U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari
Deputy Secretary Porcari has served as the 19th United States Deputy Secretary of Transportation since June 1, 2009. As Deputy Secretary, Porcari is the Department of Transportation's chief operating officer with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of 10 modal administrations and the work of more than 55,000 DOT employees nationwide and overseas. Porcari is focused on transportation's key role in economic development and providing the foundation for America's future prosperity.
Before becoming Deputy Secretary, Porcari served as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation since January 2007, a position he also held between 1999 and 2003. As MDDOT Secretary, Porcari was responsible for an integrated, multi-modal, statewide transportation system that included highways, the Port of Baltimore, Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, a statewide general aviation system, Maryland's toll authority, and its Motor Vehicle Administration.
Deputy Secretary John Porcari
U.S. Congressman Jim Oberstar
Having served his country as a Member of Congress for 36 years - most of his career - Chairman Oberstar has had a tremendous influence on transportation policy. He served as Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from 2007-2011. During his time in Congress he was involved in the following coalitions and caucuses: Bike Caucus, Caucus for Sustainable Development, Caucus on Global Road Safety, Human Rights Caucus, Steel Caucus, Travel and Tourism Caucus, Homeland Security Task Force, Great Lake Task Force, International Relations Committee, Medical Technology Caucus, Mississippi River Caucus, Native American Caucus, Renewable Energy Caucus, and the Upper Mississippi Task Force.
Congressman Jim Oberstar
An avid cyclist, Oberstar has been a champion of creating bicycle trails to promote healthy living. In 2005 he authored and helped pass the Safe Routes to Schools program, and was a co-sponsor of the SAFETEA-LU act, a $295 billion program that funds transportation infrastructure.
Chairman Oberstar holds a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and a Master's degree in European Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, and has further studies at Universite Laval in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada, and Georgetown University. He speaks 6 languages, and has travelled extensively around the country and the world examining the most effective ways to move people and goods while revitalizing America's infrastructure.
U.S. Congressman Bill Shuster
Congressman Shuster has been a member of Congress since 2001, and serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and serves as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. Congressman Shuster is a big supporter of high speed rail, especially in the northeast.
Congressman Shuster also serves on the Committees for Armed Services, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform. He was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and holds a B.A. in Political Science and in History, and a Masters of Business Administration from American University.
Congressman Bill Shuster
Karen Rae, Deputy Administrator - Federal Railroad Administration
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 is playing 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.
Karen Rae
Joseph Boardman, President & CEO - Amtrak
Appointed to the top post at Amtrak in November 2008, Mr. Boardman has nearly 30 years experience in the transportation industry in city, county, and State government. Prior to coming to Amtrak, Mr. Boardman was the Federal Railroad Administrator. He also served as the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation since July 1997. Most recently, he was chairman of the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board, and Chair of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Standing Committee on Rail Transportation.
Mr. Boardman is a lifelong resident of New York State, and holds a B.A. degree in Agriculture Economics from Cornell University, and a Master of Science Degree in Management Science.
Joseph Boardman
Al Engel, Amtrak HSR Director
Al Engel recently joined Amtrak to head up a new high speed rail department. In this new role Mr. Engel will be working to develop high speed rail corridors around the country, especially on the Northeast Corridor.
Mr. Engel has been a longtime proponent of high speed rail and other forms of transit. He is a professional engineer with considerable experience in rail planning and design. Prior to joining AECOM, he was chief executive officer of Systra Consulting Inc., a transit-consulting firm partly owned by SNCF, the French national railway.
Al Engel
Be part of this important high speed rail summit! Hear from the new incoming Congress and the Obama Administration about plans to step up the national high speed rail program. Hear about the many challenges with launching a major new infrastructure project of this scale. Listen to senior elected officials discuss the importance of maintaining the 'political sustainability' needed to get it built. Hear from political and business leaders where this program is going, how money will be rolled out, and where the money will continue to come from to pay for these new systems.
Learn about the rapidly growing support among the business community across multiple sectors for high speed rail in America. Hear from experts about the conservative case for a major investment in HSR. This is the event to be part of in the nation's capital - at the center of the action in high speed rail!
Be part of the high speed rail movement sweeping across America!
Highlighted Speakers:
U.S. Congressman John Mica
A long time supporter of high speed rail, Congressman John Mica (Republican, 7th District of Florida) incoming leader of the largest committee in Congress - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Currently serving his ninth term, Mica is a visionary who helps oversee federal policy issues relating to all forms of transportation. As the Transportation Committee's top Republican, Mica was responsible for legislation in 2008 authorizing for the first time, private sector participation in the development of high-speed rail. He has strongly advocated for cutting red tape to expedite the lengthy federal transportation infrastructure project approval process, and called for the development of a comprehensive and national strategic transportation plan.
Congressman John Mica
U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown
Also a long time supporter of high speed rail, Congresswoman Corrine Brown (Democrat, 3rd District of Florida) is a visionary tirelessly pushing for an advanced transportation system for America. She was elected to Congress in 1992, and is a public servant who prides herself on delivering the goods and services of the federal government to her constituents. Brown's work concentrates on ensuring that both the Amtrak Reauthorization and Rail Road Safety legislation previously enacted are fully and appropriately implemented. The Subcommittee will also focus on reauthorizing the Surface Transportation Board, funding rail infrastructure improvements throughout the nation’s transportation system, and developing domestic High Speed Rail.
Congresswoman Corrine Brown
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk
Senator Mark Kirk (Republican, IL) is a supporter of high speed rail, having recently traveled to China to see their new national high speed rail network rapidly taking shape. Newly elected to the Senate, Kirk served in the House of Representatives for 9 years, and has always been a strong supporter of infrastructure development as a key to unlocking long-term economic growth. Kirk views high speed rail as holding great potential for local and regional growth, and supported it while a member of Congress, and will continue to support it as a newly elected Senator.
Senator Kirk was born in Champaign, Ill., and holds a B.A. Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., M.S. London School of Economics, London; and J.D. Georgetown University, Washington DC.
Senator Mark Kirk
Senator Kirk in Beijing - Click to watch
Click to watch
U.S. Congresswoman Laura Richardson
Congresswoman Richardson is a supporter of high speed rail and serves on both the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and Committee on Homeland Security. She serves as the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response and sits on four subcommittees on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Congresswoman Richardson focuses her efforts on improving the movement of goods, enhancing the nation's homeland security, expanding access to health care services, and investing in the nation's infrastructure.
Congresswoman Richardson graduated from UCLA with a degree in Political Science, received an MBA from USC, and went on to spend fourteen years working in corporate America at the Xerox Corporation.
Congresswoman Laura Richardson
U.S. Congressman Jim Costa
Congressman Costa has been a long time supporter of rail transportation in America. During his distinguished 24-year career in the California state Legislature he was instrumental in the formation of the California High Speed Rail Authority. This state body has put forward the most advanced high speed rail project in America: a state-of-the-art, 220 mph state-wide electric rail system. Congressman Costa serves on a number of committees including the House Natural Resources Committee where he is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. He is also a member of the Subcommittee on Water and Power, and is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Congressman Jim Costa
U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter is a big supporter of high speed rail and has been one of the most powerful and unique figures in the House of Representatives. She was the first woman to serve as Chairman of the influential House Committee on Rules, a position that allowed her to influence nearly every single piece of legislation that came to the House floor for a vote. She held that position since 2007.
Slaughter is also a member of the House Democratic Leadership and serves on the prestigious Democratic Steering & Policy Committee, which helps determine committee assignments. She is also the Democratic Chair of two congressional caucuses: the Congressional Arts Caucus and the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, of which she was a founding member.
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
Karen Rae, Deputy Administrator - Federal Railroad Administration
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 is playing 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.
Karen Rae
Clean, green, fast, comfortable, energy efficient, sustainable transportation
21st Century Transportation for America
Previous conference attendees include senior executives from:
Balfour Beatty AECOM Parsons Brinckerhoff KCI Technologies Bechtel Flour U.S.-Japan High Speed Rail Central Japan Railway Japan Int'l Transport Institute CRCC (China) TSDI (China) CSR (China) NDF (China) Korail TUC Rail Alstom Siemens Talgo Bombardier Hyundai Rotem Kawasaki Rail Car Renfe
Foster + Partners Architects HOK Dover Kohl Urban Land Institute Autodesk Bentley Systems Terracon Systra Ardanuy UIC ARTBA SMI International First Southwest Investment Bank Hill & Knowlton Global-5 Communications Arcadis Shaw Group Faithful+Gould CA. HSR Authority CA DOT APTA Amtrak
DLA Piper Holland & Knight Manatt Quarles and Brady Parker Poe Lockheed Martin Raytheon Northrop Grumman Alion Science & Tech. BAE Systems Invensys Rail Sumitomo Finley Engineering Mc Dean Archer Western Pandrol Liebherr NKT Cables Southwire Fooke USPIRG Gov't. of Quebec Wilbur Smith
Don't miss this exciting high speed rail event of the year - High Speed Rail Summit DC! The Nation's capital is the place to be February 8-10.
Business and political leaders will come together with the world's top experts to bring high speed rail to America.
HSR connecting to DC
High speed rail is revolutionizing the rest of the world, and now its America's turn. Be part of the excitement in Washington, DC!
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Addresses our Recent HSR Conference in NY City
Network with decision makers
Energy-Saving Fast Transportation
Jobs, jobs, jobs
Millions of jobs and the revival of our industrial sectors
"You go to Shanghai, China, and they've built more high-speed rail in the last year than we've built in the last 30 years." -President Obama, 12/6/10
Fast, Convenient, Comfortable Transportation
The Fast Track to Energy Security + National Security
Clean, green, fast and profitable
The Northeast Corridor at 220 mph
University of Pennsylvania Study - True High Speed for Northeast Corridor
"There's no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains" -President Obama, January 27, 2010
"More than 300 business types showed up at its shindig at the Orlando Hilton, where they saw cool models of German, Spanish, South Korean and Japanese bullet trains and a cool video of a French train traveling a record 357 m.p.h. When I asked a lobbyist I recognized what he was doing there, he grinned and rubbed his thumb against two fingers."
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