Missouri State Rail Plan – Open House Nov. 2
Posted by Transit Action Network on October 29, 2011
Missouri Department of Transportation will host an open house and discussion about the movement of goods and people by freight and passenger rail.
Where: Sermon Center North Room, 201 N. Dodgion Ave, Independence
When: 5:30 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 2, 2011
VISION
Missouri’s rail vision is to provide safe, environmentally friendly transportation options supporting efficient movement of freight and passengers, while strengthening communities and advancing global competitiveness through Inter-modal connectivity.
STATE RAIL PLAN
The Missouri Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Rail Plan that will provide the strategic framework for the development of both freight and passenger rail service in Missouri for the next twenty years.
Discussion items include:
- An overview of the Plan and Federal Rail funding
- The current state of freight and passenger rail in Missouri
- The business case for rail including it’s importance to Missouri’s economy
- Increased demand and interest in intercity passenger rail
- The role of publicly funded improvements to move people and goods on privately owned railroad systems.
- The importance of different types of rail projects compared to other infrastructure needs, given likely funding limitations.
MoDOT wants your input. If you cannot attend the public open house, the presentation and public comment forms are available at the MoDOT State Rail Plan website. The virtual meeting and comment period will be accessible through November 18. Public Meeting Presentation Please spread the word.
Transit Action Network (TAN) 
Ron McLinden said
This is important. Rail is inherently more energy efficient than highway transportation (think less reliance on foreign oil and fewer greenhouse gas emissions), and Missouri is playing an increasingly important role in prioritizing and funding public investment in passenger and freight rail service. The Missouri State Rail Plan will help guide that investment.
High-speed rail across Missouri is appealing as an alternative to driving or flying, but it could be a long time coming. In the interim, we need to increase service and build demand (i.e., ridership).
Here are some of my suggestions for what to ask for as you attend the public meetings or participate online:
+ Increase state and federal investment in rail because rail is more energy-efficient
Continue state and federal support for passenger rail (Amtrak) because it is growing in popularity
+ Add a third daily round trip between Kansas City and St. Louis via Amtrak Missouri River Runner trains
+ Increase speed of passenger rail service between Kansas City and St. Louis
+ Improve connections between urban and rural transit service and passenger rail
+ Improve connections and coordination between Amtrak and inter-city motor coach services (Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, Megabus, etc)
+ Require involvement of the railroads in regional transportation planning (e.g., MARC long-range transportaton plan) as a condition for state and/or federal funding
Link to the online survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LMQV3GR
The local meeting is 5:30 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 2, at Sermon Center, 201 North Dodgion Street, just southeast of Truman Road and Noland Road and a short walk from the Independence MetroCenter. Last KCATA Route 24 bus back to Kansas City leaves at 6:05 pm.