House Bill 258 has been submitted to create a Manchester/Lawrence and Northern Railroad Task Force to continue studies already undertaken along these once important corridors. The M&L impacts communities along the line and could become a critical asset for commercial development at Manchester Airport where potential shippers have been identified. Unfortunately almost 3000 feet of M&L rail was recently ripped up there to make way for a runway extension, presently the subject of litigation by the Conservation Law Foundation of New England.
HB 258 is sponsored by longtime rail advocate George Katsakiores (R-Derry) and Reps. Jimmy Whittemore of Franklin, Mary Nowe of Epping and John Flanders of Kingston; as well as Senators Cliff Below of Lebanon, an ardent Rails to Trails proponent, and Prescott.
The Eno Transportation Foundation, publisher of the annual statistical "Transportation in America" volume, will be holding one of its five national conferences in Nashua, NH Aug.19-24. Participants will be introduced to various theories and practices associated with effectively managing transportation systems and the people who make them run. For more call Kathryn Harrington-Hughes at 202-879-4718 or e-mail <khh@enotrans.com>
A group of Illinois lawmakers has submitted legislation to do away with the two long whistle blasts, then one short followed by a very long blast, at rail/highway crossings. Responding to constituents who claim they can't get a good night's sleep, they are advocating that state-of-the-art safety warning devices be substituted in place of the whistle combination.
Among the bill's sponsors are none other than US House Speaker Dennis Hastert joined by Rep. Bill Lipinski and 12 other Congressional members. The City of Chicago and State of Illinois claim it will take 10-15 years to comply, but they could give no cost estimate.
Enjoying higher prominence since the election of President Bush, the conservative Heritage Foundation is now calling for the cutoff of any further support for Amtrak should the nation's national rail passenger system fail to meet its 2002 goal of financial self sufficiency.
"Congress and the President should encourage Amtrak to begin opening up select routes to competition from private passenger rail operators under the franchise/concession form of operation that has worked so successfully in Europe, Asia, and Latin America." Ronald D. Utt urges. Some are countering that in England privatization is not working all that well.
He cites the federal Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 [P.L. 105-134] as the source for such a mandate.
He was President Bush's first choice to head the US DOT, and the only Democrat in the new cabinet. Norman Y. Mineta, a former Congressman from San Jose, CA, was Bill Clinton's Commerce Secretary. Now he will be the first cabinet member to shift from a Democratic administration directly into a Republican administration.
He served for 20 years in Congress, the last two as chairman of Public Works and Transportation [now Transportation and Infrastructure]. Pres. Bush received wide encouragement from both rail labor and management for Mineta's nomination, and the transportation industry at large, no small feat. He is no stranger to rail.
Mineta was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on a 100-0 vote following a freindly hearing during which he stressed several transportation challenges ahead: better highway and airline safety, closing the gap between transportation demand and capacity within the system, doing away with "bottlenecks" and crippling traffic congestion, regional and intercity rail among others.
After years in doubt, Boy Scouts of America is revamping its once popular Railroading Merit Badge requirements and the handbook that accompanies this training.
With over 3000 boys signed up to take this summer's Railroading program at the National Scout Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill, VA. BSA out of Irving, Texas has undertaken to update and reissue the book and felt patch which only two years ago were seen on the brink of being discontinued "for lack of interest." This summer's Jamboree, which only occurs every four years, will feature a huge midway Railroad Pavilion, presentations by Amtrak, Operation Lifesaver, Norfolk Southern and CSX Railroads among others. To handle logistics, Rail Awareness for Youth, Inc. has been formed [3925 Ransom Road, San Angelo, TX 76903 [800-770-2873]. This organization now seeks to establish chapters in every state.
It seems there is a new generation of youth who, given proper exposure and instruction, become just as enthusiastic about rail as their parents and grandparents who can remember "the good old days" are.
The N.H. Snowmobile Association has instituted a legal defense fund to protect its travel rights. NHSA President Ron Booth said his group is worried that what once were state and local rights issues now are national in scope. He noted in particular Pres. Clinton's final days designation of Roadless Conservation Areas within the national forest system among others.
