Event Registration & Agenda

JUST ANNOUNCED

Agenda

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Rail Passengers’ legislative and policy team will provide updates on the implementation of the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA) -- better known as the bipartisan infrastructure bill -- and outline next steps at the federal and state level.

Rail Passengers will provide attendees legislative briefings and materials to assist in outreach as part of our Congressional Day on the Hill. Note: At this time, it is still unclear what public access protocols will be in place for House and Senate Office Buildings in March. It is likely that Hill meetings will still need to be held over web conference.

The Federal Railroad Administration will give updates on new rail programs created by the IIJA. This includes the creation of a new pipeline of rail projects; opportunities for states to apply for billions of dollars of new passenger rail funding; and studies to bring daily service to the Cardinal and Sunset Limited, as well as restore daily service to several discontinued long-distance routes.

Attendees will receive updates from Amtrak on its post-pandemic service recovery; how they’re using the IIJA money to speed equipment procurement, modernize stations, and upgrade physical infrastructure; and how they’ll work with passengers through a Congressionally mandated working group to improve food and beverage.

The bulk of the conference will be taken up by a series of workshops designed to help passenger advocates advance projects in their own backyard. Sessions will include:

• Drawing the Political Map: While the IIJA provides an unprecedented level of funding for passenger rail, it also places an unprecedented funding and administrative burden on states and local entities. Rail Passengers must play a key role in developing political support at the local level to enable an equitable distribution of competitive grant funds. We’ll work with attendees on how best to create dozens of project- and corridor-specific working groups among our Council, our supporters, and other passenger and transportation groups; and how to coordinate national outreach efforts across corridors and region-specific working groups.
• Customer Service and the Passenger: the IIJA requires Amtrak to establish a Food & Beverage Working Group, which will include nonprofit organizations representing Amtrak passengers. Given our role in administering the (now-defunct) Amtrak Customer Advisory Committee, Rail Passengers Association is uniquely positioned to provide input on how this working group could be effectively organized. We’ll work with attendees on how best to structure an internal working group within our organization to generate recommendations and respond to requests, and how to effectively draw upon the experience of millions of onboard hours shared among Rail Passengers’ Council and supporters.
• Council, Committee, and Regional Breakouts: We’ll provide our elected volunteer leadership and supporters time and space to identify areas of concern within their local advocacy efforts, collaborating with other attendees and staff to share strategies and brainstorm solutions.