RUN’s Annual Meeting and Virtual Mini-Conference           

Friday, April 29, 2022.  12:30 pm. – 5:00 pm., EDT.

““Look West” – Here’s Where Advocates Are Fighting To Restore/Expand Rail Service In The Western US / British Columbia” ”

Rail Users’ Network’s Virtual Conference, took place on Friday, April 29 from 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm. This exciting event highlighted the ongoing efforts of rail advocates to improve and expand passenger rail service in the West and in British Columbia.

The program began with opening remarks given by RUN’s Chair, Richard Rudolph, who briefly talked about RUN’s current activities and some of the latest challenges that rail advocates are currently facing across North America.

The roster of speakers included:

• • Matthew Buchanan who is a member of Transport Action BC will talk about efforts to improve service on the Sky Train Routes, West Coast Express and efforts to restore passenger rail service on the Vancouver Island Rail Corridor.
  • Elaine Clegg who is the President of Boise’s City Council, and is also the Program Manager of Idaho Smart Growth, will talk about restoring the Pioneer Passenger Rail Route from Seattle, Washington to Denver, Colorado.
  • Jim Souby, Chair, Front Range Passenger Rail District, will talk about Front Range Passenger Rail, the proposed inter-city passenger train service along the Front Range and broader I-25 corridors in Colorado and Wyoming.
  • J.W. Madison, President of Rails, Incorporated will talk about the sky Mountain Flyer, a proposed Amtrak Superliner service from El Paso to Havre, via Albuquerque, Denver, Cheyenne and northern Montana.
  • Steve Roberts, President, California RailPAC, will talk about passenger rail service on the San Joaquin Corridor.
  • David Strohmaier, Missoula Montana County Commissioner will talk about the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority and the possible restoration of the North Coast Hiawatha Route train service.
  • Ms. Julie Owen, the Senior Executive Officer, Project Management Oversight at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority responsible for managing controls on Metro’s $160 billion 50-year capital program which is transforming the landscape of infrastructure in Los Angeles will talk about some of the major rail transit projects under construction in L.A. County such as the Crenshaw-LAX line, the Metro D (Purple) line subway extension and the extension of the Foothill Gold Line in the East San Gabriel Valley.

  • David Peter Alan, Esq., contributing editor to Railway Age, who is also a RUN Board Member, will provide closing remarks.

If time allows, the mini-conference will close with a Public Forum, which will enable participants to share their ideas for improving / expanding passenger rail / rail transit services in North America.

Our conference is designed not only for rail advocates, but also civic and business leaders, environmentalists, planners, real estate developers, and members of the general public who are interested in knowing more about passenger rail and rail transit in the West and British Columbia.

 

See more of our past conferences here.