[OKC] FW: [passrailok] ON THE NFA CORRIDOR September 10, 2009

[Shauna Struby]

FYI

 

From: passrailok at yahoogroups.com [mailto:passrailok at yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of evan_stair
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:13 AM
To: passrailok at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [passrailok] ON THE NFA CORRIDOR September 10, 2009

 

  

Northern Flyer Alliance Activities are intensifying this fall. Every week
sees an incremental advance in our advocacy efforts, especially in Kansas
where leadership is widespread. 

1) KU JAYHAWK CONSULTING PARTNERS WITH THE NFA:
The Northern Flyer Alliance has partnered with KU Jayhawk Consulting. The
University of Kansas Business School's, "Best and Brightest students" will
be producing a Benefit Study. The Benefit Study, to be complete in December,
will dovetail with Amtrak's generated route Cost Analysis. The landmark
study will be the first of its kind and will lead to a revolutionary new
look at Amtrak corridor expansion. Students will present their case to the
Kansas and possibly Oklahoma legislatures. It is an economic clarification
tool for the Northern Flyer Alliance as it pleads its case in front of
critical decision-makers.

2) TRI-STATE NORTHERN FLYER ALLIANCE UNIFICATION ACTIVITIES:
On Wednesday, September 9, the Northern Flyer Alliance, presented to all
three corridor states on a Legislative, State DOT, Community conference
call. The call, hosted by the City of Edmond, OK, has laid a foundation for
further corridor communication and planning across state lines. Further
calls are planned. 

The August 29 Wichita NFA Board Meeting was the first Tri-State (TX, OK, KS)
meeting in NFA history. Mr. Charles Allen, of Sherman, TX accepted the Texas
Community Action Director position.

3) RAIL IMPROVEMENTS HIGHLIGHT ACTIVITIES:
Rail improvements are on the rise in Kansas along the 600 mile corridor. One
significant project is complete while another is proposed through a FRA
Stimulus Pre-Application.

BNSF INSTALLS CONTINUOUS WELDED RAIL WICHITA-ARKANSAS CITY: 
This report comes from "Kilroy." Kilroy says, "BNSF has laid out welded rail
along the Ark City sub south of Wichita to Mulvane. New rail has been laid
out at least twice before and then later picked up in the same location.
This time the rail is supposed to be laid during September. Since the
Heartland Flyer Northern Alliance has been working to get an Amtrak
connection to the Oklahoma City train with the Southwest Chief at Newton or
Kansas City, this may help their cause." 

KDOT FRA PRE-APPLICATION WOULD FUND WELDED RAIL INSTALLATION:
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) issued a "Track 1"
pre-application with the FRA for welded rail installation between Barclay,
KS and Emporia, KS on July 10. The improvements would also upgrade switches
at Pauline, KS (located on the south side of Topeka near Forbes field) KDOT
is expected to receive FRA funding for this join BNSF Railway - KDOT
project. The project would immediately improve Southwest Chief performance
between the Newton and Topeka stops. It would also provide a stronger
foundation for the proposed Northern Flyer Alliance expansion project. 

4) ODOT PUBLIC MEETINGS ON OKLAHOMA CITY - TULSA HIGH SPEED RAIL:
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Continues to pursue High
Speed Rail between Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. ODOT issued a July
10 High Speed Rail "Track 2" application between the Texas-line, Oklahoma
City, and Tulsa. 

The diversion from the Northern Flyer Alliance corridor between Oklahoma
City and Tulsa is not expected to receive serious FRA consideration. This is
because of cost, geography, and several missing application requirements.
ODOT's $2 billion pre-application is a full quarter of the FRA Stimulus Act
fund. ODOT's pre-application did not include an environmental study or a
development plan. Further, a legislative commitment does not exist at this
point to funding operations between the state's two most populace cities.

Public meetings will be held at the following locations:

Oklahoma City
Monday, September 14
6:00 P.M.
Metro Tech Springlake Campus
Conference Center Auditorium
BCC/Auditorium
1900 Springlake Drive

Tulsa
Tuesday, September 15
6:00pm
Central Library
Aaronson Auditorium
400 Civic Center

For more information:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/other.php

ODOT's Pre-Application is located at the following URL:
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/a2009/090914/final_pre_app_okla_hsr.
pdf

5) DONATIONS A MUST FOR CONTINUED PROGRESS:
The Northern Flyer Alliance is in the process of attempting to generate
funding for a paid staff position. This staff position would work closely
with Kansas legislators as they provide additional leadership for corridor
development. Please review our member benefits matrix on the Northern Flyer
Alliance home page ( http://www.northflyer.org ). Our goal is $25,000 by
year's end. Your generous donation will be greatly appreciated.

6) A FINAL NOTE:
Please spread this newsletter to your family, friends, and neighbors. We
need everyone's participation to succeed with our 2010 goals.

Sincerely,
Evan Stair
Vice President - Oklahoma
Northern Flyer Alliance
www.NorthFlyer.org
517 Claremont
Norman, OK 73069

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