INTERMODAL · FREIGHT · PASSENGER · TOURIST
Minutes of the 25 August
Strategy Formulation Meeting:
Ten members attended this strategy
session held at the offices of N.H.Health & Safety Council office, 163
Manchester St, Concord, starting at 9:00 AM.
We appreciate Lyman Cousens for providing the space.
OLI Training. Lyman Cousens reviewed the current and planned OLI training in
support of NH Commuter and Inter-city Rail.
NHRRA History. Briefly reviewed by Paul Chapman. Noted the evolution from an organization
founded primarily to preserve the Northern Line, to a state-wide interest in
identifying needs and stimulating grass-roots community and regional action
toward rail reactivation. Also discussed the “geographically oriented”
organization which didn’t seem to stimulate broad effort on the part of members
despite ample guidelines for research and activism.
Measures of Success. Dave White and others discussed ways to measure success. Some wanted a operating rail corridor, right
away. Others felt success was measured
when sustained local and community efforts were activated and the long road to
progress was ongoing. Examples: the
6-year effort in Lebanon, 8 year effort in Nashua and 14 year effort Boston to
Portland.
It was noted that historically
members have performed extensive research (such as Steve Flanders et al on the
Northern, John Palmer et al on the M&L, and Bill Jarvis on the Ashuelot)
but that the results had not been fully interpreted in an economic sense and
broadly disseminated to the general public.
Also, that we have largely let distorted or insufficient media reporting
go unanswered.
Current Status. Peter Griffin passed out copies of NH Railroad
Update bringing members
up
to speed on where things stand statewide. Discussed Kenyon Karl posting it on
the NHRRA Website, with the provision that it be kept up-to-date.
The new NH Rail (non) Plan was discussed,
noting that it also needs to be answered - or augmented - by the NHRRA.
Getting the Word Out. Discussed the unreliability of the “press” and the
ongoing need to flood the media with “precise” news releases. Discussed the effective but limited local
“forums”, and how they could be made more effective by follow-up press releases
with wide dissemination. The NHRRA website needs more and timely
additions and updates by all the members.
Tink Taylor cited as most capable of providing “abstracts” when linked
media archives of important articles are not, or no longer, available. Kudos to Kenyon Karl for his accomplishment
and devotion to the web-site.
It was agreed there is a drastic
communications gap within and outside the
organization.
An example is the VHB NH “Rail Plan” which is destined to join other historic
studies in a bottom drawer in Concord with little or no awareness by the
general public.
Public Perceptions. It was noted by Paul Chapman that there is a warped
public sense of “subsidy” vs/ “investment” when it comes to transportation
issues, and a visit to the the state’s newest and largest bookstore revealed a
paucity of books published on transportation, despite the fact that it
contributes about 1/3 of the nation’s economy.
It was suggested NHRRA-sponsored and directed University research such
as the “Tuck Northern Study” could address other key areas such as: 1) subsidy/investment
dollars of each transportation mode on a per-ton/passenger-mile basis; 2) highway/rail
grade crossing protection options from a human psychology standpoint, and
3) economic and industrial development
transportation needs, including all modes for all New Hampshire
transportation corridors.
Tink Taylor has been elected to the National Board of Rail Awareness for Youth
based in Texas. They are planning to put out materials on some of these same
topics which could be of value for wide dissemination within New Hampshire.
Executive Director. The question of whether
NHRRA should have an executive director was revisited, with the reminder
that the membership already so voted, and approved a “position description” for
same. Consensus was a strong yes. It
was noted the plan to visit the NH Charitable Trust has never happened, and
that they may be able to help us prepare a “grant letter”. Tink and Peter to
explore this using the job description already approved.
Also, could approach big rail users
such as Irving Oil, Quebec Concrete, Twin State Gravel, PSNH (which has already
helped us by funding the Tuck Study through it’s “Community Grants”) , etc.
Railroad Legislation. Rep. George Katsakiores
discussed areas he expects legislative efforts in the 2002 legislative year:
1) Codification of NH RR law will help
in enforcing such statutes at RSA 228:60a (removal of infrastructure), 2)
Liability cap needs another go around in the next session as does 3)
Beefing up RR rights-of-way trespassing penalties (at Guilford's urging). 4)
Creation of a meaningful Rail Division within NH DOT, 5) Creation of a Rail
Industrial Development Fund to support construction of new sidings and ramps.
Bylaws and Organization. The need to amend the bylaws which were previously updated for
501-C-3 to include the voted change of “office tenure” was noted, to be
followed by dissemination to members, and perhaps the web site. Voted to stick with the “geographical”
organization chart, update and distribute same. Discussed criteria for selecting and assigning future projects.
Specific recommendations to
be endorsed at the September meeting:
·
Update
and distribute Org Chart, Bylaws, and Media Contact List.
·
Assigned
person on each “committee” develop and maintain a close relationship with a
media contact person in their area.
·
All
members maintain an awareness of and support for legislative efforts effecting
rail, and communicate with their state senators and representatives about same
on an ongoing basis.
·
Organization
to consider one or more areas to Sponsor and Direct College/University student
study projects.
·
All
members to report upcoming rail/transportation related meetings, shows etc
where a member could be assigned to provide an NHRRA presence. Post to web-site.
·
Board
to obtain funding to hire Executive Director per position description who could
“orchestrate, guide and train” members in accomplishing above items.
Recorded:
Tink Taylor, George Katsakiores, Paul Chapman
[Paul
W Chapman <milepost10@juno.com>
8/30/01 6:29 AM]
