BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John F. Ferdinandi Jr. Chairman; Ray Bailey, Tom Bailey, Susan Boydston, Ben Camarena, Sally Ferdinandi, Georgiana Frame, Katia Kazozian, Geri Kludas, Roy Kludas, Annie Lokrantz, Dennis Manning, Ron McNary, Sylvia Mehas, Mike Pascuzzi, Juan Salinas, Mary Savala, //// Members Emeritus: Carol Dillon, George Giannopoulos, Ruth Kent, Betty Ramacher

Honorable George Radanovich February 19, 2002

U.S. Representative

123 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Re: Request for Fresno Rail Consolidation next phases funding

Dear Congressman Radanovich:

Your continued support for Fresno Rail Consolidation is fully appreciated by hundreds of thousands of Fresno area and Central Valley residents and visitors.

The Fresno COG 2001 update of the 1993 Fresno Rail Consolidation Study is completed confirming the feasibility and necessity for the project. The study cost of $100,000.00 was funded by Fresno City, Fresno County, Fresno COG and the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad companies.

The next steps call for environmental studies and preliminary engineering details and designs. The planned work will include consideration for a Fresno multi-modal depot, High Speed Rail needs, track and grade separation alignments, the elimination of excessive vehicle congestion, public safety and pollution reduction. This Central Valley corridor through the heart of Fresno is the vital - and only – western US rail corridor available for use for homeland security and national defense. Fresno Rail Consolidation will also improve passenger and freight movement to and from the east.

With participation from Fresno COG, Fresno City and County qualified engineering representatives, it is determined that the environmental work will require $8,470,000.00 and the engineering work $11,550,000.00 totaling $20,020,000.000.

We ask your help in requesting these funds through federal appropriations. The sponsor agency for receipt of the funds should be Fresno County Council of Governments (COG).

Sincerely,

John F. Ferdinandi Jr., Chairman

Fresno Area Residents for Rail Consolidation