Public Transportation: Wherever Life Takes You
Public Transportation: Wherever Life Takes You

North American Commuter Rail Leaders Will Meet in Los Angeles -- APTA Convenes Commuter Rail Conference - April 2-5

March 24, 2005

Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com

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More than 400 commuter rail leaders from across North America will meet in Los Angeles, CA at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Commuter Rail Conference April 2-5 to focus on the latest in commuter rail technical and management issues. (See highlights listed below.)

With 408 million trips taken last year on America’s commuter railroads, commuter rail systems are an important part of the national transportation system.

Sunday, April 3

12 - 2 p.m.

The Grand Lunch

  • John Wooden, Basketball Hall of Famer and author of numerous books on leadership, values and team performance
  • Kathryn D.Waters, vice president, commuter rail & railroad management, Dallas Area Rapid Transit
  • Art Brown, chairman, Southern California Regional Rail Authority and vice chairman, Orange County Transportation Authority
  • David Solow, chief executive officer, Southern California Regional Rail Authority
  • Lawrence E. Shaw, executive vice president, marketing & business development, Washington Group International
2:15 - 3:45 p.m.

New Starts Roundtable

  • Jolene M. Molitoris, president and chief executive officer, GeoFocus, L.L.C.
  • Chris Blewett, director, transportation & planning services, Mid-Region Council of Governments
  • John Almond, director of rapid transit, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
  • William J. Novak, office manager, HDR ENGINEERING, INC.
  • John O. Hedrick, executive director, Denton County Transportation Authority
  • Steve Meyer, manager of engineering & construction, Commuter Rail, Utah Transit Authority
  • Joe Walsh, airport project director, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon
  • William T. Farquhar, commuter rail director, Regional Transportation Authority

2:15 - 3:45 p.m.

Quiet Zones "Coming to a Railroad Near YOU!"

  • Chuck A. Spitulnik, partner, McLeod, Watkinson & Miller
  • Steven Wylie, assistant executive director, Southern California Regional Rail Authority
  • Ruby A. Siegel, senior vice president, planning, SYSTRA Consulting, Inc. /SYSTRA Engineering, Inc.
  • Rick Carey, senior project manager, transit & rail group, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
  • Ron Riese, staff director, crossing safety & transportation division, Federal Railroad Administration

Monday, April 4

8:30 - 10 a.m.

Opening General Session - Freight / Commuter Rail Relations

  • Richard A. White, APTA Chair and general manager / chief executive officer, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
  • William W. Millar, APTA President
  • Linda Morgan, partner, Covington & Burling
  • Ronald J. Hartman, senior vice president, business development, Connex North America, Inc.
  • D.J. Mitchell, assistant vice president, passenger operations, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
  • Robert W. Turner Sr., vice president, corporate relations, Union Pacific Railroad
  • H. Craig Lewis, vice president, corporate affairs, Norfolk Southern Corporation
  • John M. Gibson Jr., vice president, passenger and operations planning, CSX Transportation Inc.

10:30 - 12 p.m.

Can Our Industry Demonstrate Diligence for Security?

  • Anna M. Barry, director of railroad operations, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
  • David A. Snyder, superintendent, railroad services, safety and security, Virginia Railway Express
  • Jonathan Lamb, lead program analyst, Rail Security Administration
  • Edward Pederson, manager, safety & security, Southern California Rail Regional Authority

10:30 - 12 p.m.

Technology: Hot Vehicle Topics

  • Frank Banko, manager-systems engineering division, PB Transit & Rail Systems, Inc.
  • Paul W. Price, senior associate, Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Paul Larouche, director, product planning, Bombardier Transportation
  • John D. Swanson, vehicle engineering manager, PB Transit & Rail Systems, Inc.
  • Allyson Shumate, project manager, Regional Transportation Authority

Tuesday, April 5

8:30 - 10 a.m.

What's Up in Washington

  • Michael Townes, president and chief executive officer, Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads - Hampton Roads
  • Robert Jamison, acting administrator, Federal Railroad Administration

Closing General Session & Luncheon - Evolution of the Commuter Rail Industry

  • William C. Vantuono, editor, RAILWAY AGE
  • Steve Roberts, vice president, SYSTRA Consulting, Inc. /SYSTRA Engineering, Inc.
  • Donald N. Nelson, vice president, program manager, rail and transit programs, Washington Group International, Inc.
  • David Solow, chief executive officer, Southern California Regional Rail Authority
  • Kathryn D. Waters, vice president, commuter rail & railroad management, Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Complimentary credentials are available to working members of the news media who are actively covering conference activities. Members of the media may register on-site at the APTA Media Center which will be located in the La Brea Room. For more information or to register in advance, contact Tanya Williams at (202) 496-4877 or twilliams@apta.com.

 

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APTA is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions, and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. Over ninety percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA members.