[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E284-E285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA INTERMODAL TERMINAL FUNDING

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                           HON. FRANK MASCARA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 2002

  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I submit to the Record a letter I have sent 
to Secretary Norman Mineta of the U.S. Department of Transportation. My 
letter is to clarify to the D.O.T. the intended use of an earmark I 
requested in TEA 21 for an intermodal transportation terminal on the 
campus of California University of Pennsylvania. I requested that 
earmark in order to fund an intermodal facility that would help connect 
the main campus to the new campus over one mile away. Now, the campus 
has an exciting opportunity to create a low speed magnetic levitation 
system connection between the two campuses and this intermodal facility 
would be a vital part of the system.

                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, March 6, 2002.
     Hon. Norman Mineta,
     Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Mineta: I write to clarify the intended use 
     of funding I have obtained for an important project in my 
     district. Over the years I have been working with California 
     University of Pennsylvania officials to acquire funding for a 
     much needed intermodal facility on the campus. Consequently, 
     I have secured a $1 million TEA-21 earmark and other related 
     earmarks for the University to construct an intermodal 
     facility/transportation improvement project.
       My intent for funding the intermodal facility was to 
     support a people-mover system to connect the main university 
     campus to the new auxiliary campus in the Roadman Park

[[Page E285]]

     area. This area is approximately 1.25 miles away on a 
     mountain ridge above the main campus and the fastest growing 
     area of the university. Ultimately, this area will house over 
     750 students and be the location of the University's Sports 
     Complex.
       This people-mover transportation system is critical to the 
     intermodal center and the University's Master Plan, which 
     identifies a need to demonstrate a safe transportation 
     connection between these parcels of land.
       California University of Pennsylvania officials have had 
     extensive discussions with the Pennsylvania Department of 
     Transportation and the General Atomics Urban Maglev team to 
     demonstrate the urban Maglev people-mover technology. I am 
     fully supportive of this initiative which is consistent with 
     the intent of the original earmarks that I obtained for the 
     intermodal facility at California University of Pennsylvania.
       Any Federal earmarks referencing the California University 
     of Pennsylvania intermodal project should address the Urban 
     Maglev people-mover demonstration project. All costs incurred 
     to date and any cost incurred in the future as part of this 
     project should be considered eligible.
       I am a strong supporter of this important project, and am 
     firmly committed to bringing a Maglev system to the campus of 
     California University of Pennsylvania.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank Mascara,
                                               Member of Congress.

     

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