High-Speed Rail Media Roundtable with Federal Railroad Deputy Administrator Karen Rae

On the heels of President Obama’s historic announcement awarding $8 billion in high-speed rail grants around the nation, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the International Union of Railways (UIC) are hosting a two-day high-speed rail workshop.  The workshop will feature FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae and other international experts in high-speed rail and transportation policy at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel (at Pentagon City) in Arlington, Virginia from February 8-9, 2010. The workshop will bring together experts from the public and private sectors to provide insight and best practices for implementing high-speed rail projects at every stage – from planning, to financing, to construction, to operations and management.

In addition to FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae, featured speakers during the course of the workshop include Stephanie Kopelousos, Secretary of Transportation at the Florida Department of Transportation; Gene Conti, Secretary of Transportation at the North Carolina Department of Transportation; and Yoshio Ishida, Chairman of the International Union of Railways. More information about this event, including registration information and the full program of speakers, is available at www.apta.com. See below for free registration information for media.

Additionally, APTA and UIC will host a media roundtable on Monday, February 8th at 11:00 a.m.  Details on the February 8 media roundtable are as follows:

• WHAT:  High-Speed Rail Media Roundtable
• WHO:  Karen Rae – Deputy Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
  William Millar – President, American Public Transportation Association (APTA)   
  Rod Diridon – Chair, High-Speed & Intercity Rail Committee, APTA/Executive Director Mineta Transportation Institute
  Jean-Pierre Loubinoux – director general, Union Internationale des Chemins de fer (UIC—International Union of Railways) (France)
• WHEN:  Monday, February 8, 2010
  11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City
  Plaza B
  Arlington, Virginia
• RSVP:  Attendance at the full workshop and the roundtable is free for media, but we request that you register in advance. To pre-register, fill out the Registration Form. Cross out the payment section and write PRESS, and then fax it to the APTA Meetings Department at 202-496-4331.