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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I think it is a broader issue because we are constantly seeing public transportation diminished. When I first moved to Columbia, there were plenty of buses running between Kansas City and St. Louis, and all of them stopped here. There was always a space on the bus for a Columbian. If in St. Louis they saw that they had a full bus, they sent a second one. The same was true from Kansas City. I know from personal experience that you can go buy a ticket, be at the bus station ahead of time, and end up getting no ride. If the buses full when it leaves St. Louis, and if no one gets off, there is no place for you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There used to be a way for me to get from Columbia to Jefferson City. The same was true for Springfield. If I want to use public transportation to get to Jefferson City, I must first go to St. Louis on the bus and then transfer to a train. This is for a location that is forty-five minutes from me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What this means for blind people is that if you can afford to hire somebody, you can still travel in the state. If you can't afford to hire them, you are city bound. How ridiculous it is to realize that I can go to Baltimore Maryland easier than I can go to Springfield. What about Warrensburg? Good luck? What about Kirksville? The same. We keep decrying the use of personal vehicles for so much of the travel that gets done, but we are making no progress whatsoever in terms of real public transportation. A lot of us hope for autonomous vehicles because, no matter how good the case, Americans want to travel in their own vehicles or at least in the privacy of a vehicle. Public transportation that makes sense in the East just isn't working here, and when it doesn't work, we are the ones who pay the price in terms of our inability to get around. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Anyone with innovative ideas is welcome to chime in here. As much as we care, we simply aren't making the difference we want to make. I speak, of course, for myself but as a part of an organization that would like to do a whole lot better and tackling a big problem.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry Christmas to all of you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gary<o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Roger Crome via NFBMO<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, December 22, 2021 7:19 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Missouri Mailing List <nfbmo@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Roger Crome <r_crome1@msn.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFBMO] FW: Fw: Amtrak<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>It is an issue because those that live on the eastern side of the state should also have the option to make a run from St. Louis to Kansas City and back to St. Louis in the same day.<span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On Dec 22, 2021, at 3:56 AM, Fred Olver via NFBMO <<a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">nfbmo@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'></span> I’m sorry, I don’t understand why this is a problem? I read an article about this very item a couple of weeks ago I believe in the St. Louis Post dispatch. One will still be able to get from Kansas City to St. Louis and St. Louis back to Kansas City in the same day Fred Olver<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>On Dec 21, 2021, at 11:21 PM, Shelia Wright via NFBMO <<a href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">nfbmo@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'></span> <span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Dear Federation Members and Friends,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>I have learned today that as of January 1, 2022, Amtrak is going to be cut to one train again unless the Governor will designate $2.5 million from Missouri’s Rescue Fund to keep the second train running. It seems that the St. Louis morning train heading west and its return trip in the afternoon from Kansas City to St. Louis is the train that is scheduled to be discontinued. This means that one day trips via train will not be feasible if you live on the east side of the state. I believe it is in our best interest for us as an organization to contact the Governor advocating for this important transportation service that we depend on so often. To be maintained.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>I will be sending a letter from the NFB of Missouri tomorrow but ask each of you to contact the Governor’s office to express your opinion. You will recall that the money appropriated by the legislature was not enough to keep the train running all year because the State had allowed a lot of debt to accumulate that had to be paid. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>I am forwarding a message I received from Liz Gibbons, a City Council Member in Kirkwood. Her email also includes an attachment which is very informative letter cent to the Governor on behalf of officials from the various cities along the Amtrak River Runner corridor.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Please do what you can to help secure funding for Amtrak for the remainder of the current fiscal year. Thanks for giving this a little of your attention during the next few days.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Peace and Comfort,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Shelia</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Liz Gibbons [<a href="mailto:lizg651@gmail.com">mailto:lizg651@gmail.com</a>] <br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 21, 2021 6:13 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:SBWright95@gmail.com">SBWright95@gmail.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Fwd: Fw: Amtrak</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div id="m_5059811369838847550divtagdefaultwrapper"><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Hello again Sheila - This is the email I sent to my consituents. Thanks for your help.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Liz </span><o:p></o:p></p><div id="m_5059811369838847550divRplyFwdMsg"><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> Elizabeth W. Gibbons<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, December 13, 2021 8:28 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:lizg651@gmail.com" target="_blank">lizg651@gmail.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> re: Amtrak</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><div id="m_5059811369838847550divtagdefaultwrapper"><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Dear Friends;</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121'> Trains are an important part of Kirkwood! We have a lot of visitors arriving and departing via the Missouri River Runner </span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Amtrak from our historic train station every </span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121'>day; students going to Lincoln University or Central MO State, legislators and constituents visiting Jefferson City or revelers to Herman for Maifest or Oktoberfest. </span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> However, we are in jeopardy of losing one of the two daily trains making it impossible to get to these places and back on the same day. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121'> Starting Jan 1, 2022, because the Missouri legislature did not fully fund the Missouri River Runner, Amtrak will be removing the morning train. Travelers will only have the evening train to travel west to KC and the other stations along the line. The attached letter, from all the Chamber of Commerce organizations with train stops along the River Runner line, </span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>asks Governor Parson to use $2.5 million of the American Rescue Plan funds to fill the funding gap that is causing the train cancelation. The attached letter explains this situation in more detail. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> It is a strong request but will be made more powerful if the Governor hears from citizens asking him to save the second train. Please help by sending an email to the Gov. at <a href="https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.mo.gov%2Fcontact-us&data=04%7C01%7C%7Ca96ae579826e4d40e1e108d9c5314986%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637757637953056737%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=7%2FKBmw2wJCLkyxH6I6M0g14VE0TiPOyQe1oT7TAIVfY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us</a> asking him to support the additional funding. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> Kirkwood is a railroad town and has been since the beginning. We have dozens of volunteers manning the station and helping thousands of people each year who get on and off the train in our town. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> Thank you for your interest in Kirkwood and making our community the best it can be! Saving this second train brings more opportunity and growth to our town, I thank you! </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Liz </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>314-560-3303</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#3D85C6;background:white'>Liz Gibbons </span></strong><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>314-560-3303<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><MO ARPA Request final 2.pdf><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>_______________________________________________<br>NFBMO mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFBMO@nfbnet.org">NFBMO@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBMO:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/fredolver%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/fredolver%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>_______________________________________________<br>NFBMO mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFBMO@nfbnet.org">NFBMO@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFBMO:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/r_crome1%40msn.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/r_crome1%40msn.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote></div></body></html>