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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Corbel","sans-serif";
color:#17365D'>FYI<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Corbel","sans-serif";
color:#17365D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<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"'> Sasha Bradley
[mailto:sashabradley@okhouse.gov] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 06, 2010 9:55 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Sasha Bradley<br>
<b>Subject:</b> PHOTO ATTACHED: Oklahoma Could Have a Commuter Rail in its
Future<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><img width=96
height=95 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image002.jpg@01CB354D.6D7E2A90"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-family:"Cash Outline","serif"'>Oklahoma House of Representatives<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-family:"Cash Outline","serif"'>Media Division<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>August 6, 2010<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><u>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></u></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Contact: State Rep. Charlie Joyner<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Capitol: (405) 557-7314<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span
style='font-size:16.0pt'>Oklahoma Could Have a Commuter Rail in its Future<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span
style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>OKLAHOMA CITY –Oklahoma could soon have a commuter
rail transportation system to get people to and from work and ease travel.
State Rep. Charlie Joyner has been working to make that a possibility.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Joyner met with representatives from Trinity Railroad
Express, Burlington Northern, Santa Fe Railroad, Amtrak and Dallas Area Rapid
Transit this week in Fort Worth to discuss the possibility of getting a
commuter rail system in Oklahoma. He discussed the projected costs and pros and
cons.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Joyner said currently Oklahoma has been a donor state
contributing to other states’ rail systems with our federal motor fuel
tax.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>“Out of every dollar generated from the federal fuel
tax, 85 cents goes to us and 15 cents goes to other states’ rail
passenger services,” said Joyner, R-Midwest City. “We could be
using that 15 cents in our state towards a rail passenger system here.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Dave Herbert, Oklahoma’s governor-appointed liaison
for passenger rail systems, said that about half of the cost of the rail
equipment and operation would be covered by Federal government dollars through
subsidies and grants. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>“The cities on the rail system have taxed themselves a
half-cent sales tax to be part of the system. The Trinity Rail Express is
a Regional Transportation system formed by the many cities and communities
around Dallas and Ft. Worth. Some cities have already taxed themselves
and are about five years from being fully operational. This shows the
enthusiasm of the cities to be part of the system,” said Herbert. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Joyner carried legislation last session to allow Oklahoma
cities and counties to come together and form transportation authorities to be
responsible for construction, maintenance, and operation of a transportation
system that can include a turnpike, transit or railway system. This will allow
transportation authorities to decide on what transportation projects they feel
will benefit their areas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>“The first thing you have to understand about moving
people—it doesn’t make a profit. It’s a quality of life
issue. You can’t run a railroad like business because it deals with
quality of life,” said Bill Farquar<span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:blue'> </span>with the Trinity Rail Express. “It brings higher
standards and quality of life to cities and towns because they want to be a
part of a commuter rail system.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>“It also will attract new businesses and citizens to
Oklahoma, which will help the economy, lower fuel costs on individuals,
increase tourism dollars and help the environment, so I think it would be a
win-win situation for all. It sells itself,” added Joyner.<span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Joyner said Oklahomans may get to experience commuter rail
here in Oklahoma this winter or spring.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>“We have talked about a demonstration train that would
consist of four or five Trinity Rail Express cars coming to Oklahoma City, and
running from Edmond to Oklahoma City carrying passengers that would normally
ride the Edmond bus system to work in downtown Oklahoma City,” said
Joyner. “It would also allow legislators, city and county officials and
all Oklahomans to see how a commuter rail system would work in the major cities
in Oklahoma. It will give them a chance to experience for themselves what
it would be like to have a commuter rail system in Oklahoma; then they can
decide if it’s worth it.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Joyner said many things have to be worked out in order for
the demonstration to happen. It will be coordinated by Oklahoma
Department of Transportation with approval of all parties involved, including
Amtrak, BNSF, and Trinity Rail Express. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i>-30-</i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>NOTICE: The information in this email is confidential,
legally privileged, and exempt from disclosure under law. It is intended solely
for the addressee. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. If you
are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any
action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and
unlawful. The Oklahoma House of Reps does not warrant any e-mail transmission
received as being virus free, and disclaims any liability for losses or damages
arising from the use of this e-mail or its attachments. Recipients of e-mail
assume the risk of possible computer virus exposure by opening or utilizing the
e-mail and its attachments, and waive any right or recourse against the House
by doing so. <o:p></o:p></p>
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