by Paul Mangelsdorf
Executive Director
PaulM@TexasRailAdvocates.org

I am happy to provide you with this report on my May 18-20 business trip to Washington, D.C.

The trip began uneventfully on Wednesday morning. Upon opening the Dallas Morning News to the Business Section there was an article on BNSF including comments by Matt Rose.

As we headed for Washington I struck up a conversation with the gentleman next to me. He is stationed at Ft. Hood in the transportation area and was going to Washington to receive an award for expeditious movement of troops and material from Ft. Hood to Iraq. All the trucks were moved to Houston by RAIL so the troops could spend as much time with their families as possible. We spent 30 minutes talking about lack of coordinated transportation policy in the U.S., the advantages of RAIL, etc. I gave him my business card and promised to establish an email connection. He agreed to visit the web site and determine how we might work together on the South Central Corridor issue.

My first afternoon meeting was with Christina Clayton in Congresswoman Kay Granger's office. We have not been in touch with Congresswoman Granger's office so this was a chance to leave a brochure and give pertinent information.

Kimberly Reasoner in Congressman Michael Burgess's office appreciated receiving the material. I mentioned three previous meetings with Dr. Burgess, the most recent being last August at the Texas Transportation Summit when Peter LeCody and I spent about 20 minutes with him.

I then stopped by the offices of Congressman Henry Bonilla and spoke with Patrick Anderson who has become a good friend. In addition to giving him a brochure I emphasized our funding requests and the seeking of a federal earmark and possible Swift High Speed Rail Development funds.

Damon Wells in Congressman Chet Edwards office was very receptive. Edwards represents the Waco area. I assured Damon that part of the corridor studies would include a consideration of route changes which would look at a rerouting to include Waco.

I left a brochure and cover letter for Hillary Kane in Congressman Lloyd Doggett's office.

Thursday began by meeting Judi Buckalew at her office.

We then proceeded to Capitol Hill for Senator Hutchison's 9am coffee followed by a meeting with John Kane and Joe Guzzo. After having my picture taken with Senator Hutchison I thanked her and said that I hoped she would run for Governor. The meeting with John and Joe was informative for all involved: John Kane wasn't familiar with the South Central Corridor project and Judi (who actually worked for Senator Hutchison some years ago) learned of the limited avenues for rail project funding. John Kane will submit the necessary paperwork for a soft earmark even though his hopes weren't too high. It's too late for the hard earmark, as we all knew.

During the meeting with Mike Fitzgerald in Senator Cornin's office it became apparent that Mike was not at all informed about the Corridor issue. This was mostly an educational visit.

I had lunch with John Cikota (Federal Railroad Administration) and Ron Davies (Curator of the Air & Space Museum at Smithsonian. Ron remains pessimistic about the ENTIRE transportation picture in the U.S. (excepting highways) and John expressed concern about the Acela problem and how much money Amtrak loose each day that the trains remain out of service. Amtrak operating funds may actually run out before the end of August!

My appointment in with Murat Gokcigdem (Legislative Director) in Congresswoman
Eddie Bernice Johnson's office yielded an interesting opportunity. It was recommended that I leave a brochure and card with Nick Martinelli, legislative director for Congresswoman Brown, the ranking Democrat on the House Railroad Subcommittee. Murat, assured me that he would personally follow up with Nick and help us get an appointment with him.

Our good friend, Tucker Anderson, in Congressman Sessions office has returned to Texas permanently! My meeting with Scott Cunningham was postponed until Friday.

The appointment with Jamie Notman in Congressman Hensarling's office was pretty mundane and, actually, I got the impression that Jamie had minimal interest. Maybe RA member Andy Ivy and others can work to change this.

Back at Judi's office we had a good introductory conversation with Fritz Plous, which was a first time meeting by phone between Judi and Fritz. It went very well (about 40 minutes).

Friday Judi and I met with John Brennan, staffer on the House Railroad Subcommittee.

Judi had a number of questions for John.

He informed us that early in the year Mike Krusee (State-House Transportation Committee Chairman) had been by to see them as had David Dean of Dean International a Texas public relations firm.

John is waiting for final determination on Swift High Speed Rail Development funds-one possible source of earmark money.

He urged Texas Rail Advocates, the Austin/San Antonio Rail Corridor Council, Texas High Speed Rail Corporation and the East Texas corridor coalition to make a united effort on funding. He said that though each of these organizations (Texas Rail Advocates excluded) is only interested in one segment of the Corridor all segments will benefit from funding.

At lunch Judi urged TRA to clearly define levels of membership and have a fund raising drive this Summer. She also urged Texas Rail Advocates to return to Washington after Labor Day.

Judi also introduced me to Cynthia Ahinowa, Legislative Assistant to Representative Don Young (R-Alaska). Representative Young serves as the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I provided Cynthia with information regarding Texas Rail Advocates and a South Central Rail Corridor brochure, which she then shared with the Congressman following our unexpected meeting in the Ford Building cafeteria!

The 1:30pm meeting with Tina Shaw, the TxDOT representative in Washington was most interesting. Tina wanted to know about the 3 Amtrak routes in Texas. She also told me that Congressman Michael Burgess has asked for earmarked funds to study the Tower 55 intersection. She is inviting TRA to work with TxDOT on rail issues. As of this date (May 30, 2005) no word has been received on an approval of an extension of the South Central High Speed Rail Corridor to include Houston.