U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is a big supporter of high speed rail, having visited leading high speed rail systems around the world. In nominating LaHood, President Obama said, "Few understand our infrastructure challenge better than the outstanding public servant that I'm asking to lead the Department of Transportation."
Secretary LaHood's primary goals in implementing President Obama's priorities for transportation include safety across all modes, restoring economic health and creating jobs, sustainability - shaping the economy of the coming decades by building new transportation infrastructure, and assuring that transportation policies focus on people who use the transportation system and their communities.
As Secretary of Transportation, Secretary LaHood leads an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a $70 billion budget that oversees air, maritime and surface transportation missions. LaHood is one of two Republican members of the Obama Cabinet.
Secretary LaHood
U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
A long time supporter of high speed rail, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter is one of the most powerful and unique figures in the House of Representatives. The only microbiologist in Congress, Rep. Slaughter was first elected in 1986 and is now serving her 14th term in Congress.
Rep. Slaughter is founder and co-chair of the Bicameral Bipartisan Congressional High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus. This caucus of Senators and Representatives advocates for an improved high-speed and intercity passenger rail network that will reduce greenhouse emissions, clear clogged highways, and improve the flow of commerce and citizens across the United States.
Congresswoman Slaughter is a member of the House Democratic Leadership. In 2007, she became the first woman to serve as Chairwoman of the influential House Committee on Rules, a position that allowed her to influence nearly every single piece of legislation that comes to the House floor for a vote. She held that position from 2007 until 2011. She is currently Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules.
Congresswoman Slaughter
U.S. Congressman John Mica
A long time supporter of high speed rail, Congressman John Mica (Republican, 7th District of Florida) Chairman of the largest committee in Congress - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Currently serving his tenth 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 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, as well as private investment in the nation's high speed rail network.
Congressman John Mica
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
Joseph Szabo, Federal Railroad Administrator
Federal Railroad Administrator Szabo oversees the operations of the eight hundred person organization managing a comprehensive railroad safety program, enforcing railroad laws and regulations, and developing and implementing national freight and passenger rail policy and new programs.
FRA oversees the nation's new high speed rail program launched under President Obama in 2009. This new rail system is set up to connect communities and economic centers across the country, and move America into the 21st century.
Joe Szabo
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
Rod Diridon, Executive Director - Mineta Transportation Institute
Rod Diridon, Sr., has served as executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) created by Congress in 1991. Mr. Diridon has chaired more than 100 international, national, state and local programs, most related to transit and the environment. He frequently provides legislative testimony on sustainable transportation issues and is regarded by many as the "father" of modern transit service in Silicon Valley. He was appointed by Governors Davis and Schwarzenegger, in 2001 and 2006, respectively, to the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board, of which he is chair emeritus. After many years of public service in various capacities in California, Santa Clara County renamed its main train station "San Jose Diridon Station" in his honor.
Rod Diridon
Karen Hedlund, Deputy Administrator - Federal Railroad Admin.
Karen Hedlund was appointed Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration in December 2011. Prior to her appointment, she served as FRA Chief Counsel, providing legal oversight and advice for the agency’s safety and passenger rail programs, with a focus on implementation of the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program. She led successful negotiations with several Class I host railroads to secure Service Outcome Agreements, supporting the timely obligation of nearly $8 billion in grants to thirty two states and the District of Columbia. Hedlund also participated in the development of an historic multi-state procurement for Next Generation rail equipment in California, Washington State and the Midwest.
With more than 35 years of experience in the legal profession, Hedlund's knowledge and expertise of major infrastructure projects and public finance continue to be an invaluable asset to FRA in her capacity as Deputy Administrator.
Karen Hedlund
U.S. Congressman James 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.
Pat Natale, Executive Director - Am. Society of Civil Engineers
Patrick Natale was appointed in July 2002 as the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Executive Director, Chief Staff Officer, and Secretary. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Natale served as Executive Director for the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).
Prior to joining NSPE, Mr. Natale held numerous top-level management positions within the Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) of New Jersey—including managing sales, marketing, strategic planning, and customer service. Mr. Natale holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Newark College of Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Pat Natale
Guillaume Mehlman, President, Alstom Transportation N. America
Guillaume Mehlman joined ALSTOM Transport in 2001, and was appointed to head ALSTOM's North American transportation business in January 2011. Guillaume was born and raised in the United States, and received an Engineering degree and a PhD from Ecole Polytechnique in France. Guillaume has 25 years of experience in the energy and rail transportation industries with a broad experience in engineering, project management, industrial operations, and sales.
From 2004 to 2006, Guillaume led the operations of ALSTOM Transport's global train bogie and rolling gear business. During those years he was the managing Director of the Le Creusot plant, the company's global excellence center for train bogies and rolling gear. In this position, Guillaume was responsible for the supply of rolling gear components to ALSTOM’s train assembly plants worldwide. He headed the development of the bogies that broke the world high speed record (357 mph) in 2007 and are now equipping the AGV, ALSTOM’s latest generation of high speed trains with an operational design speed of 225 mph.
Guillaume Mehlman
Come to DC!
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 this February 11-13.
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!
Previous conference attendees include executives from:
CA High Speed Rail Authority Mineta Transportation Inst. MTA Los Angeles
XpressWest
CA DOT Caltrans Balfour Beatty AECOM Parsons Brinckerhoff KCI Technologies Bechtel Flour Louis Berger Group GE Transportation Samsung U.S.-Japan High Speed Rail Central Japan Railway
East Japan Railway Japan Int'l Transport Institute CRCC (China) TSDI (China) CSR (China) NDF (China) Korail TUC Rail Alstom Siemens Talgo CAF USA Bombardier Hyundai Rotem Kawasaki Rail Car Renfe Virgin Rail Transmetrics
GEODATA GKK Works INC Group Ginprosa Freeport McMoRan IRWA Skanska Kelar Pacific Caltrop Corporation RBF Consulting Sukut Construction Riverside Co. Transport Comm. So. CA Assn. of Gov'ts. Julien, Inc. Law Office of Sima Salek Biggs Cardosa Associates ENGEO Incorporated PECG V&A, Inc. Aetypic Ninyo & Moore TY Lin International Nova Consulting Sener
Foster + Partners Architects HOK Architects
SOM Architects Gensler Dover Kohl Urban Land Institute Forest City John Buck Company Akridge Stonebridge Autodesk Bentley Systems Terracon Hatch Mott MacDonald HNTB Arup Honeywell City of Anaheim CH2M Hill Kustom Seating Systra Ardanuy UIC ARTBA SMI International First Southwest Investment Bank Hill & Knowlton Global-5 Communications InfraWest Arcadis TransitWorks
Sunbelt Rentals
Cordoba Corp. Shaw Group Faithful+Gould CA. HSR Authority CA DOT APTA GPO, Inc. GPO A&E Athalye Eng. A Squared Ventures Century Diversified Twining, Inc HDR L.K. Comstock Maintenance Design Group Huffman-Broadway Group MAJ Consulting David Evans & Associates PECG Univ. of Illinois Kimley-Horn and Associates PQM, Inc. Anil Verma Associates Jack McKinnon Consulting KOA Corporation Voestalpine Nortrak Gannett Fleming
Amtrak DLA Piper Holland & Knight Manatt Quarles and Brady Parker Poe Lockheed Martin Raytheon Northrop Grumman Alion Science & Tech. BAE Systems Xpress West Invensys Rail Sumitomo Finley Engineering Mc Dean Archer Western Pandrol Liebherr NKT Cables Southwire Fooke USPIRG Gov't. of Quebec Wilbur Smith
APT
Cal State U
New Age Industries
Twining, Inc.
Athalye Consulting Eng
Hahn Air
KPMG
ABA Global
Harrison & Bonini
Wilson, Ihrig
AIPRO
Sharon Greene David Evans and Associates
Overland, Pacific & Cutler
RailPros, Inc.
Nossaman LLP
EVRAZ-Ricky Mountain Steel
Diaz Yourman
Legion America
W2 Design, Inc.
ASM Affiliates EDC
Consulate General of Japan
Korean Consulate
UK Trade & Investment
Herbert Smith Freehills
Networking and Dealmaking
Clean, green, fast, comfortable, energy efficient, sustainable transportation
"Now, standing-room-only crowds show up when rail is on the agenda" -New York Times, November 6, 2009
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10 G St. NE, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20002 (202) 248-5001
