Amtrak Less Dependent?

Amtrak is telling lawmakers that it's becoming less reliant on federal subsidies to operate the nation's passenger rail system. The National Passenger Rail Corporation says because of record ridership and more efficient operations, it'll ask Congress for $450 million in federal operating support next year. That's $16 million less than it got this year. But operating costs aren't the whole story. Amtrak also plans to ask Congress for $1.4 billion in capital and infrastructure funding. That's more than twice what it got this year. Officials say that's because the rail operator needs to move beyond maintaining its existing equipment and infrastructure, and start making improvements. It also wants to start addressing a backlog of deferred maintenance from prior years.