{"id":3307,"date":"2009-03-10T11:19:38","date_gmt":"2009-03-10T15:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=3307"},"modified":"2020-12-25T19:36:24","modified_gmt":"2020-12-26T00:36:24","slug":"rail-key-to-addressing-travel-energy-worries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2009\/03\/10\/rail-key-to-addressing-travel-energy-worries\/","title":{"rendered":"Rail key to addressing travel, energy worries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center\">ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder<\/p>\n<p>Written by Tom Hayhurst and Geoff Paddock:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association is a new organization dedicated to bringing rejuvenated passenger rail service to Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana. The organization believes that our transportation system should include rail, highway and air modalities. Benefits to the citizens of northeast Indiana will include a stronger economy, enhanced security and a cleaner environment.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The mission of NIPRA is to work with local, state and federal elected and appointed officials, as well as business leaders in this region, to promote the return of passenger rail service to Fort Wayne. This service would be in addition to the train service that currently connects through Waterloo. NIPRA hopes to showcase the refurbished Baker Street Train Station and the growing citizen support that has been generated for passenger train service in and out of our city.<\/p>\n<p>NIPRA continues to believe that Indiana should work with surrounding states to support the Midwest rail initiative. The goal of that initiative is to eventually link nine Midwestern states with a modern passenger rail network that will provide substantial economic benefits for Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana. It is estimated some 4,500 full-time permanent jobs could be generated in Indiana with the completion of a high-speed rail network.<\/p>\n<p>NIPRA seeks to convince government and business leaders in the region that supporting the reinstitution of passenger rail service in Fort Wayne will benefit our city and state in many ways. We point to some obvious facts with our current transportation system.<\/p>\n<p>Our highways are becoming gridlocked. Many of our nation&#8217;s airports are jammed with travelers and cannot adequately provide efficient air travel to many destinations. Passenger trains can provide efficient and timely travel, particularly for trips from 100 to 300 miles in length.<\/p>\n<p>While gasoline prices have fallen since last summer, prices could easily climb to the $4 per gallon mark again, and fossil fuels are the major cause of air pollution. Rail transportation uses about a tenth of the fuel per passenger mile, when comparing a train with 400 passengers with an automobile carrying one passenger.<\/p>\n<p>Shifting to more passenger rail transport will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and bring us closer to the eventual goal of energy independence.<\/p>\n<p>In the event airplanes are grounded by weather or a national emergency, train travel would provide an alternative means of moving stranded passengers throughout the country.<\/p>\n<p>NIPRA believes there is strong support in Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana for the return of enhanced passenger rail service through the Baker Street Station. Recent data indicate that reviving a passenger rail line from Fort Wayne to Chicago and Cleveland or Columbus, Ohio, would generate enough passengers to make it financially feasible. Building an enhanced passenger rail system would create thousands of permanent jobs in Indiana. Steel needed to produce or replace rail lines could be manufactured at Steel Dynamics Inc., creating additional economic activity in Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana.<\/p>\n<p>The economic recovery legislation signed by President Obama on Feb. 17 appropriates $9.3 billion to further this cause.<\/p>\n<p>Some $8 billion has been appropriated for capital assistance for high-speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail service. This means there are now dollars available for states to advance the goal of new intercity rail systems across the country. Gov. Mitch Daniels and state legislators must work to see Indiana is included in this system. It is imperative the state develop a rail plan to designate where funds are to be spent to improve and add Amtrak service, and Fort Wayne must be included in this plan.<\/p>\n<p>The Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association hopes to involve the public to convince our elected officials, and particularly our state and national legislators, to support investment to restore passenger rail service to our region. To that end, we are sponsoring a public rally, and we have invited national leaders in passenger and rail development. City and state leaders are also invited.<\/p>\n<p>This rally is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. April 3 at the Baker Street Train Station, 221 W. Baker St. We look forward to working together to restore this most important mode of transportation and to create jobs and improve our local economy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Related AFW Post and video<\/strong>:<br \/>\n<a rel=\"bookmark\" href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2009\/03\/05\/rally-for-rail-432009\/\">Rally for Rail &#8211; 4\/3\/2009<\/a> &#8211; <em>5th March 2009<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Related Images:<\/h3><div class=\"ngg-related-gallery\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/blog-headers\/2009_07_10_header.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"The July 9, 2009, NIPRA meeting at the Baker Street Train Station.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"3361\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/blog-headers\/2009_07_10_header.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/blog-headers\/thumbs\/thumbs_2009_07_10_header.jpg\" data-title=\"2009\/07\/10 - NIPRA meeting\" data-description=\"The July 9, 2009, NIPRA meeting at the Baker Street Train Station.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2009\/07\/10 - NIPRA meeting\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2009\/07\/10 - NIPRA meeting\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"3361\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/blog-headers\/thumbs\/thumbs_2009_07_10_header.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/145982.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Geoff Paddock talks with reporters after filing for the Fort Wayne City Council&#039;s 5th District seat on Feburary 11, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"5887\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/145982.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_145982.jpg\" data-title=\"Geoff Paddock\" data-description=\"Geoff Paddock talks with reporters after filing for the Fort Wayne City Council&#039;s 5th District seat on Feburary 11, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"5887\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_145982.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148564.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Democrat candidates Geoff Paddock, Dennis Ferguson and Republican Ben Hall during the City Council 5th District Debate on April 27, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6128\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148564.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148564.jpg\" data-title=\"5DD: Geoff Paddock, Dennis Ferguson and Ben Hall\" data-description=\"Democrat candidates Geoff Paddock, Dennis Ferguson and Republican Ben Hall during the City Council 5th District Debate on April 27, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"5DD: Geoff Paddock, Dennis Ferguson and Ben Hall\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"5DD: Geoff Paddock, Dennis Ferguson and Ben Hall\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6128\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148564.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148571.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Republican Candidate Ben Hall, moderator Adrienne Maurer and Democrat candidates Geoff Paddock and Dennis Ferguson after the City Council 5th District Debate on April 27, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6129\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/148571.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148571.jpg\" data-title=\"5DD: Ben Hall, Adrienne Maurer, Geoff Paddock and Dennis Ferguson\" data-description=\"Republican Candidate Ben Hall, moderator Adrienne Maurer and Democrat candidates Geoff Paddock and Dennis Ferguson after the City Council 5th District Debate on April 27, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"5DD: Ben Hall, Adrienne Maurer, Geoff Paddock and Dennis Ferguson\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"5DD: Ben Hall, Adrienne Maurer, Geoff Paddock and Dennis Ferguson\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6129\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_148571.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/151542.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Democrat challenger Geoff Paddock for the City Council 4th District seat at the &#039;YLNI the Vote&#039; Candidate forum held September 15, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6239\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/151542.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_151542.jpg\" data-title=\"YLNI the Vote: Geoff Paddock\" data-description=\"Democrat challenger Geoff Paddock for the City Council 4th District seat at the &#039;YLNI the Vote&#039; Candidate forum held September 15, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"YLNI the Vote: Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"YLNI the Vote: Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6239\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_151542.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/153475.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Candidate for the Fort Wayne City Council&#039;s 5th District seat, Geoff Paddock, at the former Humpty Dumpty site at Fairfield and Packard Avenues on November 2, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6265\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/153475.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_153475.jpg\" data-title=\"Geoff Paddock\" data-description=\"Candidate for the Fort Wayne City Council&#039;s 5th District seat, Geoff Paddock, at the former Humpty Dumpty site at Fairfield and Packard Avenues on November 2, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6265\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_153475.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/153477.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Candidate for the Fort Wayne City Council&#039;s 5th District seat, Geoff Paddock, at the former Humpty Dumpty site at Fairfield and Packard Avenues on November 2, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6266\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/153477.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_153477.jpg\" data-title=\"Geoff Paddock\" data-description=\"Candidate for the Fort Wayne City Council&#039;s 5th District seat, Geoff Paddock, at the former Humpty Dumpty site at Fairfield and Packard Avenues on November 2, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6266\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-elections\/thumbs\/thumbs_153477.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-germanfest\/149123.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Geoff Paddock at the Germanfest Bier Tent opening on June 8, 2011.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6318\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-germanfest\/149123.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_149123.jpg\" data-title=\"Geoff Paddock at the Germanfest Bier Tent opening\" data-description=\"Geoff Paddock at the Germanfest Bier Tent opening on June 8, 2011.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Geoff Paddock at the Germanfest Bier Tent opening\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Geoff Paddock at the Germanfest Bier Tent opening\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6318\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2011-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_149123.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154680.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6349\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154680.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154680.jpg\" data-title=\"2012 Germanfest opening ceremony\" data-description=\"Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"2012 Germanfest opening ceremony\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"2012 Germanfest opening ceremony\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6349\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154680.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154693.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"City of Fort Wayne Deputy Mayor Mark Becker and Headwaters Park Alliance Executive Director Geoff Paddock at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6351\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154693.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154693.jpg\" data-title=\"Deputy Mayor Mark Becker and Geoff Paddock\" data-description=\"City of Fort Wayne Deputy Mayor Mark Becker and Headwaters Park Alliance Executive Director Geoff Paddock at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Deputy Mayor Mark Becker and Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Deputy Mayor Mark Becker and Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6351\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154693.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154726.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Headwaters Park Alliance Executive Director Geoff Paddock at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6355\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154726.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154726.jpg\" data-title=\"Geoff Paddock\" data-description=\"Headwaters Park Alliance Executive Director Geoff Paddock at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Geoff Paddock\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6355\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154726.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154760.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Geoff Paddock assists Deputy Mayor Mark Becker in tapping the first keg while Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger watches at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6359\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154760.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154760.jpg\" data-title=\"Tapping the keg\" data-description=\"Geoff Paddock assists Deputy Mayor Mark Becker in tapping the first keg while Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger watches at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Tapping the keg\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Tapping the keg\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6359\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154760.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154767.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Geoff Paddock assists Deputy Mayor Mark Becker in tapping the first keg while Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger watches at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154767.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154767.jpg\" data-title=\"Tapping the keg\" data-description=\"Geoff Paddock assists Deputy Mayor Mark Becker in tapping the first keg while Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger watches at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Tapping the keg\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Tapping the keg\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6360\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154767.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154795.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Geoff Paddock assists John and Deputy Mayor Mark Becker in tapping the first keg while Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger watches at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6361\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154795.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154795.jpg\" data-title=\"Tapping the keg\" data-description=\"Geoff Paddock assists John and Deputy Mayor Mark Becker in tapping the first keg while Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger watches at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Tapping the keg\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Tapping the keg\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6361\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154795.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154797.jpg\"\n\t\t\ttitle=\"Geoff Paddock assists John and Deputy Mayor Mark Becker in tapping the first keg while Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger watches at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\"\n\t\t\tclass='thickbox' rel='6d007f8f746f7c4e5a2437aa87f96846' data-image-id=\"6362\" data-src=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/154797.jpg\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154797.jpg\" data-title=\"Tapping the keg\" data-description=\"Geoff Paddock assists John and Deputy Mayor Mark Becker in tapping the first keg while Germanfest President Ken Scheibenberger watches at the 2012 Germanfest opening ceremony for the Bier Tent on June 6, 2012.\">\n\t\t\t<img title=\"Tapping the keg\"\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Tapping the keg\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-image-id=\"6362\"\n\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/wp-content\/gallery\/2012-germanfest\/thumbs\/thumbs_154797.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Tom Hayhurst and Geoff Paddock: The Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association is a new organization dedicated to bringing rejuvenated passenger rail service to Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana. The organization believes that our transportation system should include rail, highway and air modalities. Benefits to the citizens of northeast Indiana will include a stronger [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1118,9],"tags":[21750,1100,446],"class_list":["post-3307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-midwest-connect-plan-rail-network","category-miscellaneous","tag-fort-wayne-city-councilman-geoff-paddock","tag-nipra-northeast-indiana-passenger-rail-association","tag-tom-hayhurst"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Rail key to addressing travel, energy worries - AroundFortWayne<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Written by Tom Hayhurst and Geoff Paddock: The Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association is a new organization dedicated to bringing rejuvenated\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2009\/03\/10\/rail-key-to-addressing-travel-energy-worries\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rail key to addressing travel, energy worries - 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