Greetings,

With the big elections behind us, now comes the time for some of us to analyze what is ahead. For those wanting to keep these poltical discussions off this board I can across this:

railfanpolitics@yahoogroups.com

I'm not affiliated with this board, but thought it could be a good place to vent.

God Bless,
Gerald W. Kopiasz
Heartland Railroad Historical Society

hrrhs@aol.com

This discussion could really get out of hand and most of you must know how I feel about the whole mess, but I think we could talk seriously on this board about TEA-21 and the possible loss thereof. TEA-21 has helped fund many projects we hold dear, and its loss could affect those of both political persuasions.

> Greetings,

> With the big elections behind us, now comes
> the time for some of us to analyze what is
> ahead. For those wanting to keep these
> poltical discussions off this board I can
> across this:

> railfanpolitics@yahoogroups.com

> I'm not affiliated with this board, but
> thought it could be a good place to vent.

> God Bless,
> Gerald W. Kopiasz
> Heartland Railroad Historical Society


http://gowest.coalliance.org:8080/cgi-bin/cw_cgi?fullRecord+2419+594+16842+2+0
ryarger@rypn.org

Manuevering on what is called "reauthorization" of the federal-aid highway program began some time back (indeed, it never ended for those of us in the highway business) and will get serious once the makeup of the Senate committees is final. In all the news so far, there is NO indication that the Surface Transportation "Enhancement" program will be killed or even reduced. The program has too many friends among local governments for that, and congressmen are careful to keep the officials happy who make up their local campaign machinery. The shift in control of the Senate will not change this. Expansion beyond 10% of STP funds isn't too likely, but as is usual with government programs, the number of elegible activities may increase. This would increase competition for funds with the historic-preservation, transportation-museum, and depot categories that many RR preservation projects have profited from.

Of course, in politics anything can happen. Confidence in the above forecast: 50%.

Aarne Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, MI 48867-0665