<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:blue;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:blue'>FYI …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>We
need to seize the opportunity to promote inclusion of passenger rail in the
proposed Economic Stimulus package that has been proposed. This should be
an official NFA project. All US Senators and Representatives from Oklahoma and
Kansas should receive letters detailing the importance that this legislation
rebuild our rail infrastructure due to increased energy market volatility and
to help rebuild our economy, damaged by the high energy costs of the past year.<br>
<br>
Evan Stair<br>
Oklahoma Director<br>
Northern Flyer Alliance<br>
<br>
</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>FORWARDED
BY: G.M. FALEY <br>
NLD, NARVRE <br>
<br>
10/30/2008 Congressional Hearing <br>
<br>
Rail associations call on Congress to include transportation funds in <br>
economic stimulus package <br>
<br>
Yesterday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure, and House Ways and <br>
Means committees held a congressional hearing to review pending and delayed <br>
transportation projects that could be quickly expedited to boost the economy <br>
Committee members are considering whether to add a transportation element <br>
to a second economic stimulus bill. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Investing in transportation infrastructure projects would be a double bonus, <br>
transportation officials say. Not only would it create new jobs (35,000 for <br>
every $1 billion of federal investment), but an infusion of federal dollars <br>
also would foster new and improved infrastructure to meet the rapidly <br>
growing demand for transportation services. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Several transportation groups weighed in on the hearing, including the <br>
American Public Transportation Association, which has identified 559 <br>
ready-to-go public transit projects from 170 transit agencies. Worth a total <br>
of $8 billion, the projects could start within 90 days after federal funds <br>
are made available. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Meanwhile, the States for Passenger Rail Coalition called on Congress to set <br>
aside $250 million in an economic stimulus bill for intercity passenger-rail <br>
improvement projects. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
In addition, the Railroad Cooperation and Education Trust, in partnership <br>
with the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, <br>
proposed the economic stimulus package include $100 million in general funds <br>
over a two-year period for transit, short line and regional railroads to <br>
complete projects that could begin within 180 days and be "substantially <br>
completed" in 2009. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<div id=MAILCIAMB015-929c490c67f7d7>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:7.5pt;text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:7.5pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>McCain or Obama? Stay up to date
on the latest from the campaign trail with <a
href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212075880x1200752631/aol?redir=http://news.aol.com/elections?ncid=emlcntusnews00000001">AOL
News</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>