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high speed rail conference AGENDA

Premier National Event Bringing Together Business and Political Leaders

THE HIGH SPEED RAIL EVENT OF THE YEAR IS COMING TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL!
TUESDAY MAY 16
8:30-9:00am
Registration, Networking & Refreshments
9:00-9:15am
Special Keynote Address from Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi
9:15-9:45am
1) Igniting America's High Speed Rail Revolution
  • Andy Kunz, USHSR
  • Terry Hynes, Sidley Austin LLP Bio
TOPICS: Moving America into the 21st century with high speed rail; Accelerating project delivery; Creating fast new transportation options while decarbonizing the US transportation system; Delivering the large-scale climate solution while advancing energy and national security, and reducing the foreign trade deficit from foreign oil; Pushing the paradigm shift in transportation funding while creating a new economic development driver unlocking jobs and bringing back U.S. manufacturing; Connecting to miles of affordable communities making living and transportation accessible; Bringing jobs and prosperity to second-tier cities and rural areas; Stimulating Transit Oriented Development and walkable communities for all.
9:45-10:30am
2) Congressional Roundtable: High Speed Rail, the Silver Bullet Solution
  • Ezra Silk, USHSR Bio (Moderator)
  • Congressman Seth Moulton Bio
  • Congresswoman Dina Titus Bio
  • Robert Creamer, Democracy Partners Bio
TOPICS: Exploring how high speed rail can address issues related to capacity, congestion, economic development and access, energy dependence, safety, equity, affordable housing; Increasing federal funding, clearing hurdles, building Congressional support, and speeding up project delivery.
10:30-11:00am
Morning Networking Break
11:00-12:00pm
3) High Speed Rail Around the World
  • Andy Kunz, USHSR (Moderator)
  • Philippe Lorand, UIC, Paris Bio
  • Armin Kick, Siemens Mobility Bio
  • Scott Sherin, Alstom Bio
  • Allan Immel, Hitachi Rail Bio
TOPICS: Latest updates on the rapidly expanding 35,000 miles of high speed rail lines in operation worldwide. Expected doubling of network over the next 30 years; 3 billion passengers per year travel on high speed trains; New rail projects taking shape in numerous nations; the growing global high speed train fleet; New modern train stations, high-tech trains, and advanced systems; High speed rail as growing global climate solution decarbonizing major corridors across continents; National mandates and high speed rail expansion plans; International funding and finance.
12:00-1:30pm
Networking Lunch with Congressman Rick Larsen Bio Giorgio Travaini, Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking, Brussels Bio (Video Address)
1:30-2:30pm
4) California High Speed Rail: America's Game-Changing Megaproject
  • Secretary Ray LaHood Bio (Moderator)
  • Brian Kelly, California High Speed Rail Authority Bio
  • Margaret Cederoth, California High Speed Rail Authority Bio
  • Greg Regan, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO Bio
TOPICS: Latest updates on America's high speed rail megaproject; Progress, procurement schedule, phases and process, sustainability report, funding plans, and station development updates; Benefits the project will deliver to California residents and visitors.
2:30-3:30pm
5) Accelerating Project Delivery
  • Diane Cowin, AECOM Bio (Moderator)
  • Brian Kelly, California High Speed Rail Authority Bio
  • Terry Hynes, Sidley Austin LLP Bio
  • Eric Goldwyn, New York University Bio
  • John Barker, AECOM Bio
  • Mercedes Sierra, SENER Bio
TOPICS: Shortening project approval timeframe; Streamlining project delivery process; Speeding up funding and construction; Standardization, efficiency and economies of scale; Learning from other infrastructure delivery processes; Federal and state actions to shorten lead times.
3:30-4:00pm
Afternoon Networking Break
4:00-4:45pm
6) World-Class Station Design and Transit Oriented Development
  • Chris Leinberger, Managing Partner and Co-founder, Places Platform, LLC Bio (Moderator)
  • Doug Firstenberg, Stonebridge Bio
  • Mike Reininger, CEO - Brightline Holdings Bio
  • Margaret Cederoth, California High Speed Rail Authority Bio
  • Agustin Arizti, DB Bio
TOPICS: Global high speed rail stations; Leveraging rail stations for economic development, community-building, and great placemaking; Embedding stations in walkable urbanism; Planning for high-density, mixed-use developments integrated with rail stations; Walkable community growth trends and real estate development industry enthusiasm; Leveraging increased land values to fund rail systems; Creating walkable, affordable communities in sufficient quantities to meet high demand.
4:45-5:30pm
7) High Speed Rail Operations
  • Andrea Giuricin, TRA Consulting, Italy Bio (Moderator)
  • Philippe Lorand, UIC, France Bio
  • Jorge Rios, DB, Bio
  • Other speakers to be announced
TOPICS: Update on the global high speed rail network and its operations; Growth, competition, mode shift, market share capture from aviation and driving, and creation of new induced travel; Adaptability of trains to different clientele, and seating arrangements; Adapting services with changing patterns of work, living, and travel; Efficient operations, energy savings, utilizing renewables; Scaling up for future growth, maximizing use of network infrastructure.
6:30-8:30pm
Evening Reception (Sponsored by Sidley LLP)
Join us for an evening of fun, friends, food, drinks, and the best high speed rail networking in town!
  • Special address from Congressman Jim Costa Bio
  • Special address from Congressman Ro Khanna Bio
WEDNESDAY MAY 17
8:00-8:30am
Registration, Networking & Refreshments
8:30-9:30am
8) Decarbonizing the U.S. Transportation Sector with High Speed Rail
  • Jeniece Pettitt, CNBC Bio (Moderator)
  • Anthony Perl, Simon Fraser University Bio
  • Zhenhua Chen, Ohio State University Bio
  • Secretary Toks Omishakin, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Bio
  • Shelley Poticha, Natural Resources Defense Council Bio
TOPICS: USDOT Decarbonization Roadmap; Scaling up high speed rail, renewable energy, and walkable communities together; Creating new sustainable options for living and moving around more easily; Transitioning America into the 21st century with high speed rail; Global examples of national-scale transportation decarbonization actions in China, Japan, and across Europe; California pioneering examples of transforming travel and living with new clean transportation options.
9:30-10:00am
9) The Biden Administration's Vision for High Speed Rail
  • Mitch Landrieu, White House Bio
  • Secretary Ray LaHood, Bio
TOPICS: Establishing high speed rail in America; Laying the groundwork for a national vision; Proving the case for high speed rail with demonstrator projects running in 2-3 corridors; Working with states to accelerate project delivery, creating new green transportation options while increasing sustainability and energy independence; Improving the daily lives of Americans with new transportation options.
10:00-10:40am
10) High Speed Rail Project Pipeline
  • Karen Hedlund, Surface Transportation Board (STB) Bio (Moderator)
  • Arthur Sohikian, High Desert Corridor Project Bio
  • Clement Solomon, Georgia Department of Transportation Bio
  • Brendon Wheeler, North Central Texas Council of Governments Bio
TOPICS: Texas High Speed Rail, Cascadia High Speed Rail, High Desert Corridor, Southeast High Speed Rail, North Atlantic Rail; Accelerating project delivery, increasing federal and state funding, launching new projects, building regional networks, and linking megaregions.
10:40-11:00am
Morning Networking Break
11:00-12:00pm
11) Brightline West: High Speed Trains on the Horizon
  • Alan Ohnsman, Forbes Magazine Bio (Moderator)
  • Mike Reininger, CEO, Brightline Holdings Bio
  • Keith Tarkalson, Stacy and Witbeck Bio
  • Peter Kennedy, BMWED-Teamsters Rail Conference Bio
TOPICS: Progress update on the new high speed rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California; Progress, status, construction schedule, procurement; New Las Vegas station details embedded within a large new entertainment mixed-use Transit Oriented Development complex.
12:00-12:45pm
12) Made in America: An Industrial Strategy for U.S. High Speed Rail
  • Nicole Brewin, Railway Supply Institute Bio (Moderator)
  • David Valenstein, Federal Railroad Administration Bio
  • Saurav Mittal, Railone Bio
  • Armin Kick, Siemens Mobility Bio
  • Scott Sherin, Alstom Bio
TOPICS: Scaling up high speed rail manufacturing in the United States; Developing domestic supply chains and growing the manufacturing sector in all aspects of high speed rail development from infrastructure, track and systems, to stations, trains, and components.
12:45-2:00pm
Networking Lunch with Amit Bose, FRA Bio Rod Diridon, Emeritus Executive Director, Mineta Transport Institute Bio (Video Address)
2:00-2:45pm
13) Building Integrated Rail Networks
  • Peter Gertler, HNTB Bio (Moderator)
  • Andy Byford, Amtrak Bio
  • Secretary Toks Omishakin, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Bio
  • Jim Mathews, Rail Passengers Association Bio
  • Rick Harnish, High Speed Rail Alliance Bio
TOPICS: Linking rail systems into easy-to-use networks; Planning for one-seat rides and easy transfers; Coordinating infrastructure investments and standards, sharing stations, and linking ticketing systems; Investing in both main trunk lines and feeder and distribution rail systems.
2:45-3:30pm
14) Scaling Up Private Investment
  • Terry Hynes, Sidley Austin Bio (Moderator)
  • John Morton, Global Infrastructure Partners Bio
  • Jim Ziglar, REBEL Group Bio
  • Ray Atkins, Sidley Austin LLP Bio
  • Chris Brady, Commonwealth Research Associates Bio
TOPICS: Growing private sector involvement and investment in new high speed rail systems; Removing barriers, shortening timelines, and accelerating support and assistance to shave years off project delivery timelines and unlock private funding.
3:30-4:00pm
Afternoon Networking Break
4:00-4:30pm
15) Transforming the Politics of High Speed Rail
  • Robert Creamer, Democracy Partners Bio (Moderator)
  • Mike Efaw, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Bio
  • Dean Devita, NCFO SEIU Bio
  • Keith Wilson, Titan Freight Bio
  • Jeffrey Soth, Operating Engineers
TOPICS: Moving America into 21st century high speed rail by transforming the politics; Building widespread support for significantly increased federal funding to accelerate multiple projects across the nation; Delivering real change for the American people with fast new transportation options. Messaging and delivering on the promise of better access, better lives.
4:30-5:00pm
16) Next Steps Toward America's High Speed Rail Revolution
  • Robert Pearsall, USHSR Bio (Moderator)
  • Secretary Ray LaHood, Bio
  • Andy Kunz, USHSR
  • Terry Hynes, Sidley Austin LLP Bio
  • Robert Creamer, Democracy Partners Bio
TOPICS: Conference summary and recommendations for fast-tracking high speed rail across America.
5:00-6:00pm
Champagne Reception
6:30-8:00pm
Teamsters Rail Conference After-Party (USHSR Members Only)
Special high speed rail reception at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters penthouse for USHSR Members, DOT Officials, and Members of Congress.

VENUE
HIGH SPEED RAIL 2023 is happening in downtown Washington, DC, 3 blocks from the White House in an amazing private conference facility provided by Sidley Austin LLP. The conference will be held in one large modern space throughout the two days - so everyone will have ample opportunity to meet, socialize, and network with all the top professionals and decision makers in attendance. CONFERENCE ADDRESS: 1501 K Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20005
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