by John Radovich, Board Member
<JohnR@TexasRailAdvocates.org>

TRA principals, John Radovich and Paul Mangelsdorf were in Austin on February 1st to meet with Kris Heckman, Governor Perry's transportation policy man, and Patricia Shipton, the Governor's lobbyist. John and Paul wanted to enlist the governor's help in obtaining a letter from Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas to the Federal Railroad Administration requesting funds for a ridership study of the South Central Corridor. This study is the initiative that must be taken before any development of the corridor can occur. It can consider variations in the actual corridor route, such as the inclusion of Waco, a city not presently served by Amtrak. Mr. Heckman and Ms. Shipton showed no support for the South Central High Speed Rail Corridor. Instead, they wanted to explain the Trans Texas Corridor plan introduced by Governor Perry earlier that week.

In an early afternoon meeting with Steve Simmons, Deputy Director of Tex-DOT, John, Paul and Frank Schleiker had some successl in discussing the South Central Corridor ridership study. The week of March 11th was the most encouraging so far regarding this important study. Contact was made with Paul Adams at OK-DOT. Mr. Adams agreed to mention the study and the necessary letter to Steve Simmons at a meeting on March 16th. NCTCOG Transportation Director, Michael Morris, also agreed to urge Mr. Simmons to cooperate with Oklahoma and Arkansas in a joint letter to the FRA.

While still in Austin, John and Paul also called on Bryndan Wright, policy director for Chairman Michael Williams of the Texas Railroad Commission. Bryndan said that the RRC wanted to expand its activities into various rail transportation issues from its present position of addressing only rail safety.