2012 ‘Keeping Connected by Rail: Making Your Voices Heard!’
The “Keeping Connected by Rail: Making Your Voices Heard” Conference, will be held on April 20, 2012 at the American Public Transportation Association Headquarters, 1666 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C. The conference which is being sponsored by the Rail Users’ Network, will examine what’s happening in the Mid – Atlantic region of the U.S. The focus will be on recent success stories, which projects are moving forward, which are standing still, and could use some help. Of course, effective advocacy is paramount to success. Our keynoter, Don Phillips of Trains Magazine, will examine what needs to be done at the state and national level to create a world-class rail passenger system in the United States. Other speakers include Art Guzzetti, Vice President of Policy, APTA , who will provide a layout of the land in DC, and what we can expect, given the present Congress, and prospects for change, both in the near future and long term. Brian Rosenwald, Chief, Product Management for Amtrak, will focus his remarks on what Amtrak is doing in the short run to improve long distance service. Participants attending the conference will also hear from rail activists who are working at the grassroots and state level to improve and expand service in the Mid – Atlantic Region.
The rest of the morning will be devoted to exploring how advocacy – both official and unofficial-can improve and increase service in a given city or area – both long-distance, as well as commuter & rail transit. The panel will be moderated by Andrew Albert, Chair, NYC Transit Riders Council, a legislatively-mandated group appointed by the Governor of the State of New York, with members chosen by the Mayor of New York City, the Public Advocate of New York City, and the five Borough Presidents. Panelists include Mike Testerman, President, Virginia Association of Railway Patrons, Aissia Richardson, Chair, SEPTA Citizens Advisory Committee, David Alpert, member, WMATA Riders Advisory Council, and Jack Corbett, of metroriders.org.
After lunch, participants will have an opportunity to learn about several success stories in the Mid–Atlantic area. Rail Users’ Network Chair, Richard Rudolph will moderate. Panelists include Meredith Richards, Chair, Piedmont Rail Coalition, who will talk about how the new Amtrak service to Lynchburg got started. Jim Price, Chief Operating Officer, Hampton Roads Transit, will focus on how the new light rail service got started in Norfolk, Virginia and Gene Kirkland, Treasurer, Carolinas Association of Passenger Trains, will focus on the new state-supported Amtrak service in North Carolina and the new light rail system in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The final panel of the day will focus on Expanding Rail Service in the Mid-Atlantic Region. David Peter Alan, a RUN Board Member & Contributing Editor, Destination Freedom at www.nationalcorridors.org, will serve as the moderator. Panelists include:. Charles “Chuck” Riecks, Charleston, W.Va., Chair, Friends of the Cardinal; Carl Palmer, General Manager, Valley Metro, Roanoke, Va, Richard Beadles, founder of Virginians for High Speed Rail, and Kenneth Joseph, Western Pennsylvanians for Passenger Rail. Participants attending the conference will also have an opportunity to sample public transportation in the Washington, D.C. area, with an optional tour on Saturday, April 21. We will ride on MetroRail and on local bus service. We are also planning to take a walking tour of the area in downtown Washington, D.C. where a streetcar is planned. We may also visit the National Capital Trolley Museum in Silver Spring, Maryland, if we can make transportation arrangements, since the museum is no longer accessible by bus. Tour participants are responsible for paying their own transit fares and admission fees. More details will be announced as arrangements are made.
The registration fee of $50 (until March 31, $60 after that, and $75 at the door) includes a continental breakfast, lunch, a refreshment break, and all conference materials/handouts.
If you wish to stay in Washington or Virginia overnight, either before or after the conference, we suggest that you contact “Visit Washington DC” to learn about hotel accommodations in DC and nearby Virginia.
Please join us at what promises to be a very exciting, worthwhile event. To register download the form from our website: railusers.net. For more information call Richard Rudolph at (207) 776-4961. Checks should be sent to RUN, 55 River Road, Steep Falls, ME. 04085.
‘Keeping Connected by Rail: Making Your Voices Heard!’
Friday, April 20, 2012 • 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
A.P.T.A. Headquarters • 1666 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
$50 up to March 31 • $60 after March 31 • $75 at the door
Includes continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon break
Optional “Day on the Hill” – Thursday, April 19, 2012 (meet at A.P.T.A. Offices-1666 K St. N.W. – Conference room 1-2 at 9:00 A.M.)
Optional tour of Washington transit facilities – Saturday, April 21, 2012 Meet at 10:00 A.M. at the Amtrak information desk in Union Station (gates D,E) Tour will include a segment of the D.C. Streetcar System (slated to open in 2013), the D.C. Circulator System, Metrorail, and the National Capital Trolley Museum.
Please join us at what promises to be a very exciting, worthwhile event. For more information, call Richard Rudolph at (207) 776-4961. Checks should be sent to RUN, 55 River Road, Steep Falls, ME 04085.