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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Corbel","sans-serif";
color:#3F7228'>FYI<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Corbel","sans-serif";
color:#3F7228'><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> Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:13 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> passrailok@yahoogroups.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [passrailok] ON THE NFA CORRIDOR September 10, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>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. <br>
<br>
1) KU JAYHAWK CONSULTING PARTNERS WITH THE NFA:<br>
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.<br>
<br>
2) TRI-STATE NORTHERN FLYER ALLIANCE UNIFICATION ACTIVITIES:<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
3) RAIL IMPROVEMENTS HIGHLIGHT ACTIVITIES:<br>
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.<br>
<br>
BNSF INSTALLS CONTINUOUS WELDED RAIL WICHITA-ARKANSAS CITY: <br>
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." <br>
<br>
KDOT FRA PRE-APPLICATION WOULD FUND WELDED RAIL INSTALLATION:<br>
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. <br>
<br>
4) ODOT PUBLIC MEETINGS ON OKLAHOMA CITY - TULSA HIGH SPEED RAIL:<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Public meetings will be held at the following locations:<br>
<br>
Oklahoma City<br>
Monday, September 14<br>
6:00 P.M.<br>
Metro Tech Springlake Campus<br>
Conference Center Auditorium<br>
BCC/Auditorium<br>
1900 Springlake Drive<br>
<br>
Tulsa<br>
Tuesday, September 15<br>
6:00pm<br>
Central Library<br>
Aaronson Auditorium<br>
400 Civic Center<br>
<br>
For more information:<br>
<a href="http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/other.php">http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/other.php</a><br>
<br>
ODOT's Pre-Application is located at the following URL:<br>
<a
href="http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/a2009/090914/final_pre_app_okla_hsr.pdf">http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/meetings/a2009/090914/final_pre_app_okla_hsr.pdf</a><br>
<br>
5) DONATIONS A MUST FOR CONTINUED PROGRESS:<br>
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 ( <a href="http://www.northflyer.org">http://www.northflyer.org</a> ). Our
goal is $25,000 by year's end. Your generous donation will be greatly
appreciated.<br>
<br>
6) A FINAL NOTE:<br>
Please spread this newsletter to your family, friends, and neighbors. We need
everyone's participation to succeed with our 2010 goals.<br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Evan Stair<br>
Vice President - Oklahoma<br>
Northern Flyer Alliance<br>
www.NorthFlyer.org<br>
517 Claremont<br>
Norman, OK 73069<span style='color:white'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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