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APTA COMMITTEE PROFILE |
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High-Speed and Intercity Rail Committee
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High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Committee
Chair: Anna M. Barry, deputy commissioner, Connecticut DOT
APTA Staff Advisor: Art Guzzetti, vice president, policy
367 members | Find details here
What is the committee’s role for APTA and the industry as a whole?
 In general, the committee advocates for and advances high-speed and intercity passenger rail in the industry and with APTA. Building on the leadership of the previous chair, Peter Gertler, the committee has three specific roles:
First is to define what we do—and what we can do—for the industry. In this regard, the committee serves as a thought leader. We’re a bit different from other APTA “mode committees” in that most members aren’t operators specifically. That said, Connecticut DOT (a member) and some other state DOTs (some of which are also members) will be in the future.
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Second, we strive to communicate with our APTA colleagues, the industry and the general public to educate them about high-speed and intercity passenger rail.
And third, we’re working to strengthen partnerships and reach out to organizations in the U.S. and worldwide, like the World Congress on High-Speed Rail.
What are the committee’s priorities for the year?
Right now, we’re working on the annual program, the High Performance Intercity Passenger Rail Policy Forum, on Nov. 30. We’re assembling panels and getting speakers to address the mode’s interests and challenges, which are especially important as we find ourselves on the edge of implementing several projects.
We’re also working on our ROI study, where we assess and explain the mode’s positive economic impact on the industry and on local and state governments.
We publish our newsletter, Speedlines, which Vice Chair Al Engel handles. It reports on the mode’s issues, challenges and opportunities. [Readers can find it here.]
We’re continuing to work with APTA’s Legislative Committee to expand our ability to advocate for and build on rail’s appropriations in the FAST Act, the first major surface transportation authorization bill to include a substantial rail title.
And finally, we are continuing to plan sessions at some of APTA’s biggest meetings.
How does the committee engage members in those priorities?
The committee is very active—our meetings are always scheduled on Sundays at 8 a.m., but they’re well attended! Members are committed, active and follow through to help get things done. An interesting note: The committee is second in size only to the Legislative Committee.
Please describe how your committee encourages young professionals to participate in its work.
The composition of the committee leans toward senior colleagues, so we recognize how important it is to reach out to young professionals. In fact, we have some younger professionals who serve in leadership positions by chairing various subcommittees.
But we’re still eager to find and engage “young blood” in the committee, and so we are redoubling our efforts to recruit members. There’s certainly plenty to do! We believe the cause is interesting and exciting to the next generation, so we have that advantage as we maximize their energy and interest.
Please share how an individual’s service on this committee can add value to his or her career.
High-speed and intercity passenger rail is on the cutting edge of public transportation, with frequent developments of interest to anyone who wants to get involved in this burgeoning mode.
Also, the committee represents a great opportunity for young professionals to work with senior leaders from the public and the private sides. It’s an ideal way to learn from them, work with them and build networks. We also work closely with other APTA committees like Commuter Rail CEOs, so that’s a great way to get involved across the rail industry.
Please describe the committee’s work to advance the goals in APTA’s strategic plan (safety and security, resource advocacy, workforce development, demographic shifts and technological innovation).
Although the committee’s priorities aren’t specifically tied to these strategic goals, our interests certainly intersect with all of them. We’ve touched on a few in this profile, from resource advocacy to demographic shifts, but the committee addresses them all in one way or another. In the coming year, one of our major goals will be to align our work plan with APTA’s strategic plan.
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