Will Oklahoma miss the boat on expanding passenger rail service?

Woke up to news from Passenger Rail Oklahoma, a grass-roots advocacy organization working for the expansion of passenger rail service in Oklahoma and the surrounding region. If you're so inclined, I encourage a call in support of resolution OK-SJR-35 (read more about it below), which is struggling to make it to the Oklahoma house floor for a vote.

Given our energy challenge, or what Bill McKibben calls being '' ... stuck between a played-out rock and a hot place," seems darn short-sighted to hold this resolution up based on partisan b.s. Expanding passenger rail service will make our state and region so much more resilient and less vulnerable to volatile energy supplies and pricing.

I always hope representatives of either party will find ways to work together for smart solutions. Unfortunately, this year has demonstrated many of our reps, mostly in the GOP, to be hopelessly rigid, incurious and seemingly mired in unthinking partisanship. Sigh.

Anyway, about that resolution, from Evan Stair, executive director, Passenger Rail Oklahoma:

OK-SJR-35, a Senate Resolution authored by Senator John Sparks is failing in the House of Representatives. The resolution passed in the State Senate 39-3 March 10. Both the House and Senate have attached a 'Do Pass' recommendation to the resolution.
However, the bill likely will not be brought to a floor vote because of partisan politics. The Oklahoma 2009 legislative session ends soon. Please contact the below individuals and express that you would like to see this Resolution brought to a House Floor vote.

While this is a bill intended to grease the skids of Amtrak expansion support for the 2010 legislature, there are components that would require ODOT to act with regard to development of a Rail Plan, essential to garnering federal funding through the Stimulus Bill and the Passenger Rail Improvement and Investment Act of 2008 (PRIIA). If this resolution fails it could therefore jeopardize Oklahoma federal funding with Oklahoma once again becoming a donor state to passenger rail funding.

This Resolution:

• Urges ODOT to participate in the Kansas Amtrak Expansion Feasibility Study
• Urges ODOT to develop a comprehensive passenger rail plan
• Distributes copies to Governor Henry, Governor Parkinson KS, members of the Kansas and Oklahoma Congressional delegation

Who to call:

House Speaker Chris Benge
Room 401
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7340

Speaker Pro Tempore
Kris Steele
Room 411
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7345

Representative Tad Jones
Majority Floor Leader
Room 442
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
(405) 557-7380