Happening Now
Registration + Agenda
AGENDA
ALL TIMES EASTERN
All events in the Virginia Ballroom unless noted
This page will often be updated as staff finalizes sessions & speakers
COUNCIL NOTE: If you would like to schedule time for a Committee meeting during RNDC24, please contact Joe Aiello ([email protected])
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Sunday, March 17
- 10:00a - 4:00p Board of Directors Work Session (Room details sent separately)
- Not Open to the Public
- 4:00p - 5:00p Registration Open
- 5:00p - 6:00p Public Board Meeting
-
Monday, March 18
- 8:00a Registration Open
- 8:30a Logistics/Housekeeping Announcements
- 8:35a Welcoming Remarks
- Meredith Richards, Board Chair, Rail Passengers
- Jim Mathews, President & CEO, Rail Passengers
- 9:00a Keynote Address: Leadership Panel - “Success Stories: Evaluating the Impact of Passenger Rail Service in the Southeast”
- Jay Corbalis, Vice President of Public Affairs, JBG Smith
- Mayor Steve Little, Marion, NC
- Vice Mayor Pat Dent, Williamsburg, VA
- City Councilor Luke Priddy, Roanoke, Virginia
- 10:00a BREAK
- 10:15a Amtrak Presentation
- Update on the planning and relationship building Amtrak is doing as part of its network expansion efforts
- Nicole Bucich, Vice President, Network Development - Amtrak
- Fred Gazzolo, Vice President, Product Development & Customer Analytics - Amtrak
- Update on the planning and relationship building Amtrak is doing as part of its network expansion efforts
- 11:00a Federal Railroad Administration Presentation
- Update on FRA’s Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study
- Katie List - Community Planner, Office of Railroad Development, FRA
- Dr. Santiago Cruz-Roveda, Supervisor, Office of Regional Outreach and Project Delivery, FRA
- Doug Gascon, Division Chief, Rail Program Policy & Performance, Office of Rail Program Development
- Update on FRA’s Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study
- Noon LUNCH
- Luncheon Speaker
- Update on FRA’s Implementation of IIJA Rail Programs, building better working relationships with states
- Christopher Coes, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, USDOT
- Update on FRA’s Implementation of IIJA Rail Programs, building better working relationships with states
- Luncheon Speaker
- 1:15p Legislative Briefing + Day on the Hill Preparation
- Sean Jeans-Gail, Vice President of Government Affairs, Rail Passengers
- 2:15p BREAK
- 2:30p Workshop: Supporting the Corridor Identification Program Development
- Joe Aiello, Director of Community Outreach & Organizing, Rail Passengers
- 3:30p BREAK
- 3:45p (Concurrent) Workshop: Preparing for the Next Surface Transportation Reauthorization
- Sean Jeans-Gail, Rail Passengers
- 3:45p (Concurrent) Workshop: Advocacy 101/Council Orientation (Mason)
- Jim Mathews, Rail Passengers
- Meredith Richards, Rail Passengers
- TJ Girsch, Vice-Chair, Rail Passengers
- 5:00p Wrap-Up & Housekeeping
- 5:30-6:30p Chairwoman’s Reception (Virginia Hall)
- All attendees welcome
-
Tuesday, March 19
- ALL DAY Day on the Hill
- 8:00a - 4:00p Registration Open
- 11:00a - 3:00p Rail Passengers New Office Open House
- 1200 G St NW, Suite 520
- 6:00p AleNation
- Hard Times Cafe, 1404 King St
- Guest Speaker: Barley Fields, Associate Program Manager for Multimodal Transportation, AASHTO
- Separate Ticket Event
-
Wednesday, March 20
- 8:00a Registration Open
- 9:00a Chair’s Opening Remarks
- Meredith Richards, Rail Passengers
- 9:30a President’s Report
- Jim Mathews, Rail Passengers
- 10:00a - 1:00p Council Business
- At-Large Council Election
- Candidate Certification Committee Election
- MARC Election
- Board of Directors Candidate Introductions
- 2024 & 2025 Fall Meeting Discussion
- 1:15p Conference Closes
- Post Conference - Voting opens for Board of Directors election
"The Rail Passenger Association's recognition of the essential work done by SMART-TD members aboard Amtrak during this difficult period is appreciated. The Golden Spike Award serves as a testament to the compassion and dedication our conductors, assistant conductors and other workers exhibit constantly through times both ordinary and extraordinary."
Jeremy Ferguson, SMART-TD President
December 21, 2021, on the Association awarding its 2021 Golden Spike Award to the Frontline Amtrak Employees.