STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 52nd Legislature (2009)

SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION 35	By:	Sparks

AS INTRODUCED

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.

WHEREAS, the national passenger rail service (Amtrak), heretofore known as the Heartland Flyer began operating in Oklahoma on June 15, 1999; and
WHEREAS, the present Amtrak route terminates in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, without a northern connection to the Amtrak national network; and
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
WHEREAS, the Kansas Department of Transportation issued an official request to Amtrak for study of this route segment on February 11, 2008; and
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
WHEREAS, federal matching funding has become available as administered by the Federal Railroad Administration through the Passenger Rail Improvement 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
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.
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.
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 as a requirement to procure federal matching funds as administered by the Federal Railroad Administration.
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.

52-1-1174	MJM	1/15/2009 4:35:22 PM