Resolution 1995-14
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RESOLUTION NO. 95 - 14
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GILROY IN OPPOSITION TO AMTRAK BOARD OF
DIRECTORS' DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH CALTRANS ON THE CAPITOL
ROUTE.
WHEREAS, a new state-sponsored Intercity Passenger rail service operated
by Amtrak, known as the Capital Route, was introduced an December 12, 1991 with an
initial three daily round trips between Sacramento, Suisun/Fairfield, Martinez,
Richmond, Oakland, and San Jose, and then extended service to Roseville; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Route, operated by Amtrak under provisions of its
agreement with Southern Pacific Transportation Company, was created through a
partnership between the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) and
Amtrak, using bath federal and state funds; and
WHEREAS, the Amtrak Board of Directors an December 13, 1994 approved a
$430 million budget reduction plan which involves a major restructuring of routes
and schedules, including the elimination of approximately $2 million annually as
the federal share for operation of the Capitol Route; and
WHEREAS, California vaters approved Propositions 108 and 116 in 1990 which
included funds to implement the Capital Route and provided mare than $70 million to
fund capital upgrades to tracks, facilities, and rolling stock for the Capitol
intercity service; and
WHEREAS, after considerable state and local investment in the corridor the
Capital service has shawn a steady increase in ridership, now approaching 370,000
annual riders; and
WHEREAS, other states, particularly those in the Northeast Corridor, make
virtually no contribution of state funds toward operating Amtrak intercity
services; and
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RESOLUTION NO. 95 - 14
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WHEREAS, the State of California has made significant annual contributions
to defray the operating and capital casts far three Amtrak operated intercity
routes, the San Diegan, San Joaquin and Capital trains; and
WHEREAS, the decision by Amtrak's Board of Directors to eliminate funding
far the Capital Route was not only made in a unilateral manner without consulting
its partner, CalTrans, but Amtrak's budget reduction also unfairly burdens
California after years of state funding support toward Amtrak intercity service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE GILROY CITY COUNCIL strongly
apposes the Amtrak Board of Directors' unilateral and inequitable decision to
withdraw from its partnership with CalTrans an the Capital Route by eliminating the
federal funding share for operation, and furthermore, calls upon Amtrak to restore
its funding commitment to the Capital Route.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of February, 1995 by the fallowing vote:
AYES:
COUNCILMEMBERS: GILROY, KLOECKER, MORALES, ROGERS, ROWLI SON ,
VALDEZ and GAGE.
COUNCILMEMBERS: None
NOES:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
APPROVED:
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RESOLUTION NO. 95-14
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I, SUSANNE E. STEINMETZ, City Clerk of the City of Gilroy, do
hereby certify that the attached Resolution No. 95-14 is an original
resolution, duly adapted by the Council of the City of Gilroy at a regular
meeting of said Council held an the ~ day of
at which meeting a quorum was present.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
Februarv
, 19-2L,
Official Seal of the City of Gilroy this 7th day of
Februarv ,1995.
(Seal)