I am forwarding information I received about two apparent urgencies. The
first is a notice about ISTEA enhancement money. The second is a petition
developed by Charles Montagne (rail trail attorney) regarding Jim Ryan's
anti railbanking bill that you might want to copy and distribute widely. I
understand from the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) that this bill will
be voted upon sometime in either March or April.
Tom
SENATE TO BEGIN DEBATING ISTEA REAUTHORIZATION TOMORROW!
In a surpise turn of events, the Senate has decided to start floor
debate on their pending ISTEA reauthorization proposal as early as
tomorrow, Thrusday, February 25. Therefore, it is likely that debate
over the amendment sponsored by Senator Sam Brownback to eliminate the
Transportation Enhnacements Program will occur in the next week. It is
vital that trail activists across the country contact your Senators and
urge them to oppose this amendment, no. 1395, which would allow state
DOT's to opt out of the enhancements program.
Call the capital switchboard at 202/224-3121, ask for your Senator's
office and then ask your Senator's transportation aide to oppose the
Brownback amendment because:
* The amendment will destroy the Transportation
Enhancements Program, one of the most popular programs in ISTEA
that has provided transportation, recreation, environmental and
economic benefits to cities, towns and rural areas across the
country.
* The amendment provides no process for private citizens
and organizations to voice their opposition to elimination of the
Transportation Enhancements Program in their state.
* The amendment eliminates local control by centralizing
decision making power about whether to waive the Transportation
Enhancements Program within the State DOT. State and local
Transportation Enhancements stakeholders such as project
sponsors, Metropolitan Planning Organizations or State Parks and
Recreation Agencies are not required to be included in the
decision making process.
For more information, contact Laurie Actman at
Rails-to-Trails--rtclaurie@transact.org or 202/974-5121
Check STPP's ISTEA web site for more information and ongoing updates at
http://www.istea.org
Thanks for your help!
Petition
in support of
Federal Railbanking and Rails to Trails Statute
Whereas federal law -- recognizing the importance of rail corridor
preservation -- has preempted State law governing railroad rights-of-way , as
well as other state economic regulation of freight railroads, practically
from the inception of federal rail regulation;
Whereas railroad rights-of-way are unique resources which should be
preserved where ever possible for future rail use and compatible interim
public uses;
Whereas opponents of railbanking (preservation of rail corridors for future
rail use) have long sought to prevent or hamper rail corridor preservation
under federal railbanking statute (16 U.S.C. pgh. 1247 (d));
Whereas two bills have been introduced (H.R. 2352 and H.R. 2438, 105th
Cong. , 1st Sess.) to gut 16 U.S.C. pgh. 1247(d) by rendering it ineffective
to keep corridors intact, or subject to local whim with respect to preserving
railroad corridors;
Whereas preserving rail corridors in the interim as trails makes good
sense, does not pose any unwarranted burden on adjacent landowners,
contributes to the economic development of local communities, provides
wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, and serves the national
transportation policy; and
Whereas federal railbanking legislation should be strengthened rather than
rendered ineffective,
We, the undersigned, call upon Congress and our elected representatives to
Congress to resist any efforts to burden the trail use/railbanking process
(16 U.S.C. pgh. 1247(d) ) directly or indirectly, or to render it
ineffective anywhere in the United States.
Name Address _____________________________
_________________________________
_____________________________ _________________________________
_____________________________ _________________________________
_____________________________ _________________________________
_____________________________ _________________________________
_____________________________ _________________________________
_____________________________ _________________________________
_____________________________ _________________________________
Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director
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Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
P O Box 8596; 112 West 4th St; Suite #1
Moscow ID 83843-1096
Phone (208)882-1444; Fax (208)882-8029
url: http://www.moscow.com/pcei
Please Note our individual staff email addresses below:
Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director: lamar@pcei.org
Kathleen Lester, Office Manager: lester@pcei.org
Laurie Gardes, Financial Manager: gardes@turbonet.com
Adam R. Thornbrough, Watersheds: thornbrough@pcei.org
Colette DePhelps, Community Food Systems: dephelps@pcei.org
Jon Barrett, Idaho Smart Growth: smartgro@micron.net
Jennifer Bell, Environmental Education: bell1719@uidaho.edu
Celebrating eleven years of connecting people, place and community.
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