[OKC] FW: [PassRailTX, OK, KS] Reminder ::: Congress HR 763 Calls Needed

[Shauna Struby]

From: sfrr at aol.com [mailto:sfrr at aol.com] 
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 12:02 PM
To: EvanStair at PassengerRailOK.org
Subject: [PassRailTX,OK,KS] Reminder ::: Congress HR 763 Calls Needed

 

If you have not already done so, please contact your Congressman and oppose
HR763 that will allow heavier trucks on our roads, damage the competitive
environment between trucks and freight rail, and increase your personal tax
burden.

 

Evan Stair

Executive Director

Passenger Rail Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas

www.PassengerRailTX.org

www.PassengerRailOK.org

www.PassengerRailKS.org

 


-----------------------------

Hopefully I got your attention with this subject heading! 
This is URGENT...

This is exactly what will happen if U.S. - H.R. 763 passes.  Of course this
is a national issue that must be fought aggressively.  Consider this
information from GoRail and Coalition Against Bigger Trucks:::


--------------------------------

A hearing is set for July 12th to increase the weight of trucks nationally.
The bill is H.R. 763 and it will allow bigger and heavier trucks (97,000
lbs)  on highways across the US.  I work with GoRail and on this bill, with
our sister nonprofit, The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks.  The heavier
trucks will only pay for 50% of their bridge and road damage with taxpayers
left to fund repairs and maintenance. Competing for scarce public dollar
support will only get more difficult.  

 

Many groups oppose H.R. 763 including the Association of County
Commissioners of Oklahoma, sheriffs, police chiefs, AAA and so on.

 

Can you please make a quick call to Congressman Lankford's district office
and alert your group to also make calls.  


---------------------------------


How is this a passenger rail issue?  

First, consider that the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) shows that a fully loaded 80,000 GVW
semi-truck does the equivalent damage to road surfaces as 9,600 automobiles.
Therefore, increasing weights on our roads is the equivalent of calling for
unnecessary increases in road damage aka. transportation funding...  It is
calling for an increased number of trucks on our roads that reduce road
safety*. 

* Some of you might be aware of Amtrak's California Zephyr tragedy in Nevada
last week which cost the lives of at least six people and maimed scores of
others.  A truck driver, who had been cited over and over, ran a railroad
crossing gate plowing into a crowded Amtrak's California Zephyr. The
trucking company is coming under heavy scrutiny and litigation for many
violations and citations. 

More details on the California Zephyr Tragedy :::
http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/article/20110630/NEWS/110639986/1001
<http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/article/20110630/NEWS/110639986/1001&pare
ntprofile=104> &parentprofile=104

Second, Rail is a technologically superior mode of transportation for
handing heavy freight.  Steel bends and returns to its shape, asphalt cups,
concrete crumbles. Rail is dramatically more fuel efficient.  Rail's safety
record is sterling.  Of course, rail represents private transportation
infrastructure investment. In other words, rail provides stakeholder profit
for moving goods that are not dependent upon public subsidy.   

Third, public subsidy for rail is dramatically less than that for highway
infrastructure. Amtrak receives on average $1.2 billion per year (or about
$40 billion over its 40 year history)**.  Even before state matches, Federal
Highway programs consume some $40 billion to $60 billion on average. Even
this number is skewed when considering US energy policy.  US energy policy
encourages the use of universal private transportation (hidden oil
subsidies, concrete, asphalt...) over mass transportation as provided by
passenger rail.  

** Amtrak's national network serves 46 states, approximately 500 stops, over
22,000 miles of rail infrastructure. Most of this rail infrastructure is
owned by Class I Railroads that lease space to Amtrak.

Fourth, Further, funding provided to incrementally increase road technology
for these heavier weights takes funding away from passenger rail projects.

Please contact Representative Lankford's office.  Strongly oppose increased
semi-truck weights... He sits on the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure.  

NEVER IS THE TIME TO INCREASE TRUCK WEIGHTS !!! 

Washington D.C.
Phone: 202.225.2132
Fax: 202.226.1463

Oklahoma City
Phone: 405.234.9900
Fax: 405.234.9909

Evan Stair
Executive Director
Passenger Rail Oklahoma
www.PassengerRailOK.org <http://www.passengerrailok.org/> 

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