrak’s ticket sales have reverted to online sales, there are still areas in the country lacking sufficient access to the Internet, making online sales prohibitively difficult.  Elderly residents and disadvantaged populations are less likely to have a credit card or another means to purchase tickets remotely, but rely on passenger rail for intercity connectivity, particularly in communities without access to air travel.  Station agents can provide customer service, assistance, and safety passengers in those communities in ways that a ticket kiosk simply cannot.  The Committee directs Amtrak to provide at least one station agent in every state where it operates that had at least one station agent in FY 2018, and reiterates its encouragement to improve public outreach prior to making customer service changes.

  • Collis P. Huntington – Senator Manchin inserted language requires Amtrak to justify its decisions to increase prices and stop accepting private trains in Huntington, which would potentially put the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society out of business and jeopardize the future of the annual New River Train.  Senator Manchin’s language will require Amtrak to increase transparency, improve public relations, and require to determine whether it could improve its policies without jeopardizing organizations like Collis P. Huntington.

  • Appalachian Development Highway System – Senator Manchin worked to include language that encourages the Federal Highway Administration to prioritize roads of critical commercial importance in the Appalachian Development Highway System, which includes Corridor H. 

Senator Manchin also included critical funding for WV priorities in both the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bills that Senator Manchin voted out of the Appropriations Committee today.

Transportation & Housing and Urban Development

  • Charleston Ticket Agent: language in the manager’s package requires Amtrak to maintain at least one station agent in every state where Amtrak operates, ensuring that West Virginia will continue to have a ticket agent.

  • Amtrak: amendment in the manager’s package requires Amtrak to justify its decisions that could put small non-profits like the Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society out of business and jeopardize the future of the annual New River Train. 

  • ADHS: language that encourages the Federal Highway Administration to prioritize roads of critical commercial importance in the Appalachian Development Highway System, which includes Corridor H.

  • Rural Funding: includes report language requiring the Secretary of Transportation to award grants and credit assistance in a manner that ensures the equitable geographic distribution of funds and an appropriate balance of rural and urban needs

  • Restored Funding: for TIGER grants (now known as Build Grants) within the Dept. of Transportation, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Neighborworks, and the HOME program at the Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, which had been proposed for elimination by the Administration

  • Build/TIGER: provides $1 billion for the Build Grants (formerly known as TIGER Grants), including a 30% rural set-aside, $1 million rural grant minimum (up to 80% cost-share)

  • AIP: makes available $4.1 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, including report language directing FAA to consider full range of flight activities when considering funding

  • EAS: fully funds Essential Air Services

Military Construction & Veterans Affairs

  • Opioids: Includes $348M for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, $52M to continue implementation of CARA and $400M for the Opioid Safety Initiative

  • Opioids: Directs the continued implementation of Jason Simcakoski Memorial and Safety Act, which strengthens VA’s opioid prescribing guidelines

  • Homelessness: Includes $1.89B for VA’s homeless prevention programs, including increases to programs like Supportive Services for Veterans Families

  • Caregivers: Provides full funding for the implementation of Caregiver expansion to veterans of all eras, authorized through the VA Mission Act

  • Rural Health: Increases funding for the Office of Rural Health and telehealth services

  • Employment: Increases funding for the Veterans Employment and Rehabilitation Program

  • Construction: Includes nearly $330M for National Guard minor construction projects 

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