News and
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News and Announcements
2009 Congressional Briefing Trip
to Washington D.C.
April 2009
The SHSRC visits Washington D.C. semi-annually to brief Congress on critical topics
regarding passenger rail.
Here is the Congressional Briefing 2009 document:
Congressional Briefing (a PDF file)
to Washington D.C.
April 2009
The SHSRC visits Washington D.C. semi-annually to brief Congress on critical topics
regarding passenger rail.
Here is the Congressional Briefing 2009 document:
Congressional Briefing (a PDF file)
2008 Passenger Rail Summit Held
The purpose of the Summit was to update state officials, transportation leaders
and advocates with an immediate interest in passenger rail transportation and
associated issues. See Agenda
News Coverage of the High-Speed Passenger-Rail Summit
Meridian Star
October 11, 2008
National and state leaders convened at downtown Meridian's Union Station to plot a
strategy for high-speed rail.
A first for the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, the summit's intention was to
look at and talk about proposals for brining [high-speed] passenger rail to Alabama,
Louisiana and Mississippi.
See full story: PDF or JPEG
Story picked up by Business Week
The purpose of the Summit was to update state officials, transportation leaders
and advocates with an immediate interest in passenger rail transportation and
associated issues. See Agenda
News Coverage of the High-Speed Passenger-Rail Summit
Meridian Star
October 11, 2008
National and state leaders convened at downtown Meridian's Union Station to plot a
strategy for high-speed rail.
A first for the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, the summit's intention was to
look at and talk about proposals for brining [high-speed] passenger rail to Alabama,
Louisiana and Mississippi.
See full story: PDF or JPEG
Story picked up by Business Week
Upcoming Presentations, Workshops and
Conferences
There are none at this time.
Conferences
There are none at this time.
SHSRC Director, Karen Parsons Testifies Before the
U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on
Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials,
concerning:
The Role of Intercity Passenger Rail During National
Emergencies, February 2008
At the invitation of the U. S. House of Representatives Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Railroads,
Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, SRTC Director, Karen Parsons,
testified at a public hearing on "The Role of Intercity Passenger
Rail During National Emergencies."
Full text of Karen Parsons' testimony
The Public Hearing was called by Congresswoman Corrine Brown
(Florida, 3rd Congressional District) to probe the roll of intercity
passenger rail during national emergencies. The hearing was held
on February 11, 2008, at the Union Passenger Terminal in New
Orleans.
U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on
Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials,
concerning:
The Role of Intercity Passenger Rail During National
Emergencies, February 2008
At the invitation of the U. S. House of Representatives Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Railroads,
Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, SRTC Director, Karen Parsons,
testified at a public hearing on "The Role of Intercity Passenger
Rail During National Emergencies."
Full text of Karen Parsons' testimony
The Public Hearing was called by Congresswoman Corrine Brown
(Florida, 3rd Congressional District) to probe the roll of intercity
passenger rail during national emergencies. The hearing was held
on February 11, 2008, at the Union Passenger Terminal in New
Orleans.
Amtrak Considers Coast Rail Line
From the Sun-Herald
Biloxi-Gulfport and South Mississippi
May 13, 2009
An Amtrak representative is coming to a city near you to discuss with city leaders the
possibility of restoring passenger rail service from New Orleans to a town near Jacksonville,
Florida.
The railroad is on the last leg of a nine-month, $1 million study ordered and paid for by
Congress to develop a plan, complete with a time line, for restoring service that was lost due
to Katrina.
Part of the federal requirement is that Amtrak shop the options around to the cities that would
be stops along the route, should the service be restored. This would include Coast cities,
plus stops in Alabama and Florida.
There are no guarantees there will be passenger trains on this route again any time soon.
But with such a pro-rail U.S. President in office and other talk about the stimulus package
funding a nationwide system of high-speed passenger trains, restoring this route is
beginning to look like a real possibility, rail promoters say.
Amtrak is presenting three options, and the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, which
has seen the presentation, likes the third. A once-a-day-each-way train that runs New Orleans
to Jacksonville and back.
Read full story
From the Sun-Herald
Biloxi-Gulfport and South Mississippi
May 13, 2009
An Amtrak representative is coming to a city near you to discuss with city leaders the
possibility of restoring passenger rail service from New Orleans to a town near Jacksonville,
Florida.
The railroad is on the last leg of a nine-month, $1 million study ordered and paid for by
Congress to develop a plan, complete with a time line, for restoring service that was lost due
to Katrina.
Part of the federal requirement is that Amtrak shop the options around to the cities that would
be stops along the route, should the service be restored. This would include Coast cities,
plus stops in Alabama and Florida.
There are no guarantees there will be passenger trains on this route again any time soon.
But with such a pro-rail U.S. President in office and other talk about the stimulus package
funding a nationwide system of high-speed passenger trains, restoring this route is
beginning to look like a real possibility, rail promoters say.
Amtrak is presenting three options, and the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, which
has seen the presentation, likes the third. A once-a-day-each-way train that runs New Orleans
to Jacksonville and back.
Read full story
| Top Photo from Flickr.com, by Pictur 300 |
During the Spring 2009 state legislative sessions in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas,
several rail-related pieces of legislation were signed into law.
The legislation is summarized below and the entire text of each bill is provided in PDF
files.
Alabama
HB 931 Open PDF file for entire text
This bill creates the Alabama Capital Assistance Stimulus for Rail Projects Act of 2009 to
establish and operate a program to promote passenger rail travel and service.
HB 617 Open PDF file for entire text
This bill changes the name of the Commission to the Southern High-Speed Rail
Commission.
Mississippi
HB 1713 Open PDF file for entire text
Authorizes $16 million in state general obligation bonds to provide for various rail projects
authorized under the Act, provides $250,000 for a comprehensive State Rail Plan for freight
and passenger rail; directs MDOT to work in consultation with the SHSRC and the
Mississippi Development Authority to promote passenger rail travel and service; and
changes the name of the Commission to the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission.
Texas
SB 1382 Open PDF file for entire text
This bill relates to the coordination of the planning, construction, operation and maintenance
of a statewide passenger rail system by the Texas Department of Transportation.
HB 646 Open PDF file for entire text
This bill authorizes Texas to become a member of the Southern High-Speed Rail
Commission.
several rail-related pieces of legislation were signed into law.
The legislation is summarized below and the entire text of each bill is provided in PDF
files.
Alabama
HB 931 Open PDF file for entire text
This bill creates the Alabama Capital Assistance Stimulus for Rail Projects Act of 2009 to
establish and operate a program to promote passenger rail travel and service.
HB 617 Open PDF file for entire text
This bill changes the name of the Commission to the Southern High-Speed Rail
Commission.
Mississippi
HB 1713 Open PDF file for entire text
Authorizes $16 million in state general obligation bonds to provide for various rail projects
authorized under the Act, provides $250,000 for a comprehensive State Rail Plan for freight
and passenger rail; directs MDOT to work in consultation with the SHSRC and the
Mississippi Development Authority to promote passenger rail travel and service; and
changes the name of the Commission to the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission.
Texas
SB 1382 Open PDF file for entire text
This bill relates to the coordination of the planning, construction, operation and maintenance
of a statewide passenger rail system by the Texas Department of Transportation.
HB 646 Open PDF file for entire text
This bill authorizes Texas to become a member of the Southern High-Speed Rail
Commission.
Rail-Related Legislation Passed by State Legislatures
in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas
Spring 2009
in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas
Spring 2009