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Heartland Flyer could fall victim to state budget cuts


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#1 KevinKorell

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Posted 07 May 2016 - 11:04 PM

KFOR-TV, Channel 4 in Oklahoma City, OK, 5/2/16:

Heartland Flyer could fall victim to state budget cuts


The Heartland Flyer could be derailed if lawmakers decide the passenger rail system has to fall victim to budget cuts.


Story here.


Kevin Korell


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#2 KevinKorell

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Posted 01 August 2016 - 10:15 AM

The Oklahoma DOT sent a request for qualification to Amtrak regarding not only maintaining status quo for the Heartland Flyer, but possibly adding another frequency to the route.  The response from Amtrak can be seen here. (.pdf file)



Kevin Korell


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#3 KevinKorell

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Posted 24 October 2016 - 01:09 AM

E-mail from Passenger Rail Oklahoma:

 

 

Passenger Rail Oklahoma
NOTICE
Oklahoma Senate
Heartland Flyer Interim Study
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Room 535, State Capitol
 
Oklahoma Senate Heartland Flyer - Interim Study to be held Wednesday.  Oklahoma Senator Frank Simpson of Springer, Oklahoma will hold an Interim Study to address funding concerns surrounding the Heartland Flyer passenger rail service (see the announcement below).  The Heartland Flyer is a daily passenger train with stops in Oklahoma City, Norman, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Ardmore, Gainesville, Texas, and Fort Worth.  
 
Amtrak's rapidly increasing costs and the state's budget crisis will force changes in how the popular train service is funded.  A change could include service discontinuance if the state legislature eliminates the annual $2.85 million appropriation and communities do not substitute funding.  Amtrak is already asking for $3 million to $4 million from the state annually. 
 
Some operational changes have occurred over the past three years and more are anticipated.  Senators Simpson, Kyle Loveless, and Dan Newberry indicated during the last session they would like to see funding trimmed or eliminated.  Senator Loveless suggested a temporary annulment until state funding could be restored.  
 
Evan Stair, President, Passenger Rail Oklahoma indicated, "The last service suspension lasted 20 years."

Stair also commented and provided a recommendation, "We are not confident the state legislature has taken the time to understand the service economic benefit."
 
The Texas Transportation Institute showed in its landmark 2010 study, 'Measuring the Benefits of Intercity Passenger Rail Service, A Study of the Heartland Flyer Corridor,*' showed service discontinuance would slow the economy by $18 million each year.  
 
Stair added, "It is a time to increase state investment in passenger rail for greater return, not eliminate it to further slow the economy.  Let's get the train to Tulsa and Kansas City, not revert back to a latter 20th Century highways-only policy."  
 
*TTI Study Page 123 - https://trid.trb.org....aspx?id=924489


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#4 KevinKorell

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Posted 28 October 2016 - 10:19 PM

Claremore, OK Daily Progress, 10/28/16:

 


Fewer Flyer riders make lawmakers doubt train’s value

 

The subsidized Heartland Flyer is riding into a rough patch of criticism from lawmakers who question the viability of train service amid sharp declines in ridership.

Story



Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ





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