Under Secretary Polly Trottenberg Keynotes American Public Transportation Association (APTA) High-Speed Rail Connectivity Systems Panel

The national high-speed rail (HSR) network will connect current and new population centers in the United States. But how will passengers access those HSR stations, especially in areas currently without effective transit? Under Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg will keynote “Transit Feeder and Distribution Systems for High-Speed and Intercity Rail: Creating a Network” on Tuesday, October 1, from 2:30-5 p.m. at the Chicago Hilton. This Norman Y. Mineta Transportation Policy Summit, sponsored by the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), is featured at the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Annual Meeting. For information, go to www.apta.com/mc/annual/Pages/default.aspx.

Joining Ms. Trottenberg is a “world-class” panel of HSR experts, who will identify the options and opportunities to implement a comprehensive network. Those experts include:

• Drew Galloway, chief of Northeast Corridor Planning and Performance for Amtrak; 
• Jeff Morales, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority;
• Judge Robert Eckels, president of the Texas Central High-Speed Railway;
• Stanley Feinsod, director of MTI’s High-Speed Rail Connectivity Center.

APTA past chair and MTI executive director Rod Diridon, Sr. will moderate. After presentations, the floor will be opened for audience questions. The session will be recorded for re-broadcast.

“High-speed rail is only as good as the systems that transport people to and from the stations,” said Mr. Diridon, who is also past chair of the APTA High-Speed and Intercity Rail Committee. “In other parts of the world, the feeder systems are transit based. Now our fine US transit systems must meet the rapidly emerging challenge of HSR in the northeast corridor, California, and across the nation.”

The ideal transit/HSR network would include optimum transit options, coordinated schedules, convenient drop-off and pick-up points, remote park-and-ride lots, access to shared-use bicycles and vehicles, in-fill development of transit villages, and other support systems. Bicycles, buses, bus ways, light rail, commuter rail, and inter-city passenger rail can provide seamless access to those living in station cities and nearby communities.

“Plan to join Under Secretary Trottenberg and this remarkable panel as they discuss how to develop this important element of our nation’s transit networks,” said Mr. Diridon.

ABOUT THE MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE (MTI)

MTI conducts research, education, and information transfer programs focusing on surface transportation policy and management issues, especially related to transit. MTI was established by Congress in 1991 as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act and won national re-designation competitions in 2002, 2006 and 2011. The Institute is funded by Congress through the US DOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration, by the California Legislature through Caltrans, and public and private grants. In 2006 the US Department of Homeland Security selected MTI as a National Transportation Security Center of Excellence. The internationally respected members of the MTI Board of Trustees represent all major surface transportation modes. MTI is the lead institute for the Mineta National Transit Research Consortium, an affiliation of nine university transportation research centers. MTI is affiliated with San Jose (CA) State University’s College of Business.