Help for Missouri Rail Passenger Service
To all the People who want Rail Passenger Service
Over 15 years I worked to help promote and build support for Passenger Rail Service statewide. Now I ask all the people in the thousands who helped to help one more time. I have boxes of information and contacts but it is impossible to get a hold of all of you.
So I ask you to speak out and call your media, your representatives and they say that AMTAK may need some financial help building new depots. Think about starting a drive in your city to help. With articles in every state paper about MODOT and AMTRAK interest in exploring the possibility of adding one daily round-trip route between the two cities, with stops in Lebanon, Rolla, Sullivan and Kirkwood. The possible expansion would not happen for at least a year, MoDOT said in a news release.
“Population and travel is way up in the Springfield/Branson area, and Fort Leonard Wood is very busy as well,” said Brian Weiler, MoDOT multimodal operations director, in the release. “And with highways becoming more congested and fuel costs going up, more people than ever are looking for other ways to travel.”
So now is the time for the people to speak out as loud as possible. For contacts of suggestions people can e-mail me at stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com
Passenger Service could help: relieve unsafe traffic on I-44, give people another way to get to St. Louis since air travel is gone, be cheaper that cars, and be a major help to the economies of each city. The people have said for years they want the service and our government spends billions a year on transportation. It is a market economy alright and the Missouri citizens are a target market and in a Democracy they get to say where scarce resources are used.
Sincerely
Steven L. Reed
Springfield, Missouri 65804
Please make your own comments below. Also please visit www.reedforcouncil.com
We wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Over 15 years I worked to help promote and build support for Passenger Rail Service statewide. Now I ask all the people in the thousands who helped to help one more time. I have boxes of information and contacts but it is impossible to get a hold of all of you.
So I ask you to speak out and call your media, your representatives and they say that AMTAK may need some financial help building new depots. Think about starting a drive in your city to help. With articles in every state paper about MODOT and AMTRAK interest in exploring the possibility of adding one daily round-trip route between the two cities, with stops in Lebanon, Rolla, Sullivan and Kirkwood. The possible expansion would not happen for at least a year, MoDOT said in a news release.
“Population and travel is way up in the Springfield/Branson area, and Fort Leonard Wood is very busy as well,” said Brian Weiler, MoDOT multimodal operations director, in the release. “And with highways becoming more congested and fuel costs going up, more people than ever are looking for other ways to travel.”
So now is the time for the people to speak out as loud as possible. For contacts of suggestions people can e-mail me at stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com
Passenger Service could help: relieve unsafe traffic on I-44, give people another way to get to St. Louis since air travel is gone, be cheaper that cars, and be a major help to the economies of each city. The people have said for years they want the service and our government spends billions a year on transportation. It is a market economy alright and the Missouri citizens are a target market and in a Democracy they get to say where scarce resources are used.
Sincerely
Steven L. Reed
Springfield, Missouri 65804
Please make your own comments below. Also please visit www.reedforcouncil.com
We wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
posted by Steven Reed at 6:38 PM
13 Comments:
People should Speak Out
MODOT will soon lobby the state legislature supporting rail passenger service, AMTRAK from St. Louis to Springfield, Branson, and Tulsa. Fifteen years of work went into promoting the effort. It’s critical people who want such service speak out.
Seven years of work went into promoting new job opportunities which is what people want. Changing of the second industrial park into a technology park by name and concept could bring new companies of the future. City utilities, the county, and the chamber have spent millions on the current industrial park which sets almost empty.
The State Audit is due next summer and uses the managerial accounting concepts and principles of looking at what areas need to be changed or improved. Company employees make suggestions, in this case the citizens, must have the chance to weigh in on doing things better. Accountability of city operations is the citizen’s right since they are supplying the monies to run the government. Any issues you have please email them to moaudit@auditor.mo.gov or call Donna Christian, audit manager at 1-800-347-8597. A neighborhood organization for the Oak Grove area is being formed. Please go to: www.reedforcouncil.com to learn more about my campaign. Merry Christmas to all!
Sincerely,
Steven Lloyd Reed
1441 S. Estate Avenue
Springfield, MO 65804
417-368-1481
stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com
417-849-4279
People should Speak Out
MODOT will soon lobby the state legislature supporting rail passenger service, AMTRAK from St. Louis to Springfield, Branson, and Tulsa. Fifteen years of work went into promoting the effort. It’s critical people who want such service speak out.
Seven years of work went into promoting new job opportunities which is what people want. Changing of the second industrial park into a technology park by name and concept could bring new companies of the future. City utilities, the county, and the chamber have spent millions on the current industrial park which sets almost empty.
The State Audit is due next summer and uses the managerial accounting concepts and principles of looking at what areas need to be changed or improved. Company employees make suggestions, in this case the citizens, must have the chance to weigh in on doing things better. Accountability of city operations is the citizen’s right since they are supplying the monies to run the government. Any issues you have please email them to moaudit@auditor.mo.gov or call Donna Christian, audit manager at 1-800-347-8597.
A neighborhood organization for the Oak Grove area is being formed.
Please go to: www.reedforcouncil.com to learn more about my campaign. Merry
Christmas to all!
Sincerely,
Steven Lloyd Reed
1441 S. Estate Avenue
Springfield, MO 65804
417-368-1481
stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com
417-849-4279
This e-mail came in:
Friday, January 05, 2007 10:45 PM
This is great news - don' forget the people between St. Louis and
Springfield, i.e. Fort Leonard Wood, Rolla, Lebanon. These individuals would be interested in the service.
Lots of people drive to Tulsa to take advantage of their airport. Riding a train might be an option.
Who's the contact person to talk to about promoting this to people in Rolla,Fort Wood, etc.?
Best regards,
Greg Stratman
Thanks for forwarding the message re: Tulsa service.
This came in Sun Jan 07, 2007
I've given Tulsa and Oklahoma City some thought as one of a number of extensions that would bolster ridership on the Chicago-Saint Louis corridor. I roughed out a schedule to show what the service might look like. Marketability of either conventional or TALGO service is the foremost issue.
* An early morning departure in each direction would arrive at a decent hour in the evening.
* The former Frisco route between Saint Louis and Tulsa is 425 miles long with many curves limiting speeds to 40-55 mph with conventional equipment. A 45 mph avg with conventional equipment would result in a 9:25 hr schedule in addition to the 5 hrs from Chicago, a 30 minute layover in Saint Louis, and :15 minutes for switching in Springfield.
* A rough schedule estimate follows for conventional (Superliner or Horizon) equipment.
o 7:15 Dp Tulsa Ar 21:45
o 9:57 Dp Branson Ar 19:03
o 11:52 Dp Springfield Ar 17:23
o 16:55 Ar St.Louis Dp 12:05
o 17:25 Dp St.Louis Ar 11:35
o 22:25 Ar Chicago Dp 6:35
* A 60 mph avg with TALGO equipment would reduce trip time by 3:20 hrs and allow exteded service to Oklahoma City with the same Chicago arrival and departure!
* Thru cars (or two coupled TALGO trains) could operate to Bramson as a separate section since tourist travel may value comfort, convenience, and scenery over speed. Superliner coaches and Sightseer Lounges are most desireable to Branson; but obviously are incompatible with TALGO operation. :15 minutes are allowed for switching at Springfield.
* The former Frisco route between Tulsa and Oklahoma City poses three issues:
o No direct connection to former ATSF/Heartland Flyer station in Oklahoma City.
o Rehabilitation cost for the downgraded line is estimated at $150m.
o A succession of 40-55 mph curves still limit speed independent of rehabilitation to Class V or better.
* A longer BNSF routing (148 vs 117 miles) via Perry might be a more viable alternative using the Kansas City-Oklahoma City mainline for part of the distance. The faster running speeds for half the distance and less costly rehabilitation of a secondary line between Tulsa and Perry should be considered.
o A conventional train might take ~3:00 hours by way of Perry.
o Driving time for the 106 mile highway route is only 1:37.
* Another opportunity would seem to be an extension of the Heartland Flyer service from Tulsa to Bartlesville over a BNSF (former ATSF "Tulsan") secondary line. This extension might benefit from reduced rehab needs for the Perry alternative.
I've added you to my Midwest High Speed Rail list.
Harvey Kahler
just what we need another project funded by the taxpayers which will cost millions of dollars, lose millions of dollars and be subsidizeds for an eternity.
AMTRAK is completely funded by the graces of government, while most people wouldn't support the millions of dollars getting sucked into this blackhole if they only knew.
Sure---Tom
How many billions do we spend on pavement?
Time for Passenger Rail Service
In 1990 I started an effort to get Passenger Rail Service to southwest Missouri and across the state. During my time at (School) College of the Ozarks they helped some on the effort. After graduation I worked on several attempts to place it on the state ballot. People support the effort all across the state but it is impossible to put an issue on the state ballot unless you have over $100,000 to spend. After 17 years I have 15 boxes of contacts and names of people who want such service. So I am running for Mayor of Springfield and people can find out more about the rail issue by going to www.reedforcouncil.com
MODOT announced last summer that they want such service to help with traffic relief on I-44. They are also lobbying the legislature at this time for help with funding. Such service is wanted and would benefit the downtowns of St. Louis, Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, and maybe Branson. People all across the state want it but we have no organized lobbying group for such rail service. It is critical people speak out now. Write letters to your local newspapers call your representatives and yell from the tallest mountain!
Steven Reed
1441 S. Estate Ave.
Springfield, MO
417-368-1481
Time for Passenger Rail Service
In 1990 I started an effort to get Passenger Rail Service to southwest Missouri and across the state. During my time at (School) College of the Ozarks they helped some on the effort. After graduation I worked on several attempts to place it on the state ballot. People support the effort all across the state but it is impossible to put an issue on the state ballot unless you have over $100,000 to spend. After 17 years I have 15 boxes of contacts and names of people who want such service. So I am running for Mayor of Springfield and people can find out more about the rail issue by going to www.reedforcouncil.com
MODOT announced last summer that they want such service to help with traffic relief on I-44. They are also lobbying the legislature at this time for help with funding. Such service is wanted and would benefit the downtowns of St. Louis, Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, and maybe Branson. People all across the state want it but we have no organized lobbying group for such rail service. It is critical people speak out now. Write letters to your local newspapers call your representatives and yell from the tallest mountain!
Steven Reed
1441 S. Estate Ave.
Springfield, MO
417-368-1481
From Randy Hoops
RE: Proposed Passenger Rail Service between Springfield and St Louis.
I spoke briefley today with Jim Anderson who is one of the six members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Comission - MODOT.
I asked him about the status of the proposed passenger rail service between St Louis and Springfield. I also asked what the role of the state legislature was in this.
He said that MODOT has requested a supplemental appropriation of $100,000 to do a feasability study. That evidently is the next step.
I don't know the name of the committee that would handle this and don't know if it will ever be considered by the General Assembly or if it will be folded into a much larger budgetary process.
He also said that one of the two cross state routes, the Ann Rutlege or the Missouri Mule was experiencing low ridership and that they might cut one of those to fund the Springfield - St Louis route.
Randy Hoops
This is a really good blog site with info on Railroads!
http://americanrailroads.blogspot.com
/2006_08_01_americanrailroads_archive.
html
Subject: RE: Passenger Rail Service
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:24:36 -0600
Steven,
Thanks for letting me know you're running for office and your views on
expanding rail service. I agree we must be vigorous in expanding public
transit and boosting its use.
Do you know Mike Schilling?
JMO
Jeanette Mott Oxford
State Representative, 59th MO House District
2910 Lemp, St. Louis, MO 63118
573-751-4567 (Jefferson City)
314-772-0301 (St. Louis)
Subject: RE: Passenger Rail Service
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 08:36:20 -0600
Dear Steven,
Thank you for your email.
I printed off a copy of your message for Minority Leader Jeff Harris to
review. We appreciate hearing from you, and thank you for your input.
Sincerely,
Kelly Schultz
Office of the Minority Leader
Representative Jeff Harris
District 23
E-mail: stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com
Website: www.reedforcouncil.com
Re: Possible Election Tampering in Missouri USA
If it talks and walks like a Duck then!
On February 7, Richard Struckhoff Greene County election official accepted my Declaration of Candidacy as Write-in for Mayor of Springfield, Missouri for April 3rd, 2007 election. A few weeks later I received a letter saying he wouldn’t count the votes as the city law department says the City Charter does not allow write-ins.
Facts are the charter is silent on write-ins just as other city charters are. Information on www.reedforcouncil.com shows ballot samples or news articles relate at least, Kansas City, Branson, Marshall, Joplin, and St. Louis allow write-in candidates for Mayor or alderpeople. State law allows write-in candidates and apparently Springfield’s the only city in Missouri not allowing this democratic process. If it talks and walks like a Duck then it’s a duck - count the votes!
We have very low voter turn out without throwing up road blocks. I’ve requested the Department of Justice look into this matter and also filed federal paperwork asking a federal magistrate judge to order the Clerk and Secretary of State to count the votes. After working on community projects and registering over 14,000 voters, I won’t rest until I believe we have free, open and legal elections in Missouri! Some people would say ‘is this a life or death issue.’ My answer is yes because democracy and the suffrage right of citizens to be involved in elections and to vote for people they want representing them is the pillar our nation rests upon. The last time I checked this wasn’t a third world country where corruption rules elections.
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