August Newsletter
- Deborah Fischer Stout
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
August 2026 Newsletter
Check out the latest Northern Flyer Alliance, Inc. updates!
New Resolutions of Support
Passenger Rail News from the Midwest
Texas Rail Advocate Peter LeCody testifies before Texas Transportation Commission on Heartland Flyer Funding
Deborah Fischer Stout interviewed by KFOR TV, Oklahoma City
Missouri Rail Caucus Chair, Travis Wilson advocates for Missouri River Runner
Interest in Passenger Rail grows across the KC region
Carbon cost of transportation
Transportation for America News
Midwest News
High Speed Rail Alliance: Wisconsin DOT Seeks Grant to Expand Hiawatha Service to Madison
While advocates gathered in Milwaukee at our conference Thinking Big About Wisconsin Passenger Rail, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced that a $218 million federal grant application had been submitted to fund the Hiawatha West expansion project to Madison.
Heartland Flyer Funding Testimony
Speaking before Texas Transportation Commissioners in Austin this week, Texas Rail Advocates President Peter LeCody asked the agency to add passenger rail priorities to its 2027 appropriations budget request. Earlier in June, Commissioners were sent a letter than outlined what TRA wants to see in intercity and regional passenger rail development in the state.
Four areas were outlined in the letter that included establishing a TxDOT Intercity Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, a Passenger Rail Revolving Fund, dedicated funding for the Texas-Oklahoma partnered Heartland Flyer, and that Texas should join with the Southern Rail Commission to advance a Dallas-Fort Worth to Atlanta rail service.
Media Spotlight
Deborah Fischer Stout interviewed on KFOR-TV, OKC about Heartland Flyer future. The Heartland Flyer Extension requires a functioning Heartland Flyer!
Rail Caucus Updates
Introducing the newly minted Missouri Passenger Rail Caucus Chair, Travis Wilson.
KC Area Passenger Rail Interest Grows
NFA Board Member, Bill Roush visited Weston, MO last month to speak with Weston, MO Chamber leader, William McQueen. Mr. McQeen has assembled a core of four more people including local government and business people looking to advocate for the Missouri River Runner extension to St. Joseph. This part of Missouri is set up to benefit greatly from MODOT's intended River Runner northern Extension.
Cost of Transportation
Take a minute to review the image on the left, courtesy of the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
Please notice the lower carbon costs of rail travel.
News from Transportation for America shows rail funding is in jeopardy.
"If there was any lingering confusion about the Trump administration’s willingness to faithfully and fully implement any current or future bipartisan deal on transportation reauthorization that Congress might consider, USDOT Secretary Duffy’s unhinged letter to Senate leadership about the administration’s reauthorization priorities should put a nail in that coffin."
Join today and help shape the future of transportation in our region.
876 N. Diane Dr. Olathe, KS 66061 913-827-8380
https://www.northernflyeralliance.net/
Comments