about ushsr
The premier Association Bringing World-Class High Speed Trains to America
about ushsr
The US High Speed Rail Association is the premier membership advocacy organization and trade association advancing fast rail in America. USHSR was founded in 2009 as an independent nonprofit organization with the mission to build widespread public, business, and political support for a major federal investment in America's national rail network.
The US High Speed Rail Association encourages the transformation of the U.S. transportation sector into a safe, fast and reliable, low-cost, green system that works for all Americans. By uniting the power of the high speed rail industry including manufacturers, engineering firms, the civil construction industry, and their allied industries, both public and private, we are championing policies that enable the continued and aggressive growth of high speed rail in the United States.
We invite you to join us.
LEADERSHIP
Andy Kunz, President & CEO USHSR founder Andy Kunz is a high speed rail expert and national award-winning designer with a background in city planning, urban design, and landscape architecture. Mr. Kunz has testified before Congress about high speed rail and the many benefits it will bring to America. Prior to starting the US High Speed Rail Association, Mr. Kunz was a leading designer of Transit Oriented Development projects working in both the public and private sectors.
Mr. Kunz travels widely and has appeared in numerous media including NPR, CNBC, Fox News, Bill Press Show, New York Times, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, the Weather Channel, Global News, China Daily, Time Magazine, and Huffington Post. Mr. Kunz holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and a Master of Urban Design from the University of Miami.
Mr. Kunz travels widely and has appeared in numerous media including NPR, CNBC, Fox News, Bill Press Show, New York Times, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, the Weather Channel, Global News, China Daily, Time Magazine, and Huffington Post. Mr. Kunz holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and a Master of Urban Design from the University of Miami.
Ezra Silk, Political Director
Ezra Silk is the Co-Founder and Political Director of the U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition, a project of USHSR. Mr. Silk has 10 years of public affairs experience, leading a number of high-impact issue campaigns advancing climate solutions at the federal, state and local levels.
Recently, Mr. Silk led campaigns that secured a $4.2 billion bond appropriation for California High Speed Rail, as well as eligibility for high-speed rail projects in the $12 billion Federal-State Partnership Program. He leads the Coalition’s engagement on Capitol Hill and with the Biden Administration as he manages the day-to-day work of the Coalition.
Mr. Silk holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Wesleyan University.
Robert Pearsall, Partnerships Director
Robert Pearsall is USHSR's Partnerships Director, and works with global leaders in high speed rail development. Mr. Pearsall identifies and recruits new members to the Executive Committee.
Mr. Pearsall is part of the core leadership team, supporting USHSR’s advocacy efforts and day-to-day operations. Previously, he staffed the Assembly transportation committee in the California legislature.
Mr. Pearsall is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and the School of Law at the University of San Francisco.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter