Event Calendar

Sep 08, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - St. Joseph

The St. Joseph/Benton Harbor forum will take place Wednesday, September 8. Time and location TBA Check here for further details.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

Sep 15, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - Dearborn

The Dearborn forum will take place Wednesday, September 15. Time and location TBA. Check here for further details.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

Sep 20, 2010: Rail Now! Oregon

Event Details
When: Monday, September 20th - 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Where: Salem Conference Center, 200 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR

Affordable Registration:  Just $25 (+ $2.25 processing fee) includes continental breakfast and gala lunch!

Click here to register

“Rail Now!” will explore improving passenger and freight rail between Eugene and Portland within five years,
and continue the national conversation about the benefits of investing in America’s passenger rail.

“Rail Now!” will bring together a variety of experts to talk about what is needed to improve and increase
the number of passenger trains serving the Willamette Valley.

We will explore the economic and environmental benefits of investing in both passenger and freight rail,
look at what is happening in other parts of the country, and understand how Oregon can pursue a
conventional 21st Century Rail Transportation System now.

Our goal: September will resonate with “Rail Now!” conversations and rail ideas, encouraging new
thinking with practical, achievable solutions to implement immediately in 2011.

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Sep 22, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - Holland

The Holland forum will take place Wednesday, Sept. 22 or Thursday, Sept. 23. Exact date, time and location TBA. Check here for further details.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

Oct 14, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids forum will take place Thursday, October 14. Time and location TBA. Check here for further details.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

Oct 14, 2010: Fall Council of Representatives Meeting

NARP Fall Council of Representatives Meeting

October 14-16, 2010: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Conference Center
187 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Click Here to Register to Attend

The special $125 (single or double occupancy) NARP Group Room Rate is available from Tuesday night, October 12 through Sunday night, October 17 and is only available by booking over the phone—800/253-3590—no later than September 12. Call (800) 253-3590 for reservations.

Registration Fee: $160.00 on or before September 30 and $180 thereafter. The Thursday tour is an additional $40.  (The $40 can be added to the check or the on-line payment)

Room reservations must be made by calling the Amway Grand Group Reservation Department directly at 800-253-3590 and specifying that you are with the ‘National Association of Railroad Passengers’ group.

Please note…Attendees are strongly encouraged to stay at the Amway Grand Hotel. NARP WILL incur additional costs if you stay at other Grand Rapids area hotels.

Thursday will feature a limited-capacity, first-come-first-served bus tour of rail facilities, that includes a ride and lunch on the Coopersville & Marne Railway.  A bus tour, leaving from the hotel at 8:30am, will travel to the Kalamazoo Intermodal Center, which has been recently redeveloped. From there the tour will move to Holland, where we will see what is arguably the finest unstaffed Amtrak station in the country. From there we travel to Muskegon Visitors’ Center, a Pere Marquette Railroad station which has not had passenger service since 1971.  After that comes the Coopersville and Marne, a shortline railroad where we will learn about the operations of a shortline, and take a tour of the line, including a box lunch. We will finish up at the Grand Rapids Intermodal Center, which has received an earmark to move Amtrak service to the site.  The tour will conclude by 4:00pm Tour registration costs $40 per person. Cut-off date is October 1.

Guest Speakers

• Joseph Szabo, Federal Railroad Administrator
• Henry Posner, III, Chairman, Iowa Interstate Railroad
• Michael W. Franke, Asst. Vice President for Policy & Development, Amtrak (Central Division)
• Gordon Mackay, Vice President, Indian Trails (Amtrak Thruway bus operator in Michigan)
• Bradford R. Houston, Urban & Architectural Designer from Utah

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Oct 19, 2010: Rail-Volution 2010: Making Portland a Livable Community Capital

“Rail-Volution Portland will provide attendees with exciting opportunities to showcase their own successes; share lessons learned with others in their field; gain useful insights, and demonstrate the value and strength of livable communities to the hesitant and skeptical back home. Witness the transportation and land use transformation that has been a case study for North America and the world.”

Event Details
Dates: Tuesday through Thursday, October 19 - 21, 2010
Location: Portland, Oregon (venue to be announced)
Cost: To be determined
Registration: Call 1-800-788-7077 or email the organizers.

Click here for more information and updates.

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Oct 21, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - Monroe

The Michigan By Rail Public Forum in Monroe will be held on October 21, time and location TBA.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

Oct 27, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - Detroit

The Detroit forum will take place between Wednesday, October 27 and Friday, October 29. Exact date, time and location TBA.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

Nov 17, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - Kalamazoo

The Kalamazoo forum will take place between Wednesday, November 17 and Friday, November 19. Exact date, time and location TBA.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

• An overview of the state’s existing rail system
• An interactive rail mapping session
• A discussion of public financing issues for rail projects and service  
• A statewide vision for freight, intercity passenger and commuter rail

More details can be found here.

» back to main calendar page

Dec 02, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - Muskegon

The Muskegon forum will take place Thursday, December 2. Time and location TBA.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

• An overview of the state’s existing rail system
• An interactive rail mapping session
• A discussion of public financing issues for rail projects and service  
• A statewide vision for freight, intercity passenger and commuter rail

More details can be found here.

» back to main calendar page

Dec 07, 2010: Michigan by Rail Forum - Ann Arbor

The Ann Arbor forum will take place between Tuesday, December 7 and Thursday, December 9. Exact date, time and location TBA.

The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants.  The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan ’s rail plan together.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan. 

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system. 

The Michigan by Rail public forums will include: 

• An overview of the state’s existing rail system
• An interactive rail mapping session
• A discussion of public financing issues for rail projects and service  
• A statewide vision for freight, intercity passenger and commuter rail

More details can be found here.

» back to main calendar page