Hello South Dakota!
Now that the FRA Amtrak Long-Distance Service Study is delivered to Congress, it is important we sustain and build the momentum needed to bring high-quality passenger rail services to South Dakota.
With the unfortunate failure of HCR 6008 in the South Dakota Senate this year, this reinforces why we need to redouble our efforts to educate and advocate to local officials about passenger rail and what it can mean for our broader economic opportunities.
With high-power leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senator Rounds, and Representative Johnson in Washington DC, we need to keep pressing our need to be included on the long-distance passenger rail network.
John Thune received the 2016 Rail Passengers Association Golden Spike Award for his efforts aiding Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker with Gulf Coast Service restoration (that is slated to begin later this year).
What are "Train Treks"?
Train Treks are a series of outreach and engagement meetings held in local communities. They are an efficient and effective way to meet local stakeholders, gain valuable information, make the proper connections, and build the coalitions needed to realize visionary, large-scale, infrastructure projects. These presentations help educate and empower local people to advocate to their state and national leaders for passenger rail.
When?
I would like to schedule them in mid June, depending on the ability of locals to help, in order to provide ample time to get notice out to the public and local officials.
What do we need from you?
Local coordination and communication support for the event. Sponsors are also highly appreciated.
Potential Locations
- Rapid City
- Wall, Kadoka or Murdo
- Fort Pierre or Pierre
- Mitchell
- Sioux Falls or Canton
- Other Locations: We are certainly open to other locations like Lemmon, Aberdeen, Milbank or Brookings if there is the local interest and funding to help make it happen.
Conclusions
Bringing passenger rail back to South Dakota is feasible, defensible, and achievable with your support and advocacy!
Let's make it happen!
Dan Bilka
Co-Founder & President, All Aboard Northwest
Coordinator, Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Coalition
Vice-Chair, Rail Passengers Association
- Fmr. South Dakota Councilman
2 comments:
My proposal for passenger rail from Minneapolis to Denver is a route from the Twin Cities to Mankato on the right of way owned by the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad to Brookings, South Dakota and Pierre then to Rapid City and to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks at Alliance via Chadron, Nebraska then to Cheyenne, Wyoming and Denver. Service to Sioux Falls and Omaha could diverge at Florence, Minnesota but a route in the I-90 median between Sioux Falls and Rapid City should also be explored.
"After garnering some feedback from all of you, I would like to narrow down the week to either the Week of June 16th or June 23rd. Please let me know what dates and times these weeks might work with you or your team." Dan Bilka
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