Previous Page
Fast Track
The leading global event for high-speed rail comes to the United States just as the industry is gaining steam — and possibly federal and state funding.
By Katie Kervin
I
n 2009, President Obama announced a six-year, $53-bil- lion plan to develop high-speed rail in the United States, and suddenly, North America was a viable host destina-
tion for the International Union of Railways (UIC) World Congress on High-Speed Rail. Until then, the Paris-based UIC tended to meet in places with well-developed high- speed-rail programs, such as Japan, China, and Europe. UIC Highspeed 2010, for example, was held in Beijing, while High- speed 2015 will be held in Japan. KellyAnne Gallagher, director of member services for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), was
involved in planning the Beijing conference when funding for the new U.S. program was announced. “APTA, who represents high-speed-rail interests in the United States, said, ‘Well, okay, there’s this new energy about high-speed rail — what would you think about hosting it in the United States next time around?’” Gallagher said. “And that’s how the conversa- tion began. The UIC was thrilled, because they’d never been to the United States with a major event before.” And that’s how the 8th World Congress on High-Speed Rail came to the United States this past summer.
› DECEMBER 2012 PCMA CONVENE 97