December 16, 2004  Tom Bailey attended a kick-off event for Mike Briggs who is running again for his 29th Assembly district seat in the California State Assembly.  Tom was interviewed by Fresno Bee political columnist John Ellis who inquired about Briggs support for rail consolidation during his last term that ended in 2002.  Bailey advised Ellis that Mike Briggs not only obtained a grant for FARRC in the amount of $100,000 but he also introduced to separate pieces of legislation to bring about rail consolidation.

December 11, 2003  FARRC President Tom Bailey attended the monthly meeting of the Operation Clean Air Transportation committee and recommended that the committee should advise OCA to push for a Memorandum of Understanding between the Central Valley and the railroads similar to the one in place in the south Coast Air District whereby the railroads have agreed to have "Tier 2" railroad locomotives in use by the year 2010.  The recommendation was based on a report prepared by FARRC VP Dennis Manning on locomotive emissions. The report discussed the problems with regulating the RRs since they are mostly under federal control. Some recommendations on fuel standards and on getting an MOU for the State and the Valley that would require only the RR's cleanest locomotives in their fleet to operate in the Valley. Further research/recommendations will be developed for retro-fitting and new engine technologies. The railroads have maintained that this will be difficult because the Central Valley is a "pass thru" area vs. an origin/termination point as in the case of the LA basin.

December 11, 2003 Valley Clean Air Now celebrated their first year anniversary in the form of a business meeting of their Board of Directors.  The event was held at the beautiful Riverview Ranch House and the business of the Board was followed by presentations of their activities from the original four V-CAN grant recepients, CART, Cast Metal Assn., Ken Maddy Institute and Conservation Tillage.  Board officers Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning attended and paid close attention in preperation of the time when FARRC will present their report of the progress made  from FARRC's V-CAN grant.

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November 21, 2003  Dennis Manning attended a meeting of the Regional Jobs Initiative program (RJI). The objective was to come up with process whereby those in the transportation logistics business sector could produce the recommendations need for the overall RJI program. Support to mount the effort was given by the logistics industry. FARRC will likely play a near term role by improving relations between the railroads and the logistics industry, and long term role with the rail consolidation.

 November 19,2003  The Fresno County Council of Government's held an air quality-land use-transportation forum at the new Fresno Convention Center that was attended by almost 200 people.     Details of the day long event will soon be available on the Valley - CAN activities page here on the FARRC website.

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November 14, 2003  Tom Bailey traveled to Hanford for the bimonthly meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee (SJVRC.) Bailey has been working closely with Fresno County Supervisor Bob Waterson and long-time rail advocate Larry Miller (both members of the SJVRC) on bringing the railroad locomotive pollution problems to the attention of the SJVRC in the hopes of getting Amtrak to cooperate in somehow reducing their locomotive emissions.  Bailey learned from a BNSF Executive in attendance that the current daily average of BNSF freight trains through Fresno is up from the previously reported number of thirty to a staggering forty-seven.

 November 13, 2003  The monthly meeting of Operation clean Air's Transportation Committee was attended by Tom Bailey where he presented a three page report prepared by FARRC VP Dennis Manning outlining FARRC recommendations for the committee's submission to OCA. The report discussed the problems with regulating the RRs since they are mostly under federal control. Some recommendations on fuel standards and on getting an MOU for the State and the Valley that would require only the RR's cleanest locomotives in their fleet to operate in the Valley. Further research/recommendations will be developed for retro-fitting and new engine technologies.
Both Bailey and Manning attended the monthly Greater Fresno County Chamber of Commerce and presented the agendized monthly update on Fresno rail consolidation and High-Speed Rail.  A special guest at the meeting was U.S Congressman Cal Dooley who gave the committee an update on activities in Washington.

October 30, 2003  FARRC President Tom Bailey was an invited guest to Harry Armstrong's 75th birthday Party.  Harry, four time Mayor of Clovis and current Clovis City council Member is a long time supporter of rail consolidation and friend of FARRC.  Bailey had the pleasure of doing Harry's website when he ran for re-election to the council last March.   There were 100+ people in attendance to help Harry ring in his 76th year.

October 29, 2003   At a recent COG meeting FARRC learned about efforts to create the West Coast Corridor System Coalition. (WCCSC) FARRC believes that our 4-year effort at promoting the consolidation of the BNSF railroad into the 16 mile long UP corridor fits perfectly with the aims and purposes of the proposed Coalition, especially in regards to the western region network’s need for coordinating and prioritizing projects to aid freight and goods movement. In an overall sense the logic of Fresno Rail Consolidation is quite similar to the Alameda Corridor East project. Fresno Rail Consolidation is approximately a $500 million project. It will affect all north south rail traffic through the Central Valley of California. FARRC V.P. Dennis Manning today sent a letter to Barbara Goodwin, Exec director of the Fresno County Council of Governments officially requesting that FARRC be able to participate in the coalition.  Ms Goodwin will present FARRC's request at WCCSC's November workshop.

October 9, 2003  FARRC continues to participate on the Transportation Sub-Committee of Operation Clean Air (OCA)  FARRC President, Tom Bailey attended the group's October meeting.  Although the group's primary focus is reducing pollution from diesel trucks, the group is also interested in a reduction from off-road diesel locomotives.  An editorial in the Fresno Bee that appeared on this date entitled "Choo-choos too" cites the Diesel locos for contributing 5.5% of the Central Valley's total NOx emissions.  FARRC participated in August in a hearing held by Senator Dean Florez on this very subject

FARRC board members Bailey and Manning attended the monthly Greater Fresno County Chamber of Commerce and presented the agendized monthly update on Fresno rail consolidation and High-Speed Rail.  Fresno city Manager Dan Hobbs presented the city's top 25 projects including rail consolidation.

October 3, 2003  Dennis Manning attended the second "Mediation" meeting of  establishing a new "Measure C." sponsored by Fresno County Supervisors'  Anderson and Arambula.   The group is hopeful of putting together a new version of the failed transportation measure that can be supported by all groups.  In all likelihood, it will be 2006 before a new effort to extend the existing Measure C that sunsets in 2007.

Oct 2, 2003  Bailey and Manning attended a breakfast hosted by State Center community College District (SCCCD) that featured Dan Walters, noted Fresno and Sacramento Bee columnist, Dan Walters.  As usual, Walters delivered an entertaining as well as  informative talk on the goings on in our State Capitol including the upcoming recall election. In a conversation with interim Chancellor, Dr. Thomas Crow, Bailey and Manning learned that SCCCD believes that ground will be broken in 2004 for an underpass on Weldon Avenue that will allow the 7,000+ students and teachers that currently have to currently cross the BNSF to and from their classes at Fresno City College. (FCC)  That's good news for the SCCCD who oversees FCC which is one of only four colleges in the US that have a major railroad running through their respective campuses.

Oct 1, 2003  Mary Williams of ValPrint met with Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning of FARRC to plan out the printing of an insert for FARRC's brochure highlighting the air quality benefits of consolidating Fresno's two major railroads into the same corridor thereby eliminating the estimated daily 90,000+ vehicles that sit idling for an average of 4 minutes each waiting for the 60+ trains that travel through Fresno.

Sept 12, 2003  FARRC VP, Dennis Manning attended the Regional Jobs Initiative Regional Jobs Over 400 of the Valley’s business and government leaders were present to explore ways of dealing with Fresno’s high rate of unemployment.  Manning was able to  point out that the rail consolidation project would bring almost 3000 high paying direct jobs to Fresno with as many as 8000 new indirect jobs.

Tom Bailey traveled to Sacramento for the bimonthly meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee (SJVRC.)   The committee works closely with Amtrak and CalTrans to improve service on the 12 daily San Amtrak Joaquin’s that stop in Fresno and provide service to the Bay Area, Sacramento to the north and to Bakersfield and Los Angeles (by bus) on the south.  FARRC has been quite active with the SJVRC for the past two years and received a most welcome endorsement from the organization last year.

Sept 18, 2003  Bill Von Felten, head of the Engineering Cluster for the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART)in Clovis met with FARRC's Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning to outline the collaborative effort between Valley Clean Air Now grant recipient’s FARRC and CART to monitor pollution from diesel engine locomotives that sit idling on sidings in Fresno waiting for other trains to pass.  Consolidation of the BNSF and the Union Pacific into one corridor with a separate set of double tracking for both would eliminate this procedure thereby contributing to cleaner air in the Valley.


Aug 15, 2003:  Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning, FARRC board members, paid a visit to Panagraph to talk to Shelly McKenry of Valley – Clean Air Now.  The purpose of the visit was a strategy session on ways that FARRC and Valley-CAN can further advance the “Move the Tracks and Clean the Air” partnership and reason for the V-CAN grant to FARRC.  A late fall event to enhance public awareness of the air quality benefits of Fresno rail consolidation that will be sponsored by FARRC is in the planning stages.

Aug 14, 2003  The Transportation Committee of Operation Clean Air  held it’s August meeting to finalize the various sub-committees.  FARRC board members Bailey and Manning were present and will function primarily with the Off-Road sub-committee. Bailey again reminded the group of the importance of bringing the railroads to the table.  He also updated the group on the results of Senator Dean Florez’s hearing held the previous week in Sacramento.  See Aug 6, 2003 below for details.  

The August meeting of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Review Committee received an update from Fresno County CAO Bart Bohn on the current status of the County’s budget.  Fresno City Manager Dan Hobbs then gave an update on projects within the city.  Rail consolidation is still on the “top 25” list.  Tom Bailey presented the weekly update on rail consolidation project.

August 6, 2003:  Once again it was Amtrak (the ONLY way to travel) to Sacramento for Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning of FARRC, this time for the purpose of participating in Senator Dean Florez’s hearing on "Pursuing an Agreement to Reduce Railroad Pollution emissions in the Central Valley.  FARRC President Tom Bailey testified at the end of the hearing during "Public comment" as to the importance of the Fresno rail consolidation project in cleaning up the Valley air quality.  More details are available in the "Events" section page under "Valley - CAN."  To go direct, "CLICK HERE."

August 4, 2003  Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning met with former Senator Jim Costa to receive an update on High-Speed Rail activities. Senator Costa will be the main organizer of the statewide campaign for passing the $9.9b HSR bond. According to the Senator, his track record on passing bond measures is 4 for 6 and he is very optimistic for the passage of his HSR bond in November of 2004.  Funding is well underway with the hopes of raising $10 Million for the campaign. The Senator feels rail consolidation in addition to being extremely important for the success of HSR in the Fresno area, will be able to play a role in the campaign, and is  We apprised him of our outreach capabilities.  He also feels that there is an outside chance for some funding for rail consolidation from the $9.5 Million that will be available for HSR support services.

July 14, 2003:  Board President Tom Bailey appeared with Beth Marney, Community Affairs Director for ABC30 on her weekly program on channel 30 called "Valley Focus." The topic was, of course, rail consolidation and how it would improve our Central Valley air quality.  The appearance by Bailey was a spinoff of a "townhall" meeting entitled "The Air We All Breath" that was held in May at City Hall.  The "live broadcast" hour long program was developed and promoted by Ms. Marney and was well attended and received by many Fresno community leaders and citizens.

July 12, 2003:  The Chambers of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hosted the July meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee (SJVRC.)  The committee is made up of two members each from the 12 counties that are stakeholders in the service provided by Amtrak known as the "San Joaquin's."  Six trains operate daily in each direction between Bakersfield and Northern California, all twelve trains stop in Fresno and are carrying increasingly more passengers each month.  the San Joaquin's have a big role in reducing the Valley's air pollution and Fresno rail consolidation will play a big part in the future success of the San Joaquin trains.

The Fresno contingent (made up of County Supervisor Bob Waterston Larry Miller, board member of the SJVRC, Fresno COG Rail Transportation Planner Clark Thompson, and FARRC board members Bailey and Manning) traveled to and from the meeting via Amtrak.  Highlight of the meeting of the agenda was a presentation by Rod Diridon from the California High-Speed rail Authority on the future plans of HSR and how it will work in conjunction with Amtrak through the Valley.  Diridon released information from a recent  statewide study/survey on Californians and the environment showing an overwhelming 65% in favor of high-speed rail.   A PDF file of the study can be read by clicking here

Fresno County Supervisor Bob Waterston as promised, brought forward his suggestion that the SJCRC urge the rail community to become involved in Operation Clean Air and explore ways of cleaning up the thousands of tons of pollutants spewed forth by diesel locomotive engines every year in the Central Valley.  The Supervisor pointed out that the kerosene burned by diesel locomotives is not far away from crude oil and that it contains little or none of the newer additives available for reducing particulate matter. Supervisor Waterston's suggestions were well received by the other SJCRC members.  

July 10, 2003:  Board President Tom Bailey attended a breakfast meeting of the Operation Clean Air Transportation committee. This was the second meeting of the group since it’s formation.  On addition to the normal membership primarily made up of Central Valley trucking firms, Fresno County Supervisor Bob Waterston (co-founder of OCA along with Mayor Alan Autry) was in attendance.  Tom interjected the idea that the group needed representation from the railroads as well as they are big contributors to the pollution problem.  Supervisor. Waterson then offered to bring up the idea to bring up the idea of bringing the railroads to the table at Friday’s meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee of which he is a member.

FARRC VP Dennis Manning attended the regular meeting of the DIG Infrastructure Committee. Work continues on questionnaire. We now have about 70 turned in. Rail Consolidation ranks third highest of 43 questions with an amazing 93% approval rate.

July 9, 2003:  Several topics of interest to FARRC were on the monthly meeting of the Fresno County Council of Government's Transportation Technical Committee meeting including a discussion of the remodeling of the old Santa Fe depot and the twenty year lease signed between the city of Fresno and Amtrak.  Also of interest to Tom bailey and Dennis Manning was the discussion involving the possible use of any extra funding in the current funding for a Major Information Study involving mass transportation for the future for Fresno County.

July 3, 2003:  Pardini's was the scene of another "Eggs and Issues" breakfast hosted by the Governmental Review Committee of the Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce and FARRC Board members Bailey and Manning were in attendance to hear Congressman Devin Nunes from California's 21st District talk about air and water issues facing the Central Valley.  Congressman Nunes is a strong supporter of rail consolidation and he worked closely with Congressman George Radanovich to include $20 Million in the reauthorization of TEA-21 for rail consolidation.

July 1, 2003:   Board members Bailey and Manning huddled with Councilmember Calhoun and his staff to learn the details of  Friday's defeat of Brian's motion described earlier.  Several ways for FARRC to precede were discussed in light of the defeat of Councilman Calhoun's budget motion.

June 27, 2003:  FARRC was dealt an unfortunate blow by five of the seven Fresno City Council Members as they voted down Councilmember Calhoun's motion for monies in the budget to fund an additional person in the Planning and Development Department who would spend 25% of his time on rail consolidation.  The only two affirmative votes came from Calhoun and District 3 Councilmember Sterling who had seconded the motion previously.

With local funding for rail consolidation through reauthorization of Measure "C" probably three years away, (Nov of 2006) the next step is clearly in the hands of the City of Fresno to keep the ball rolling.  FARRC has advanced the cause to the brink of it's ability as a non-profit organization. Council members who talk the talk but don't walk the walk when it comes to consolidating the BNSF and the UP rail lines through Fresno are running the risk of loosing future votes as FARRC's 7000 strong support list learn of their non-support.

June 27, 2003:  FARRC and Valley CAN today officially and jointly released the news of FARRC's $20,500 grant award for  the Move-The-Tracks and Clean-The-Air partnership to educate the Central Valley to the benefits of rail consolidation.  Both news releases can be read by clicking on the appropriate button below.

 
June 24, 2003:  Clark Thompson, Fresno COG Transportation Planner and advisor to FARRC along with Larry Miller from the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee and FARRC President Tom Bailey traveled to Oakland for the June meeting of the California High-Speed Rail Board.  There were no specific items involving rail consolidation in Fresno on the agenda but a preliminary presentation of the environmental draft study due out in August was presented and was of interest to FARRC because of potential HSR alignments through Fresno.

June 23, 2003:  FARRC President Tom Bailey sent Emails to all City Council Members encouraging their "Yes" vote for the additional person in the Planning and Development Department that will spend 25% of his time on rail consolidation.  Bailey included a spreadsheet showing the percentages of vehicle crossings of the UP and BNSF tracks within city limits by Council District.  Five of the seven council districts have 41 street level crossings involving the two railroads and the 600,000 daily vehicle crossings within city limits.  Here are the results by district.
                
                    Council District           Councilmember        Daily crossings               Pct.

June 19, 2003:  Operation Clean Air held it's first meeting of the newly formed "Transportation" committee and FARRC VP Dennis Manning was in attendance.  This committee will produce a 5 year plan of transportation related fixes to reduce air pollution. Rail Consolidation and transit related recommendations will be a part of the plan. If the “Air Quality Empowerment Zone” proposal has legs there could be around $200,000,000 for local air quality incentives. How much might filter down to rail consolidation or transit projects is unknown at this time. Long time FARRC supporter Felix Lopez along with a multi-talented group make up this committee. Felix will be a strong player with his knowledge of engine fuels, particularly diesel engines being a major polluter in the Valley.

Next up for a very busy Dennis Manning was the weekly Downtown Improvement Group (DIG) Infrastructure Committee meeting attended by FARRC Board members Saundra King (Chair) and Dennis Manning.  Like FARRC, DIG is seeking action from the City, especially the Mayor, to endorse DIG’s Downtown Vision Plan. To put more credibility into the plan a questionnaire will be sent to several hundred Fresnan’s about their opinions re downtown, i.e... visiting, parking, traffic, development, etc.  Anyone interested in taking the survey should contact FARRC VP Dennis Manning at dennis@movethetracks.org

The quarterly meeting (luncheon) of the Fresno Non-profit Council (NPC) was attending by Bailey and Manning where Carol Whiteside, head of the Great Valley Center was the featured speaker. FARRC has been a member of this organization since it's formulation last year.

June 18, 2003:  District 3 Councilwoman Cynthia Sterling's office was the location of a meeting with FARRC Board members Bailey and Manning.  the purpose for the meeting was to update Councilmember Sterling on rail consolidation.  FARRC last met with Ms. Sterling just prior to her taking office in January.  Her district is a huge stakeholder as it hosts 40% of all grade crossings within Fresno.  Councilmember Sterling again reiterated her strong support and is looking forward to working on rail consolidation.

June 17, 2003:  The weekly meeting of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors had agendized the COG Rail Committee HSR recommendations for discussion to arrive at a decision of support from Fresno County's point of view.  FARRC President Tom Bailey spoke during the public input portion to clarify the Fresno COG Rail Committee's (Bailey chairs this committee) original recommendations and also to make sure that FARRC's position was understood.

This was also the day of the City of Fresno's budget hearings at the weekly Council meeting.  FARRC Board members Tom Bailey, Dennis Manning, Annie Lokrantz and Ben Camarena were present to hear Brian Calhoun make the motion for monies in the budget for an Administrative Assistant to Nick Yovino, director of Planning and Development to assist with newly assigned Housing and Code Enforcement responsibilities providing that the person hired spend at least ¼ of his time working on rail consolidation on behalf of the City.  Bailey, Manning and Lokrantz all spoke outlining the importance of rail consolidation during the public input portion.  the motion was then seconded by District 3 Councilwoman Cynthia Sterling.  The vote was scheduled for a later session.

June 12, 2003:  FARRC VP Dennis Manning attended an informative meeting brought together by the Monorail Group (F.A.S.T.). It was the kickoff of the Calpoly Feasiblity Study. A wide ranging discussion took place about Fresno’s transportation future among participants that included 3 Calpoly reps, Monorail Group, Caltrans, FAX, COG, Business Council, Rail Consolidation, Downtown Improvement Group, and Harbison Engineering.  One thing universally agreed on was the need for heightened interagency cooperation in the transportation and land use planning areas. Much too much duplication of effort going on, not enough communication. 

June 12, 2003:   Tom Bailey attended the monthly meeting of the Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce Governmental Review Committee.  District 7 Councilman Henry T. Perea gave the group an update on his activities since taking over the District on Jan 1, 2003.  Bailey informed the group during the scheduled rail consolidation update part of the agenda of the Valley CAN grant and of FARRC's plans to implement the grant.

June 11, 2003:   A meeting with Fresno Councilman Brian Calhoun and his Council Assistant, Ann Kloose proved to be very interesting.  Bailey and Manning provided an update on recent developments including the Valley-CAN grant and discussion followed on ways to maximize the grant.  Ann Kloose provided an update of the Mayor's Rail Consolidation Task Force and plans of bringing California PUC President to Fresno to discuss rail issues, safety and consolidation. Current plans are to have a public event sometime in the fall, possibly a "Town Hall" type meeting.   Councilman Calhoun then shared his plans of motioning at the 6/17/03 council meeting to include monies in the budget for an Administrative Assistant to Nick Yovino, director of Planning and Development to assist with newly assigned Housing and Code Enforcement responsibilities providing that the person hired spend at least ¼ of his time working on rail consolidation on behalf of the City.  This would mean for the first time in 85 years, an actual person within City Hall spending a major amount of time and energy working on consolidation.  Councilman Calhoun suggested that FARRC and as many interested people as possible attend the Council meeting and be prepared to speak on the importance of the City advancing rail consolidation to the next level. Council Assistant Ann Kloose advised us that the paperwork had been complete and a $1000 contribution to FARRC was forthcoming from Councilman Calhoun's year ending operational budget. 

June 3, 2003:   One of the first receipiants of a grant from Valley Clean Air Now was the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART.)  In March CART received a $100K grant from Valley-CAN to do research on our poor Central Valley air.  The grant will allow CART to actually purchase equipment to monitor and build a data base on air quality problems.

FARRC Vice President Dennis Manning and President Tom Bailey met with Tara Edde Guentz, VP of Development for CART and two of CART's Lab Directors, Monica Au and Bill Von Felten to discuss ways of utilizing CART's abilities to assist FARRC/Valley-CAN partnership in building a data base on railroad diesel locomotive engine pollutants created by idling train engines waiting on various Fresno sidings for other trains to pass, a situation that consolidation will eliminate.
 
May 29, 2003:   FARRC Board President, Tom Bailey attended ABC Channel 30's Town Hall Meeting entitled "The Air We Breath."  The event was arranged by ABC 30's Director of Community Affairs, Beth Marney who had earlier extended a personal invite to FARRC because of the obvious air quality link that consolidation presents.  The one-hour program attended by local politicians and community leaders explored the air pollution origins of the Central San Joaquin Valley and how we can solve the problem. Discussion included how the health issues that arise from the Valley's air quality create a serious effect on our school age children, as well as on the elderly and frail.

May 22, 2003:   Rail Consolidation was discussed in conjunction with High-Speed Rail at the monthly Fresno COG Board of Directors meeting.  The particular item of discussion involving FARRC was the COG Rail Committee (Chaired by FARRC President Tom Bailey) recommendations regarding the corridor alignment of HSR through Fresno County.  In particular, Fresno County Supervisor Juan Arambula requested to know FARRC's position with the HSR alignment through Fresno.  Bailey advised that our position is (as it has always been) a joint alignment along the UP corridor with a downtown multi-modal depot.  Our position regarding HSR trains that do not stop in Fresno is one of support for whatever decision is made by the City and County.

May 21, 2003:   In conjunction with the 2003 Tranny Awards Presentation, FARRC President Tom Bailey and V.P. Dennis Manning traveled via Amtrak to Sacramento and used the afternoon to pay calls on the offices of Central Valley Legislates and attend the afternoon session of the California Transportation Commission.  Meetings were held with Assemblyman Steve Samuelian and Senator Dean Florez's Capitol director, Michael Rubio for the purpose of updating both on FARRC's partnership with Valley-CAN to move the tracks and clean the air.

The Sacramento Ballroom was the scene of the fourteenth annual "Tranny Banquet hosted by the California Transportation Foundation who presented it's 2002 Citizen of the Year award (Tranny) posthumously  to John Ferdinandi Jr.. for his exemplary work on behalf of Fresno rail consolidation and other transportation issues.   John's wife of 50 years, Sally Ferdinandi, graciously accepted the award on John's behalf.  Also present from Fresno at the ceremony were two of John's daughters, Nancy Wathen of Madera and Mary Smith of Fresno.  The "Friends of John Ferdinandi Jr." table was completed with the presence of Fresno City Councilman Brian Calhoun, Barbara Goodwin, Exec Dir of the Fresno Council of Governments, Clark Thompson also of Fresno COG, Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning of FARRC.  The event afforded excellent opportunities to discuss rail consolidation with California secretary of Transportation Maria Contreras-Suite and CTC Secretary John Ferrara.  Please scroll down to view photos of the event.  Descriptions of the photos can be seen by viewing the enlarged version."

 May 15, 2003:  A news conference at City Hall featuring eight automobiles powered by fuel cells was attended by Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning.  After the conference, participants caravanned to Roeding Park where anyone interested could ride in one of the new technology vehicles.  Most people feel that fuel cell technology is the transportation way of the future.

May 14, 2003: The Valley-CAN Clean Air Now grant program has awarded $20,500 to Fresno Area Residents for Rail Consolidation for the 2003 MOVE-THE-TRACKS & CLEAN-THE-AIR PARTNERSHIP.  Through this partnership, FARRC and Valley-CAN join forces to improve public awareness about the air quality benefits of Fresno’s proposed Rail Consolidation Project.

Consolidation of the BNSF tracks along side of the existing UP tracks in a single corridor is not a short term band-aid. Generations to come will gain cleaner air, improved public safety and less traffic congestion by moving the tracks and eliminating scores of at-grade rail crossings. The Valley-CAN grant allows FARRC to continue and expand its role as the educational source to build public support for this $500 million Rail Consolidation public works project.  Stay tuned to this website.  A Valley-CAN page will be added in the next few days outlining the Valley-CAN grant, it's plans and objectives.  If you would like to participate, email us now at valley-can@movethetracks.org.

 May 9, 2003: Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning traveled to Bakersfield for the May meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee (SJVRC) meeting held in the Bakersfield Convention Center.  The advisory committee chaired by Los Angeles County Supervisor Rick Norris of Palmdale honored FARRC last November with a resolution supporting the Fresno Rail Consolidation project.

 April 30, 2003: The first meeting of Mayor Alan Autry's Rail Consolidation Task Force was held since John Ferdinandi's passing in January.  the meeting was chaired by City Councilman and Task Force member Brian Calhoun.  Tom Bailey, FARRC President gave the group an update on FARRC's activities including the loss of the balance of State funds due to the Governor's budget crises.  Bailey and FARRC VP Dennis Manning also gave the Task Force an update on their February trip to Washington D.C.

 April 25, 2003: FARRC President Tom Bailey was elected Chairman of the Fresno County COG Rail Committee at it's quarterly meeting.  This committee advises Fresno COG about rail related activities and issues in Fresno County.  The committee took up issues at the meeting regarding adequate parking for the remodeling of the BNSF Amtrak Station in Fresno and Fresno County wide issues with California High-Speed Rail with relation to their routing and corridor alignment through Fresno County.  A decision by the California HSR Authority will be made at their August meeting.

 April 24, 2003 The Fresno Chamber of Commerce's Governmental Review Committee held an "Eggs and Issues" breakfast at Pardini's featuring Congressman Cal Dooley.  Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning were in attendance and spoke with the Congressman about rail consolidation.  A long supporter of the project, Congressman Dooley believes that  Fresno has an excellent chance of receiving all or a portion of the $20 Million it requested for an engineering/EIR study about rail consolidation.  The funding request was part of the City of Fresno's requests presented by local Congressman for the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act know as T3.

 April 23, 2003: Operation Clean Air held a one day seminar at the Fresno Convention Center.  The meeting was hosted by Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and Supervisor Bob Waterson of Fresno County while  former Fresno Mayor Dan Whitehurst acted as MC.  FARRC Board Members Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning attended the session and had many opportunities to discuss the enormous benefits of rail consolidation to our bad air quality with OCA participants.

 March 18, 2003:  In addition to it's regular business, FARRC elected officers for 2003 at the monthly meeting for March as called for by FARRC bylaws.  The FARRC Board of Directors elected Tom Bailey as President, Dennis Manning as Vice President, Melissa Manning as Secretary and Annie Lokrantz was elected CFO/Treasurer.  In addition to the election of officers, Board President Tom bailey and V.P Dennis Manning briefed the FARRC board members on their recent trip to Washington D.C.

  March 14, 2003:  The March meeting of the San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee was held in Fresno.  Dennis Manning and Tom Bailey were in attendance to hear Senator Dean Florez discuss his opposition to Gov. Davis's plans to include California High-Speed Rail under the jurisdiction of CalTrans

March 14, 2003:  FARRC President Tom Bailey attended the monthly meeting of the Greater Area Fresno Chamber of Commerce's Governmental Review Committee and presented a rail consolidation update that included FARRC's trip to Washington D.C. where Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning met with staff from several of the Central Valley's Congressional leaders as well as the staff of Senator Diane Feinstein.
 
March 7, 2003:  The Greater Area Fresno Chamber of Commerce held a Seminar on Air & Water.  FARRC Members Bailey and Manning were in attendance to learn of ways that Fresno Rail Consolidation can assist in solving our air problems.

March 6, 2003:  The Downtown Club was the location for a luncheon meeting for FARRC Board members Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning with Fresno Councilmember Brian Calhoun and his staff to discuss the future of FARRC, the Mayor's Rail consolidation Task Force and Fresno Rail Consolidation in general.

February 22 - 27, 2003:  The trip to Washington D.C. long planned by John Ferdinandi was finally completed by FARRC Board Members, Tom Bailey.  The original ground work for the trip had been done in late November and December by Mr Ferdinandi in cooperation with Damon Nelson, Legislative Assistant to Congressman George Radanovich.  After Mr. Nelson accepted a position with newly elected Congressman Devon Nunes in a new Central Valley congressional district, Maura Archambault took the reins and worked with Bailey and Manning to complete the itinerary for what was to be a very productive visit to the Nations Capitol.  During the week meetings were held with various Central Valley Congressional representatives for the purpose of educating them on rail consolidation as preparations were being made to once again request $20 Million in federal appropriations funding for a Fresno Rail Consolidation environmental EIR/EIS study and preliminary engineering and design details.  During the week meetings were held (listed in order of visits) with:

February 21, 2003:   FARRC VP Dennis Manning attend the monthly meeting for February of the "Highway 99 Beautification Committee.  FARRC is involved with this committee because of the planned Highway 99 and Shaw Ave Interchange it's involvement of the consolidated rail corridor.

 February 13, 2003:   The monthly meeting of the Greater Area Fresno Chamber of Commerce was held at the C of C offices.  A "Moment of Silence" was called for by Committee Chairman Ken Maul in remembrance of John Ferdinandi's passing.  FARRC VP, Tom Bailey presented a rail consolidation update including funding woes due to the loss of State funding and Bailey also revealed details of FARRCs planned trip to Washington D.C.

 January 31, 2003:   Over 400 people filled the chapel at Our Lady of Victory on West Ave in Fresno to celebrate the life of John Ferdinandi Jr. with a mass conducted by The Rev. Msgr. John Moreton.  Those in attendance were treated at the conclusion of a beautiful service to a rousing special rendition of "I've Been Working on the Railroad" sung by Anne Sullivan Whitehurst.  All guests were invited to a buffet luncheon served in the church reception hall.  John was laid to rest later that afternoon in a private ceremony.

January 29, 2003:   The annual Business Forecast Breakfast" was held at the Radisson and was attend by FARRC Board Members.  Attendees were treated to a presentation by long time friend of FARRC, Felix Lopez of Chevron.  Felix's topic  was alternative fuels on the horizon.

January 28, 2003:   Tom Bailey and Dennis Manning traveled to Sacramento on Amtrak to attend a meeting arranged by Assemblyman Steve Samuelian with officials of Calttrans to discuss the loss of the remaining $40, 000 of State funding from the Genera Fund arranged for by Assemblyman Mike Briggs in 2001.  FARRC was blind-sided in December with a letter sent to Fresno COG from Warren Weber, Rail Division Chief of Caltrans informing COG and FARRC that funding was being cut because we were a "non essential" contract because of the failure of Measure C and, in line with a Governor Davis Executive Order, the remaining funds were no longer available.  Caltrans director Jeff Morales was unable to attend the meeting so he sent Warren Webber.  Suffice to say that nothing was accomplished but FARRC is deeply indebted to Assemblyman Samuelian for arranging the meeting.  The 29th District Assemblyman also read a special tribute to John before the Assembly as Bailey and Manning watched from the Assembly gallery.

  January 26, 2003:   John Ferdinandi Jr. lost his battle with Cancer today, he passed away at his home in Fresno in the early evening hours.  His four daughters, son and wife were present.   John was our friend, our leader, and our mentor, he will be missed so very much. 

 January 7, 2003:   FARRC President John Ferdinandi Jr. made what was to be his last presentation about his beloved Fresno Rail Consolidation project.  The Casablanca was the location for the weekly meeting of the Metropolitan Fresno Rotary Club on a visit arranged by Metro Rotarian Jess Saldana and John, as always was eloquent.  Long time FARRC supporters and friends, Deryl Bear (Fresno Area Sky Train) and Dr. Jackie Ryle (hostess of City in Action) were in attendance as John quipped that either or both could do his presentation because of their familiarity and support for the project.