Site Navigation
Media
Sponsor
Conference
Sponsors
Endorsements
Arkansas Association of
Railroad Passengers
High Performance Railroads: Interstate II for the 21st Century
800 Jaguar Lane * Dallas * Texas * 75226
www.TexasRailAdvocates.org
Our mission is to accelerate Texas's economic growth and enhance the quality of life enjoyed by its people by advancing the development of rail service to its full potential as a carrier of freight and passengers. |
2010 Theme:
Turning Vision Into Reality
Welcome to TRA’s 6th Annual Rail Conference!
Top Department of Transportation executives from Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas came together for the first time to discuss the South Central High Speed Rail Corridor, slated for future passenger rail development between all three states.
The Texas Department of Transportation has a new Rail Division. Where does Texas go from here?
We also also heard about:
This is the only All-Rail conference held yearly in Texas!
Southwestern Rail Conference Highlights
Why Texas missed out on share of 8 Billion in Intercity High Speed Rail grants: FRA said “Texas did not have a unified voice”
New TxDOT Rail Director will ask for input in future workshops for a state passenger rail plan
Transportation Department Execs from Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas voice support for future rail initiatives
AAR open to working with states on passenger rail: Make sure freight rail capacity does not suffer
Texas Representative Ruth Jones McClendon: Building our rail network in Texas is good for the economy and good for jobs
Details of the 6th Annual Southwestern Rail Conference, hosted by Texas Rail Advocates, can be found at www.TexasRailAdvocates.org
- - - - - - - - - -
(Dallas, Texas – January 29, 2010) – One day after President Obama announced the first round of intercity passenger rail grants for 31 states, attendees at the 6th Annual Southwestern Rail Conference in Dallas found out why Texas had picked up just a scrap of 8 Billion dollars in funding.
“Texas has not been speaking with a unified voice”, according to Karen Rae, Deputy Director of the Federal Railroad Administration. Rae indicated that other states had done their planning and due diligence with their rail division personnel and had strong support from governors, legislators and cities. Big winners in the rail funding were California, Illinois and Florida. Other areas to receive sizeable grants included Washington and Oregon, the Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio) and North Carolina. Texas was last of 31 states with a $4 million dollar grant to improve Amtrak service on the Heartland Flyer, between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. Another $7 million from another FRA fund will improve Amtrak service between Dallas and Fort Worth on the Trinity Railway Express.
Details at: http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2243
A national intercity passenger rail plan is being developed with input from the states and the FRA is expected to complete the plan by next year.
Attendees at the conference heard about TxDOT’s new Rail Division from Executive Director Amadeo Saenz. The newly appointed Rail Division Director, William “Bill” Glavin indicated he took the position because “I want to make a difference in developing a passenger rail network in Texas.” Workshops will be held later this year in advance of a required Texas Passenger Rail Plan, which is expected to be completed later this year.
John Horsley, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) spoke at the conference on future funding issues for both road and rail.
Jennifer Macdonald, Assistant Vice President for Government Affairs, for the Association of American Railroads focused on four main points how freight railroads can work together with cities and states for future passenger rail service. Those four key points are safety, capacity, compensation and liability.
John Helsley from the Texas Alliance of Rail Districts showed how over 40 rural and urban rail districts in Texas help to draw new rail shippers to Texas and grow existing businesses, which is a boost to local economies.
State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon, who serves on the House Transportation Committee, reaffirmed her belief that Texas needs a strong multi-modal transportation network and that the time to develop our rail systems is now. Representative McClendon said Texas needs dedicated funding for rail projects. “Lets put the contractors back to work that aren’t working, lets put the surveyors back to work that aren’t working and let’s put the engineers back to work that aren’t working during this recession.”
The North Central Texas Council of Governments has been at the forefront in developing plans for regional rail. Kevin Feldt from NCTCOG presented the initiatives.
Presenters
Kevin Feldt is a certified transportation planner with over 16 years experience in both the private and public sectors. Kevin is responsible for oversight of transit corridor planning projects. Kevin leads of team of six professionals currently charged with moving four transit corridor projects toward implementation. Kevin’s other professional experience in North Texas was with the North Texas Tollway Authority. As the Director of Project Development and Planning at NTTA, Kevin was responsible for the team determining the future toll road projects in North Central Texas. Kevin also was responsible for NTTA coordination efforts with local, regional and state agencies as well as the public. Feldt is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, Institute of Transportation Engineers, Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the Urban Land Institute. He is a Past President of the First Coast Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and is currently a member of the First Coast Section of the Florida American Planning Association Board of Directors. Feldt is also the Chairperson for the Florida Statewide Model Task Force Transit Committee which oversees Transit Travel Demand Model development for the State of Florida. |
Co-Chairman American Road and Transportation Builders Association Join Committee |
Glavin has over 30 years of experience in the rail industry and has worked for Burlington Northern Railroad, North American RailNet and comes to TxDOT after working with Raul V. Bravo + Associates, Inc. Glavin holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Johns Hopkins and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan State. He is licensed as a professional engineer in Wisconsin and Texas. |
John Helsley, from Granbury, Texas, developed the first rural rail transportation district in Texas in 1991, and since that time over 40 rail districts have been created in Texas. Helsley developed the rail district for Bexar County, which was instrumental in landing the Toyota Manufacturing Plant for San Antonio. Additional information can be obtained at www.gotrail.org. The Texas Alliance of Rail Districts is a Texas non-profit organization. |
From 1993 to 1999 he served at the U.S. Department of Transportation. As Associate Deputy Secretary, he was an advocate for intermodal policies, quality of life initiatives, and liaison to State and Local Governments, U.S. Congress, and transportation constituencies. A native of the Northwest, Horsley was elected to five terms as County Commissioner in Kitsap County, a community just west of Seattle. He is a graduate of Harvard, an Army veteran, a former Peace Corps volunteer and Congressional aide, and did graduate study at Georgetown. He is Past President of the National Association of Counties, and was founding Chairman of the Rebuild America Coalition. |
Mr. Kearns is BNSF's Legislative Counsel. He has been a staff attorney representing the railroad before state governments and legislatures since 1979 and in Austin since 1988. He has a B.A. of Political Science from St. Louis University and a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Mr. Kearns will be our Thursday evening speaker at our optional conference dinner on January 28th. |
Representative Ruth Jones McClendon sits on the House Transportation Committee and has authored and sponsored numerous legislative bills, many dealing with rail. She was the House Sponsor on legislation which directs TxDOT to coordinate the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of a statewide passenger rail system. She is considered by House Transportation Chair Representative Joe Pickett as the "go-to-person" dealing with rail issues. |
Prior to joining the Association of American Railroads, Jennifer was the chief policy and legislative advisor for Arizona’s Department of Transportation under Mary Peters, leading its legislative program at the state and national level. Prior to joining ADOT, Jennifer was the District Director for Congressman John Shadegg and served as Special Projects Advisor to Senator Jon Kyl. In Washington, D.C., she worked for the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade, advising Members of Congress on international economic policy, technology security and international trade. At the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, she worked on export promotion and export financing initiatives. She also worked for two Washington think tanks: the Center for Security Policy and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The Association of American Railroads is a trade association that represents the interests of the Class 1 railroads of North America. |
|
In March 2009, the Obama Administration named Karen Rae Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). As Deputy Administrator, Ms. Rae is responsible for helping oversee operations for the nearly eight hundred-person organization. This includes managing comprehensive safety programs and regulatory initiatives; enforcement of FRA safety regulations; development and implementation of national freight and passenger rail policy; and oversight of wide ranging research and development activities in support of improved railroad safety. In her capacity as Deputy Administrator, Ms. Rae will play a leading role in the FRA’s efforts to successfully implement the President’s historic commitment to advance the development of high-speed rail and implement the Administration’s public policy directive to improve intercity passenger rail for users and communities across the US... |
Longtime transportation executive Gary Ridley was named Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in August, 2001. Ridley’s journey up through the ranks provided him with first-hand insights into the whole spectrum of department operations. His ODOT service dates back to 1965, when he joined the department as an equipment operator. He left ODOT in 1997 to become executive director of the Oklahoma Asphalt Paving Association. He returned to the department in January 2001 as Assistant Director for Operations. |
Under Texas Transportation Commission direction, Saenz manages, directs, and implements TxDOT policies, programs, and operating strategies. He also represents TxDOT before the Texas Legislature and other entities. He became Executive Director on October 1, 2007. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin, he joined TxDOT in 1978 in the Pharr District as an engineering laboratory assistant. Working within the district, he progressed through various positions including engineering assistant, assistant area engineer, assistant field operations engineer, and area engineer. He was named district engineer in the Pharr District in October 1993. He held this position until his appointment as Assistant Executive Director for Engineering Operations in Austin, which became effective November 1, 2001. In this role, he implemented and managed TxDOT’s engineering operations policies, programs and operating strategies according to federal and state laws and Texas Transportation Commission regulations and directives. |
Clint holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of North Texas. He started with Union Pacific in 2005 spending his first four years in their Marketing and Sales group where he managed a range of industrial products customers. In his current capacity, Clint is the Public Affairs Director responsible for managing community relations at Union Pacific Railroad in North Texas and Oklahoma. He also oversees state governmental affairs for the railroad in Texas and Oklahoma. Clint is a Board Member of the North Texas Commission. |
Reconnecting America is a national non-profit organization that is working to integrate transportation systems and the communities they serve, with the goal of generating lasting public and private returns, improving economic and environmental efficiency, and giving consumers more housing and mobility choices. Mr. Smith is past chair of the Amtrak Board of Directors and served as the mayor of Meridian, Mississippi for four terms. As mayor, Smith was known as a strong supporter of the arts. In 2005, he won a Public Leadership in the Arts Award from Americans for the Arts. |
For more information, please contact:
Organizing Committee
|
 Paul MangelsdorfHigh Speed Rail Expert Texas Rail Advocates |
 John RadovichPast-President Texas Rail Advocates |
 Karl ZiebarthBoard Member Texas Rail Advocates |
Sponsorships Available:
Corridor Map
Who should attend?
Local, county, state and federal elected, appointed officials and decision makers; chambers of commerce; metropolitan planning organizations; council of governments; commercial real estate developers; architects; civil engineers; rail industry suppliers; rail system personnel; shippers; consultants; advocates; personnel involved with rail design, construction, operations and maintenance and citizens interested in improving freight and passenger rail in Texas.
Location
The Magnolia Hotel in downtown Dallas, TX, at 1401 Commerce Street, 888-915-1110.
A special rate of $119.00 a night is available for a limited number of rooms at the Magnolia Hotel. This rate is valid for Thursday, January 28 and Friday, January 29, 2010. When calling the Magnolia, mention the dates and the keyword "Rail Meeting" to obtain the rate.
What to Expect
The conference is the 6th of a series of annual conferences supporting the federally designated South Central and Gulf Coast High Speed Rail Corridors. The conference brings together government professionals, private industry, and the general public to discuss the future of improved rail service in the Southwest.
The two rail corridors are part of eleven federally designated corridors, but Texas is in last place for development. Our goal is to have transportation studies completed, the first step to realizing improved rail. We recognize that for all practical purposes, public/private partnerships are the future. Rail companies own their Right of Way and their trackage infrastructure. They pay hefty taxes on these properties while roads and other transportation modes are largely underwritten through government funding. Many are tax exempt. Consideration to the Railroads (and their online shippers) in terms of tax relief would go a long way towards enhancement of today's physical plant. Today we need the capacity that has been lost over the past half century and TRA works to enlighten the stakeholders.
Technology today enables operation of more trains on these tracks with enhanced signaling and train controls. Enhanced capacity will provide opportunities for passenger train traffic in concert with increasing freight volumes. Rail expansion is primarily on existing R.O.W. on shared or adjacent track and happen in a lower cost per mile construction range for service that tops out at 90-110 miles per hour.The conference offers speakers from rail companies, government officials, planners and rail advocacy groups. This promotes better communication and understanding of the steps necessary for high performance rail to become reality in Texas and the Southwest.
Meals
The optional Thursday evening will be held in the Pegasus room. The menu is as follows. The salad will be an organic spring mix with slow roasted grape tomatoes, English cucumbers, drunken goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. The main dish will be Dr. Pepper marinated pork tenderloin with butternut squash puree, grilled broccolini, and molasses glaze. The desert will be a baked apple basket cinnamon which is baked apples in a waffle basket accompanies by vanilla bean ice cream.
The Friday lunch will be served in the same room as the conference meeting, the Pegasus room. The meal is entitled "Little Italy" and it is an antipasto salad, five cheese lasagna chicken picatta with capers and lemon butter sauce, seasonal grilled vegetables, roasted garlic bread, and tiramisu.
Throughout the day during the conference on Friday, soda and coffee will be served and there will be a snack break in the morning and afternoon.
If you have a special dietary need and need an alternate meal for Thursday or Friday, please contact the Registrar, Taylor Sharpe (214-522-5525), and let him know what your requirements are and we'll try and find an alternative meal.
TRA Conference History
Agenda
Thursday, January 28th, 2010 |
|
| 6:30 pm | Socializing and Cash Bar |
| 7:30 pm | Dinner in Pegasus Room |
| 8:00 pm | Dinner Speaker Dennis Kearns |
Friday, January 29th, 2010 |
|
| 8:00 - 8:30 | TRA Conference Registration (Pegasus Room of Magnolia Hotel) |
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Jennifer Macdonald AAR What's Ahead |
| 9:00 - 9:30 | John Robert Smith Reconnecting America |
| 9:30 -10:00 | John Horsley |
| 10:00 - 10:30 | Break |
| 10:30 - 11:45 | Executive Directors of Departments of Transportation in Arkansas, Oklahoma & Texas Working Together for Higher Speed Rail |
| 11:45 - 12:15 | Buffett Lunch Served |
| 12:15 - 1:15 | Luncheon Speaker Karen Rae FRA Deputy Administrator |
| 1:15 - 1:30 | Break |
| 1:30 - 2:00 | Hon. Ruth Jones McClendon Texas House Transportation Committee |
| 2:00 - 2:30 | Clint Schelbitzki Union Pacific UP Today and Tomorrow |
| 2:30 - 3:00 | Bill Glavin, Director Rail Division Texas Department of Transportation |
| 3:00 - 3:15 | Break |
| 3:15 - 3:45 | Kevin Feldt N. Central Texas Council of Governments North Texas Rail |
| 3:45 - 4:15 | Bill Farquhar Trinity Rail Express TRE Success Story |
| 4:15 - 4:45 | John Helsley Texas Alliance of Rail Districts Economic Revival in Texas by Rail |
Conference Registration
Step 1: Registration
You may register for the conference, which includes membership in TRA, by registering online at:
Or you can send the conference registrar an e-mail at Taylor@TexasRailAdvocates.org with your name, e-mail, address and phone, and then by paying for your registration. You should expect a reply confirmation within a day or two.
Also, you may also download an printable registration form in Adobe Acrobat format that you can fill out and either print to mail it in our email it to the registrar at Taylor@TexasRailAdvocates.org.
Step 2: Payment
Registration is $150 through January 15, 2010. After that date, registration is $180. There is a $25 discount to rail association members.
There will be a pre-conference dinner on Thursday, January 28th. Early conference registration with this dinner is $225. Conference registration with this dinner is $255 after January 15, 2010. The Thursday evening (January 28th) dinner cost for non-conference attendees is $75.
If you belong to a non-profit rail association such as RPCA, NARP, TXARP, NHRS or AOS, there are discount conference rates listed below.
Payment can be made through PayPal, which allows the use of most major credit cards. Registration payment is non-refundable.
Note that you do not have to create a PayPal account to use your credit card with PayPal. Once you click on a payment link below, it will take you to a PayPal page. On the right will be the login for PayPal if you have an account. But on the left, it will say "Don't have a PayPal account?" and you can click that link and all you have to do is provide your credit card information without creating a PayPal account.
Click on the following graphic to select the appropriate conference registration payment and initiate payment with PayPal.
PayPal Payment Links:
The following prices only apply to individuals who are a member of a non-profit rail association such as RPCA, NARP, TXARP, NHRS or AOS. Please bring some form of membership confirmation such as a copy of your membership card or a newsletter with your mailing label on it.
You may also register by sending your payment to the following address, along with the registration form. Make sure early registration payments are received or postmarked no later than January 26th.
Mr. Taylor Sharpe
Registrar
Texas Rail Advocates
Attn: Registration/Membership
7615 Kenwell St.
Dallas, TX 75209
For more conference information, contact Mr. Paul Mangelsdorf, High Speed Rail, at 972-601-7853 or PaulM@TexasRailAdvocates.org.
For media coverage and co-ordination, contact Peter LeCody at Peter@TexasRailAdvocates.org or call 214-803-7285.
Note: You can download an IRS W-9 form from us if you need it for the conference registration.
If you have questions about using PayPal,
you may contact PayPal at their web site (www.PayPal.com), or
feel free to contact Taylor Sharpe with Texas Rail Advocates at Taylor
TaylorSharpe.com or
(214) 522-5525.
Below are pictures from the January 2008 conference at the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Dallas.
NARP/TxARP Meeting, Saturday January 30 Immediately following the 6th Annual Southwestern Rail Conference on Saturday January 30, the National Association of Railroad Passengers and the Texas Association of Railroad Passengers will hold their annual meeting at the Magnolia Hotel. There is a separate fee for this meeting. You may take advantage of the same hotel rate for the Southwestern Rail Conference. If you are interested in passenger rail, you will find both meetings beneficial—please consider attending both! Follow this link for details: |
Bill Farquhar
Kevin Feldt, AICP
Dan Flowers
William E. "Bill" Glavin, P.E.
John Helsley
John Horsley
Dennis Kearns
Ruth McClendon
Jennifer Macdonald
Ron Natinsky
Karen Rae
Gary Ridley
Amadeo Saenz Jr.
Clint Schelbitzki
John Robert Smith
