Resources
What Will Amtrak Cuts Really Cost YOUR State?
October 1, 2020
Amtrak Cuts Are a “$2 Billion Bomb on ‘Flyover Country"
Rail corridors generate value by acting as economic engines in the communities they serve—through jobs, retail, mobility, tourism and real-estate development. The “profit” goes not to Amtrak, but to the communities served, often to the tune of billions of dollars.
Rail Passengers professional staff and volunteers worked together with Transportation for America to research just how much money would be lost to the states along the route of six of Amtrak’s long distance routes. Based on this research, we found these cuts would drop a $2.3 billion bomb on Flyover Country, a figure that could rise above $3 billion if the cuts remain in place for the full year.
As a follow up, Rail Passengers is working to determine to quantify the economic impact of these cuts on a state by state basis to help communicate to governors, mayors, and local elected officials what's at stake.
We need your help! Our members have already delivered almost 15,000 messages to hundreds of Senators and Representatives in our campaign to preserve service. We’re going to need to redouble our efforts to ensure that a passenger rail bailout is part of any final deal. Go to our Save Trains advocacy landing page for more information: railpassengers.org/savetrains
Index:
Updated 10/1
[Don't see YOUR state? Rail Passengers staff is working to expand the list!]
Arizona California Colorado Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana |
Kansas Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska New Mexico |
North Dakota Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia Washington Wisconsin |
Alabama
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
ALABAMA | ||
Direct Losses | $ 2,418,904 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 3,555,789 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 5,974,693 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
ALABAMA | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 51,195 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 17,553 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 33,642 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Arizona
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
ARIZONA | |||
Direct Losses | $ 6,660,220 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 9,790,524 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 16,450,744 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
ARIZONA | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 99,600 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 34,149 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 65,451 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
California
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
CALIFORNIA | ||
Direct Losses | $ 210,445,669 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 309,355,134 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 519,800,803 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
CALIFORNIA | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 824,473 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 282,676 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 541,797 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Colorado
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
COLORADO | ||
Direct Losses | $ 29,410,573 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 43,233,542 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 72,644,114 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
COLORADO | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 270,242 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 92,654 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 177,588 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Delaware
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
DELAWARE | |||
Direct Losses | $ 672,794 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 989,007 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 1,661,800 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
DELAWARE | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 42,332 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 14,514 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 27,818 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Florida
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
FLORIDA | |||
Direct Losses | $ 112,730,248 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 165,713,465 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 278,443,713 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
FLORIDA | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 905,356 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 310,408 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 594,948 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Georgia
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
GEORGIA | ||
Direct Losses | $ 13,889,443 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 20,417,481 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 34,306,923 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
GEORGIA | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 141,722 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 48,590 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 93,132 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Idaho
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
IDAHO | ||
Direct Losses | $ 155,165 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 228,093 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 383,258 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
IDAHO | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 6,726 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 2,306 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 4,420 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Illinois
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
ILLINOIS | |||
Direct Losses | $ 163,431,910 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 240,244,907 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 403,676,817 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
ILLINOIS | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 1,292,361 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 443,095 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 849,266 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Indiana
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
INDIANA | |||
Direct Losses | $ 7,155,578 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 10,518,699 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 17,674,277 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
INDIANA | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 88,307 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 30,277 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 58,030 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Iowa
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
IOWA | |||
Direct Losses | $ 2,880,721 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 4,234,659 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 7,115,380 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
IOWA | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 51,499 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 17,657 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 33,842 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Kansas
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
KANSAS | ||
Direct Losses | $ 3,303,087 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 4,855,539 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 8,158,626 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
KANSAS | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 46,483 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 15,937 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 30,546 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Louisina
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
LOUISIANA | ||
Direct Losses | $ 11,242,324 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 16,526,217 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 27,768,541 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
LOUISIANA | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 176,514 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 60,519 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 115,995 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Maryland
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
MARYLAND | |||
Direct Losses | $ 6,298,489 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 9,258,779 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 15,557,269 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
MARYLAND | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 119,875 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 41,100 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 78,775 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Minnesota
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
MINNESOTA | ||
Direct Losses | $ 9,231,198 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 13,569,861 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 22,801,058 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
MINNESOTA | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 131,973 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 45,248 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 86,725 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Mississippi
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
MISSISSIPPI | ||
Direct Losses | $ 9,794,959 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 14,398,590 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 24,193,548 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
MISSISSIPPI | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 123,046 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 42,187 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 80,859 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Missouri
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
MISSOURI | ||
Direct Losses | $ 12,562,440 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 18,466,787 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 31,029,227 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
MISSOURI | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 183,300 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 62,846 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 120,454 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Montana
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
MONTANA | ||
Direct Losses | $ 15,448,709 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 22,709,603 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 38,158,312 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
MONTANA | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 121,352 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 41,606 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 79,746 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Nebraska
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
NEBRASKA | |||
Direct Losses | $ 3,569,653 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 5,247,390 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 8,817,043 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
NEBRASKA | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 49,679 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 17,033 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 32,646 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
New Mexico
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
NEW MEXICO | ||
Direct Losses | $ 9,183,181 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 13,499,276 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 22,682,457 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
NEW MEXICO | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 116,788 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 40,042 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 76,746 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
North Carolina
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
N. CAROLINA | ||
Direct Losses | $ 31,576,014 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 46,416,741 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 77,992,755 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
N. CAROLINA | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 243,896 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 83,621 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 160,275 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
North Dakota
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
NORTH DAKOTA | ||
Direct Losses | $ 7,600,964 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 11,173,417 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 18,774,381 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
NORTH DAKOTA | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 101,100 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 34,663 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 66,437 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Oregon
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
OREGON | ||
Direct Losses | $ 17,583,526 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 25,847,783 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 43,431,309 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
OREGON | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 276,900 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 94,937 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 181,963 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Pennsylvania
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
PENNSYLVANIA | |||
Direct Losses | $ 19,803,256 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 29,110,786 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 48,914,041 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
PENNSYLVANIA | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 262,110 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 89,866 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 172,244 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
South Carolina
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
SOUTH CAROLINA | |||
Direct Losses | $ 22,291,096 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 32,767,911 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 55,059,008 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
SOUTH CAROLINA | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 179,083 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 61,400 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 117,683 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Tennessee
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | ||
TENNESSEE | ||
Direct Losses | $ 1,556,827 | |
Indirect Effects* | $ 2,288,536 | |
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 3,845,363 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | ||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | ||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | ||
TENNESSEE | ||
FY2019 Ridership | 64,851 | |
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 22,235 | |
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 42,616 | |
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Texas
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
TEXAS | |||
Direct Losses | $ 103,819,655 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 152,614,893 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 256,434,548 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
TEXAS | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 298,692 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 102,409 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 196,283 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Virginia
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
VIRGINIA | |||
Direct Losses | $ 57,561,743 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 84,615,762 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 142,177,506 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
VIRGINIA | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 496,646 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 170,279 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 326,367 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Washington
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
WASHINGTON | |||
Direct Losses | $ 43,249,461 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 63,576,708 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 106,826,168 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
WASHINGTON | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 361,747 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 124,028 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 237,719 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
Wisconsin
ESTIMATED ECONOMIC LOSSES BY STATE | |||
WISCONSIN | |||
Direct Losses | $ 11,542,696 | ||
Indirect Effects* | $ 16,967,763 | ||
TOTAL STATE IMPACT | $ 28,510,460 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate | |||
*Indirect effects include community-level effects such as sales taxes, real-estate, local employment and other similar factors | |||
ESTIMATED RIDERSHIP DECLINES (annualized) | |||
WISCONSIN | |||
FY2019 Ridership | 95,410 | ||
RPA-Modeled 3x Ridership | 32,712 | ||
ANNUALIZED RIDERSHIP LOSS | 62,698 | ||
Source: Rail Passengers Association modeling estimate |
"The National Association of Railroad Passengers has done yeoman work over the years and in fact if it weren’t for NARP, I'd be surprised if Amtrak were still in possession of as a large a network as they have. So they've done good work, they're very good on the factual case."
Robert Gallamore, Director of Transportation Center at Northwestern University and former Federal Railroad Administration official, Director of Transportation Center at Northwestern University
November 17, 2005, on The Leonard Lopate Show (with guest host Chris Bannon), WNYC New York.
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