Q: Why is the summit meeting being held?
A: There is a need for a national meeting of rail passenger advocates. We need to assess strengths and weaknesses, to develop a national vision of passenger rail. We need to impress the politicians and the media that passenger rail advocates are important in setting our national transportation priorities.
Q: Who should attend?
A: Current and future leaders of groups representing all facets of passenger rail. This should include national groups, regional groups, local groups, rail equipment vendors, rail service vendors, host and potential host railroads, environmental groups, planners.
Q: I'm not a “leader.” Should I come anyway?
A: Absolutely! The organizing committee welcomes anyone who wants to have a positive impact on the future of passenger rail. Even if you don't have a title, you can be an opinion leader and the passenger rail movement definitely needs that, too.
Q: Why Chicago? Why not Washington, D.C.?
A: Chicago is a major passenger hub for all types of passenger service. Chicago is the hub for many Amtrak trains. Chicago has the huge Metra commuter rail system. Chicago will be the future hub of the Midwest Regional Rail System (similar to other regional and high-speed regional systems being proposed in other high speed corridors around the country.)
It is readily accessible for rail passenger advocates from around the country.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has been a visionary proponent of passenger and freight rail enhancements.
Q: What are the goals of the Summit meeting?
A: Develop a shared vision of passenger rail in the future:
Light Rail
Commuter Rail
Regional Rail
National Passenger Rail System
Encourage development of a stable funding mechanism for passenger rail.
Develop strategies to implement the visions. Lay the groundwork for future activities to build bi-partisan public support for passenger rail in numbers which cannot be ignored by politicians. Passenger rail cannot be and should not be a partisan issue.
Promote the principles outlined in the American Passenger Rail Agreement (which is linked to at the top of this page) and find additional organizations which will sign the agreement and promote its principles in the future.
Q: Where in Chicago will the meeting be held?
A: The Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois.
Q: Is there a group rate at a nearby hotel?
A: Housing is currently being negotiated. Information will be added to the website as soon as it is available.
Q: How do I register for the Summit?
A: Registration information will be coming soon. Registration will be through the Internet.
Q: How can I get more information about the National Rail Passenger Leadership Summit?
A: Keep checking the Website www.nationalrailpassengersummit.org. Sign up for the e-mail list on the home page of the Website. Send your questions to:
.
Q: Which organizations are arranging this event?
A: The list of co-sponsors is included on the home page of the Website.
Q: What are these other meetings listed on your Website?
A: There will be three consecutive three days of meeting in Chicago which some Summit participants may want to attend.
The Thursday, March 22, 2007, meeting is the 12th Annual Transportation and Land Use Strategy Meeting of the Environmental Law and Policy Council (www.elpc.org). It will address various modes of transportation.
The National Rail Passenger Leadership Summit will be on Friday, March 23, 2007.
The Midwest High Speed Rail Association's Annual Meeting (www.midwesthsr.org) will be Saturday, March 24, 2007, will be focusing on enhanced passenger rail for the Midwest.
Each meeting will have a somewhat different focus. The Summit is designed to be a national meeting focusing on all aspects of passenger rail in the United States.
