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Idea to send:	Topic Railroad Content Hayley Wolff I am very concerned about the number of trucks on our roads and highways. Our roadways are constantly congested, and they are subject to on-going damage due to the number of trucks on the road and the excessive weight. Our bridges are also unsafe and in need of repair, and I’m sure the eighteen-wheelers play a huge role in their destruction. The air quality and ozone problems are affected by the trucking industry, and fuel cost and consumption rates are at an all time high. My grandfather is 75 years old and, in his youth, he worked for the Soo Line Railroad company in northern Wisconsin. I do not get to visit with him very often, but I remember how happy and excited he would get when trains would pass by while we were on the road on vacation. However, his smile would last as long as the train was in sight, but then he would become sad. He would tell us stories about cargo and passenger trains and how efficient they were compared to semi-trucks. He thought the abandonment of the railroad system was a huge mistake for this country. He said that each train car could hold the cargo of at least two semi-trucks, and one engine could pull approximately 40 cars….that is the equivalence of 80 or more truckloads! Although the trains use diesel fuel, the fuel is used to generate electricity, which in turn runs the motors on the wheels of the train. So, it is a very efficient means of transporting goods as well as passengers. I propose we bring back the trains. We could save millions of dollars in repair and maintenance costs for our roads and bridges, save on the use and cost of fuel, slow down the ozone destruction, and improve air quality at the same time, which could also improve the health of Oklahomans who suffer from respiratory diseases such as asthma. I think this idea would improve the economic status of our state and the health of Oklahomans. Outline I. Designate a task force II. Determine feasibility of the railroad system III. Explore the status of our current railway system IV. Obtain funding V. Contract or negotiate with railroad companies VI. Provide incentives to companies to encourage use of the railways