MIPRC Webinar: Midwestern States' High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Development -- Improving Transportation in our Region

On January 6, MIPRC held a webinar on the progress Midwestern states have made in improving passenger rail in our region. The region benefited from the first-ever substantive partnership between the federal government and states to provide capital investments for passenger rail development, receiving $2.5 billion in High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) funding. Attendees heard about the Midwest's overall plan for improving the speed and frequency of passenger rail service, and learned what steps Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri have taken with the funding they received. They also received an update on federal passenger rail-related legislation. 

You can listen to and watch this informative webinar by clicking here.

Panelists:

•  Illinois Rep. Elaine Nekritz, MIPRC chair (facilitator)
• Mr. Tim Hoeffner, Administrator, Office of Rail, Michigan DOT and MIPRC vice chair
• Mr. Joe Shacter, Director, Public and Intermodal Transportation, Illinois DOT
• Mr. Eric Curtit, Rail Administrator, Missouri DOT
• Mr. Dan Krom, Director, Passenger Rail Office, Minnesota DOT
• Mr. Dennis Slimmer, Chief, Bureau of Transportation Planning, Kansas DOT
• Mr. David Ewing, Federal Relations Consultant, MIPRC
• Ms. Laura Kliewer, Director, MIPRC

Issues covered:

• History of Midwestern states’ planning for passenger rail development/why passenger rail development makes sense for the region.
• Midwestern states’ progress to date through the federal/state partnership made possible through the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) and TIGER programs
       - Illinois
       - Missouri
       - Michigan
       - Minnesota
       - Kansas
• Federal outlook
• The way forward

2011 Meeting

MIPRC's 2011 annual meeting took place on June 14 & 15 in Washington, D.C. During the June 14 business meeting, commissioners discussed state and federal progress on passenger rail development, reviewed MIPRC’s work over the past year, and held small group discussions on the role of MIPRC commissioners in the success of the group. Officers were elected for the 20102 fiscal year. Illinois Rep. Elaine Nekritz will continue as MIPRC’s chair; Tim Hoeffner -- who is Gov. Snyder’s designee on the commission -- is the commission’s new Vice Chair; and Kansas Rep. Jo Ann Pottorff is the new Financial Officer.

FRA Administrator Joe Szabo was a featured speaker of the June 14 meeting. Administrator Szabo praised the Midwest for its strong plan to “ . . .  connect the 40 largest urban areas in the Midwest with good quality, 110 mph service.” He noted that the Midwest stands to benefit the most from passenger rail development, particularly since most rail suppliers are located in our region, and he pointed to the economic benefits of station development.

On June 15, MIPRC commissioners had a breakfast meeting with Amtrak CEO Joe Boardman and Government Affairs Vice President Joe McHugh. Commissioners then divided into teams to meet with Midwestern Members of Congress and their staff. During the 40+ meetings that day, MIPRC commissioners stressed the importance of a continued strong federal/state partnership for passenger rail development. The text of the letter that was presented is attached.

For more information, or to be added to the MIPRC Allies e-mail list to receive registration materials, please contact Laura Kliewer.

MIPRC Webinar on State Operating Costs for Passenger Rail

On April 20, 2011, MIPRC held a webinar on passenger rail state operating costs. Attendees learned about the new standardized methodology for establishing and allocating the costs of corridor (less than 750 miles) passenger rail routes and some of the innovative ways states are paying for the operating costs for their corridor service. Now, you can watch and listen to the webinar, too!