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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Corbel","sans-serif";
color:blue'>FYI – if you have an interest in seeing passenger rail options
expand for Oklahoma, this is critical to that effort … <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> passrailok@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:passrailok@yahoogroups.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>evan_stair<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, May 05, 2009 7:54 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> passrailok@yahoogroups.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [passrailok] EMERGENCY: Amtrak Expansion Resolution OK-SJR-35
Blocked<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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:<br>
<br>
House Speaker Chris Benge<br>
Room 401<br>
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd<br>
Oklahoma City, OK 73105<br>
(405) 557-7340<br>
<br>
Speaker Pro Tempore<br>
Kris Steele<br>
Room 411<br>
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd<br>
Oklahoma City, OK 73105<br>
(405) 557-7345<br>
<br>
Representative Tad Jones<br>
Majority Floor Leader<br>
Room 442<br>
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd<br>
Oklahoma City, OK 73105<br>
(405) 557-7380<br>
<br>
This Resolution:<br>
-Urges ODOT to participate in the Kansas Amtrak Expansion Feasibility Study <br>
-Urges ODOT to develop a comprehensive passenger rail plan<br>
-Distributes copies to Governor Henry, Governor Parkinson KS, members of the
Kansas and Oklahoma Congressional delegation <br>
<br>
TEXT OF THE BILL:<br>
<br>
ENGROSSED SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 35 <br>
By: Sparks and Sweeden of the Senate<br>
<br>
and<br>
<br>
Collins of the House<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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<br>
<br>
WHEREAS, the present Amtrak route terminates in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
without a northern connection to the Amtrak national network; and<br>
<br>
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<br>
<br>
WHEREAS, the Kansas Department of Transportation issued an official request to
Amtrak for study of this route segment on February 11, 2008; and<br>
<br>
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<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
Passed the Senate the 10th day of March, 2009.<br>
<br>
Presiding Officer of the Senate<br>
<br>
Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2009.<br>
<br>
Presiding Officer of the House<br>
of Representatives<span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:1.0pt;color:white'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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src="http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=3779436/grpspId=1705169725/msgId=535/stime=1241528127/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'>__,_._,___<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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