Leavenworth council to back Amtrak funding; Amtrak confirms federal budget request submitted

Leavenworth council members on July 8 signaled support for a resolution urging federal funding levels that Amtrak says are needed to continue and invest in long-distance services such as the Empire Builder, which serves the station near Leavenworth.

Selby, a city staff member, introduced the matter after he was contacted by Mark Meyer of the Aurora Group, who had urged local expression of support. Selby then invited Chase Kitchen, Amtrak’s government affairs manager for the Northwest, to brief the council. "As Selby mentioned, we have submitted our budget request for the year," Chase Kitchen said, describing a federal and Amtrak request that aims to sustain operations and capital investment outside the Northeast Corridor.

Kitchen told the council the administration and Amtrak have submitted requests that, in aggregate, seek about $2.4 billion for national network operations and capital — funding that Amtrak says would support operations and new equipment over the coming years. "We have submitted our budget request to congress," Kitchen said, noting the timing followed new leadership at the Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration.

Selby said Amtrak’s Empire Builder served roughly 13,000 passengers at the nearby Icicle/High School station in 2024. Kitchen said local letters and expressions of support are helpful when the Amtrak request is considered in congressional appropriations and asked the council to consider an expression of support. "It is always beneficial for folks to know that you're interested in continuing that service and investing in the future of it," Kitchen said.

Council members asked about timing; Kitchen explained the appropriations process is on the federal fiscal-year timetable (fiscal year ends Sept. 30) and that appropriations work typically progresses through September and sometimes later if Congress uses continuing resolutions.

The council agreed to prepare a resolution of support and invited Amtrak’s assistance drafting language. Selby said he would provide a draft word version to facilitate redlining. No formal vote on a resolution occurred at the meeting; council members asked staff to coordinate with Amtrak on final language for a future action.

Speakers requested clarification on onboard Wi‑Fi reliability and were told by Kitchen that Amtrak is procuring new long‑distance equipment and that newer trains will include improved Wi‑Fi, but existing long‑distance equipment relies on cellular networks and older hardware. "We're currently in the process of trying to finalize the procurement on a new long distance fleet, which...will have better Wi‑Fi on it," Kitchen said.

Next step: staff will circulate draft resolution language and coordinate with Amtrak staff for a future council action.