[OKC] FW: [passrailok] EMERGENCY: Amtrak Expansion Resolution OK-SJR-35 Blocked

[Shauna Struby]

FYI - if you have an interest in seeing passenger rail options expand for
Oklahoma, this is critical to that effort .     

 

From: passrailok at yahoogroups.com [mailto:passrailok at yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of evan_stair
Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 7:54 AM
To: passrailok at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [passrailok] EMERGENCY: Amtrak Expansion Resolution OK-SJR-35
Blocked

 

OK-SJR-35, a Senate Resolution authored by Senator John Sparks is failing in
the House of Representatives. The resolution passed in the State Senate 39-3
March 10. Both the House and Senate have attached a 'Do Pass' recommendation
to the resolution. 

However, the bill likely will not be brought to a floor vote because of
partisan politics. The Oklahoma 2009 legislative session ends soon. Please
contact the below individuals and express that you would like to see this
Resolution brought to a House Floor vote. 

While this is a bill intended to grease the skids of Amtrak expansion
support for the 2010 legislature, there are components that would require
ODOT to act with regard to development of a Rail Plan, essential to
garnering federal funding through the Stimulus Bill and the Passenger Rail
Improvement and Investment Act of 2008 (PRIIA). If this resolution fails it
could therefore jeopardize Oklahoma federal funding with Oklahoma once again
becoming a donor state to passenger rail funding:

House Speaker Chris Benge
Room 401
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7340

Speaker Pro Tempore
Kris Steele
Room 411
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7345

Representative Tad Jones
Majority Floor Leader
Room 442
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7380

This Resolution:
-Urges ODOT to participate in the Kansas Amtrak Expansion Feasibility Study 
-Urges ODOT to develop a comprehensive passenger rail plan
-Distributes copies to Governor Henry, Governor Parkinson KS, members of the
Kansas and Oklahoma Congressional delegation 

TEXT OF THE BILL:

ENGROSSED SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 35 
By: Sparks and Sweeden of the Senate

and

Collins of the House

A Joint Resolution in support of the State of Kansas, the Kansas Department
of Transportation, and the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
for their participation with the Amtrak feasibility study requested by the
Kansas Department of Transportation on February 11, 2008; and directing
distribution.

WHEREAS, the portion of the national passenger rail service (Amtrak)
heretofore known as the Heartland Flyer began operating in Oklahoma on June
15, 1999; and

WHEREAS, the present Amtrak route terminates in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
without a northern connection to the Amtrak national network; and

WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation commissioned and received
a passenger rail study in March, 2001, as produced by the Carter Burgess
Engineering firm which included a route feasibility analysis detailing
expansion cost, infrastructure need between Oklahoma City and Newton,
Kansas; and

WHEREAS, the Kansas Department of Transportation issued an official request
to Amtrak for study of this route segment on February 11, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the Kansas Department of Transportation has extended the original
Oklahoma Carter Burgess 2001 Oklahoma City - Newton, Kansas, study route to
include the rail line between Newton and Kansas City, Missouri, making it a
full 602-mile-corridor study between Fort Worth, Texas, and Kansas City,
Missouri; and

WHEREAS, federal matching funding has become available as administered by
the Federal Railroad Administration through the Passenger Rail Improvement
and Reform Act of 2008 and through the passage of H.R. 2095, the Rail Safety
Improvement Act, including the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement
Act.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma Legislature urges the Oklahoma Department of
Transportation to jointly participate with the Kansas Department of
Transportation in the expanded passenger rail service study as a part of a
new passenger rail transportation corridor between the points of Kansas City
and Fort Worth, Texas.

THAT the Oklahoma Legislature fully accepts the findings of the Amtrak study
requested by the Kansas Department of Transportation on February 11, 2008,
as factual and as an accepted guideline for Oklahoma passenger rail
development.

THAT the Oklahoma Legislature urges the Oklahoma Department of
Transportation to develop a comprehensive passenger rail plan which can be
submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation under the guidelines of
the Passenger Rail Improvement and Reform Act of 2008 as a requirement to
procure federal matching funds as administered by the Federal Railroad
Administration.

THAT the Secretary of State shall distribute copies of this resolution to
the Governor, to the Governor of Kansas, to the Oklahoma Secretary of
Transportation, to the Kansas Secretary of Transportation, to each member of
the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation, and to each member of the Kansas
Congressional Delegation.
Passed the Senate the 10th day of March, 2009.

Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2009.

Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives

.

 
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