Michigan Rail Conference

Agenda

Please view our schedule below or download our Printable Agenda.

Pivot To The Future

Patrick Fuchs

Opening Keynote Speaker: Patrick Fuchs

Member STB since January 17, 2019.

Mark Patterson

Lunch Keynote Speaker: Mark Patterson

Associate Administrator for Research, Data and Innovation
Federal Railroad Administration

Logistics

  • Parking - Additional parking located in the North Parking Log
  • Enter via the North Entrance of the Vistatech Center
  • Registration/Info is located in front of the DiPonio Room on Main Street VT 5000
  • Main Room is inside the DiPonio Room
  • Session B Breakouts are located in the Rennolds RZoom VT 425

Dress Code

  • Wednesday: Casual
  • Thursday: Business Casual
  • Friday: Casual, PPE required (vest provided), no open toe shoes

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

  • 8:30 a.m. - TBD — Student Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Outing, Fox Creek Golf Course, 36000 Seven Mile Rd., Livonia, MI 48152
  • 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. — Small Group Meetings, Vistatech Center at Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia, MI 48152
  • 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. — Opening Reception, Vistatech Center at Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia, MI 48152

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Vistatech Center at Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia, MI 48152

  • 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. — Registration and Breakfast, VT500 Diponio
  • 8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. — Welcome and Safety Briefing, Bradley Wieferich(MI DOT) and Nick Little (MSU), VT500 Diponio
  • 8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. — Conference Opening, Moderator: Nick Little, Michigan State University, Opening Keynote Speaker: Patrick Fuchs, VT500 Diponio
  • 9:00 a.m - 9:30 a.m. — Break, VT500 Diponio
  • 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. — Opening Plenary - Education in Michigan, VT500 Diponio 
    • Moderator: Xinhao Liu - UIUC/NURail CoE
    • Speakers: 
      • Nick Little, Michigan State University
      • Pasi Lautala, Michigan Technological University/NURailCoE
      • Chris Barkan, UIUC/NURail CoE
  • 10:20 am - 11:20 am — Plenary Panel - Rail Improving Quality of Life, Social Well-being and Air Quality in Michigan, VT500 Diponio
    • Moderator: P.J. Sriraj - UIC/NURail CoE
    • Speakers:
      • Herbert Smith, Norfolk Southern
      • Matthew Payne, U.S. EPA
      • Peter Anastor, Michigan DoT
  • 11:30 a.m - 1:15 p.m — Lunch and Keynote, VT500 Diponio
    • Moderator: Pasi Lautala, Michigan Technological University/NURailCoE
    • Speaker: Mark Patterson, Associate Administrator for Research, Data and Innovation/Federal Railroad Administration
  • 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. — Breakout 1A - Passenger Studies and Grant Programs, VT500 Diponio
    • Moderator: Nick Little, Michigan State University
      • Speakers:
        • Carolyn Ulstad, Groundwork
        • Joe Shacter (invited) - Amtrak
        • Nik Berzkalns, Quandel Consultants
  • 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. — Breakout 1B - Shortline Industry Discussion, VT425 Rennolds
    • Moderator: Bradon Smith - Fletcher and Sippel LLC
    • Speakers: 
      • Sean Pengelly, LSRC
      • Curtis Sloan, Watco
      • Julie Eddy, Genessee and Wyoming
      • Chris Bagwell, Adrain and Blissfield Railroad
  • 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. — Break, VT500 Diponio
  • 2:45 p.m.  - 3:45 p.m. — Breakout 2A - Capacity Building for Passenger Rail, VT500 Diponio
    • Moderator: Dan Schulte - Quandel Consultants
      • Speakers:
        • Kevin Keller, HDR
        • Tod Schultz, MARP
        • Tyler Dick, University of Texas/NURail COE
  • 2:45 p.m.  - 3:45 p.m. — Breakout 2B - Intermodel Opportunities for Michigan, VT425 Rennolds
    • Moderator: Ana Taeb, Michigan Technological University 
      • Speakers:
        • Kuilin Zhang, Michigan Technological University/NURail CoE
        • Kory Johnson, Conrail
        • Girish Nair, CN
  • 3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. — Break, VT500 Diponio
  • 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m — Breakout 3A - Rail Transit and Multimodal Planning, VT500 Diponio
    • Moderator: Andy Powers - Michigan DOT
    • Speakers:
      • Jenya Abramovich, SEMCOG
      • P.S. Sriraj, UIC/NURail CoE
      • Peter Anastor, Michigan DOT
  • 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Breakout 3B - NURail CoE to Advance Future to Rail Transportation, VT425 Rennolds
    • Moderator: Tim Hoeffner, Quandel Consultants
    • Speakers: National University Rail Center of Excellence Partners
  • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. — Closing Reception, VT500 Diponio

Friday, August 16, 2024

  • 7:15 a.m. – Meet at North Parking Lot (attendees to park on the West End near Haggerty Road)

  • 7:30 a.m. – Depart Vistatech Center

  • 8:30 a.m. – Arrive at Conrail Livernois Yard, then visit Del Ray Interlocking/Junction

  • 10:00 a.m. – Depart Del Ray, pass the Gordie Howe International Bridge, CPKS Tunnel Portal and Michigan Central Station on the way to QLine Penske Tech Center

  • 11:00 a.m.  – arrive at Qline Penske Tech Center

  • 12:00 p.m. – depart Qline Penske Tech Center

  • 1:00 p.m. – Arrive at North Parking Lot for drop-off

Conference Planning Committee

  • Chris Bagwell, Adrian and Blissfield Railroad
  • Carolyn Ulstad, Groundwork Center
  • Nikkie Jonson, Michigan DOT
  • Alex Nikoloff, Michigan DOT
  • Jon Cool, Michigan Railroads Association
  • Nick Little, Michigan State University
  • Amanda Codere, Michigan Technological University
  • Pasi Lautala, Michigan Technological University
  • David Nelson, Michigan Technological University
  • Tim Hoeffner, Quandel Consultants
  • Ian Thompson, SEMCOG
  • Marcus Derch, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Michigan Rail Conference Sponsors

Student visiting a booth at MRC.

The Planning Committee and Organizing Partners want to give a very heartfelt thank-you to our amazing sponsors! Without their continued support each year, we wouldn't be able to provide such a plentiful conference for all our attendees.
Thank you!