Virginia faces Amtrak funding cuts despite record ridership

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Act from the House Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development includes $1.6 million in cuts to transportation. What does that mean for us in Virginia?

“Virginia will see reduced food services on trains [and] fewer staff to assist passengers, both on trains and at stations,” said Jim Mathews, President and CEO of the Rail Passengers’ Association.

The House committee intends to put the funding towards addressing the housing crisis with a focus on the elderly, as well as the disabled and veterans. The bill also aims to bolster homeless assistance grant programs.

“The bill meets the critical transportation and housing needs of our nation, while reducing excessive spending and regulatory burdens,” said Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack.

If it advances, the bill will allocate more than $60 billion to highway funding and approximately $21 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“People are saying ‘I need to [take the] train. I don’t want to drive on I-95. I don’t want to sit in that traffic,'” Mathews said. “And Virginians have enjoyed that option for quite a long time.”

This proposal comes after Virginia broke Amtrak ridership records in 2023. Mathews said Richmond alone saw nearly half a million Amtrak riders last year, which is why he says now is not the time for cuts, but rather for investments when it comes to our passenger rail system.

“Ridership reached the highest levels in Amtrak’s 53-year history in Virginia,” Mathews said. “Investing in passenger service not only supports transportation needs but also returns to local communities significantly more than what is spent.

The bill is still in early stages and Mathews said it is the first step in a long process. We can expect to see minor changes to policies within the next 30 days, but no further advancements will be made until then.

“Your voice locally does actually matter,” Mathews said. “If you live in and around Richmond and this is important to you, you should contact your member of Congress and say ‘I don’t agree with this. I use Amtrak, I use transit. I use these services, I need them.'”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRIC ABC 8News.