WISARP SPRING MEETING DATE AND AGENDA SET

The Spring 2023 General Membership Meeting for the Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers has been set for Saturday, March 25, 2023 beginning at 10am CDT. This Spring the meeting will be conducted by Zoom Meeting software only. The virtual meeting will be sponsored by and hosted by the High Speed Rail Alliance.

This meeting will be FREE to everyone that registers in advance. https://tinyurl.com/t97zkfwk

WisARP Spring Meeting Agenda-Sat. March 25th, 2023

10:00 am John Parkyn (President of WisARP) – Opening Remarks

10:05 am High Speed Rail Alliance presentation-Rick Harnish (Executive Director)

10:35 am Lisa Stern (WisDOT-Chief of Harbors & Railroads) presentation

11:00 am Break

11:10 am Scott Rogers (VP of Governmental Affairs-Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the West Central WI Rail Coalition) update on passenger rail developments for West Central WI and the region.

11:35 am Mayor Don Merkes-Menasha, WI & Mayor Tony Penterman-Kaukauna, WI will give a joint presentation on the efforts to extend passenger rail service from Milwaukee to Green Bay via the Fox Cities.

12Noon John Parkyn (President of WisARP) Closing Remarks & Adjournment

Advertisement

WisARP GENERAL MEETING in PORTAGE

TCMC TRAIN UPDATES and ADDITIONAL PASSENGER RAIL NEWS

March 26, 2019 – This Saturday, March 30, will mark the first WisARP General Meeting held in Portage, WI., an Empire Builder stop.  The location is Dino’s Restaurant in Portage with the first speaker scheduled to start at 10:00am.

The primary topic of this meeting will be updates and more information regarding the Twin Cities- Milwaukee- Chicago (TCMC) train, a second daily train along the Empire Builder route.  Portage would also be a stop for the TCMC train, potentially offering two daily Amtrak trains each direction daily.

This meeting is also a first, inviting members of the general public to attend for free during the morning session.  Pre-registration is required to insure adequate seating.  The morning session will feature Derrick James of Amtrak and Arun Rao of WisDOT.  Mr. James will be speaking about updates to Amtrak Midwest and it’s role in supporting the TCMC train.  Mr. Rao will be giving updates on the planning process of the TCMC train and current budget process in Madison.

Meeting Notice (2019 – March 30) FREE morning

A link to download the registration form is above.  Free attendees can forward the information to Wisarpwisc@gmail.com.  Those paying to enjoy lunch and the afternoon session can register online.  Location details are on the registration form.

For those staying for the afternoon, City of Portage Director of Business Planning & Development Steven Sobiek will be offering a presentation about Portage and it’s transportation history.  Jerry Ratliff from All Aboard Minnesota will update his state’s news on the TCMC train and an additional Amtrak train to Duluth/ Superior.

Check out WisARP on YouTube!  Search for WisARP Wisconsin.

CP HOLIDAY TRAIN IN WISCONSIN

MORE VISITORS FOR PORTAGE HOLIDAY TRAIN STOP

December 15, 2018 – The CP Holiday Train made numerous visits in the state of Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday, December 7 & 8.  In fact, the CP Holiday Train made more stops in Wisconsin this year then in its 20 year history.
One notable stop this year was Portage, WI. The Holiday Train visit this year was opposite the Amtrak train station taking advantage of open space off of Averbeck St. Steven Sobiek, Director of Business Development and Planning for Portage said “the new venue on the north side of the tracks allows for more people to get a much closer and better view of the train concert.” There was ample room for parking this year, and the hope is room for a larger crowd in the future.
The CP Holiday Train is an effort to raise, money, food and awareness for local food banks and food shelves. Photo credits: top photo courtesy of Steven Sobiek, City of Portage;  bottom photo courtesy of Lyn Jerde, Portage Daily Register.

TRANSPORTATION CIRCUS

Here’s a local Milwaukee event that’s free and open to the general public. Attend if you can and let us know how this event went.

What: 88Nine Radio Milwaukee presenting a TRANSPORTATION CIRCUS.
When: Tuesday, March 31 beginning at 5:30p until 7:30p.
Where: 220 East Pittsburgh Ave., Milwaukee, WI.
88Nine Radio Milwaukee Walker’s Point location

This appears to be a new format for a transportation discussion in Milwaukee, hosted by a public radio station that’s turned itself into an Internet Radio station that has a strong cult following. Several businesses, non-profits and government entities are coming together to make this happen.
Event partners include Milwaukee County Transit System, The Milwaukee Streetcar, Milwaukee Brewing Co., (YES! Free beer!) Uber, Bublr Bikes, Wisconsin Bike Fed, and many, many more. Attendees do not need to register. (Just find a parking spot, if you drive.)

http://www.radiomilwaukee.org/circus
For more info, this link is from the 88Nine Radio Milwaukee website.

http://www.biztimes.com/article/20150326/ENEWSLETTERS07/150329835
This link from Biztimes contains more detailed info.
The Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers (WisARP) has since 1977 been involved in planning, advocating and educating the public on the need for more passenger trains.
WisARP, an association with more than 600 members, exists to promote passenger trains as a part of a balanced national transportation system. It is made up of people who enjoy traveling by train, find it a practical way to travel, and are dedicated to preserving and improving the quality and quantity of passenger trains in Wisconsin and the nation. We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Our funding comes entirely from dues.

Freight Rail Day 2014

(Early registration rate deadline:  September 21st)

8th Annual Wisconsin
Freight Rail Day 2014

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Radisson Paper Valley Hotel
333 W College Avenue
Appleton, Wisconsin 54911

“Freight Rail: Partner in Building Wisconsin’s Economy”

Sponsored by Wisconsin’s Freight Railroads

BNSF, CN, Canadian Pacific, WSOR/Watco with
Union Pacific, Progressive, Escanaba & Lake Superior, and Tomahawk Railroads

We’re excited to tell you about how this year’s program is shaping up.
The morning session will center on the Economic Contribution of Wisconsin’s Freight Railroads.
Presenters include:
Dr. Steven Deller – UW-Madison’s Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics
Dr. Bernard Weinstein – Associate Director, Maguire Energy Institute at SMU
Wendy Gehlhoff – Director, Florence County Economic Development Commission
& Chair, Northwoods Rail Transit Commission

The afternoon session will focus on Freight Rail Safety Initiatives.

Presenters include:
Jeff Plale – Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner
Jennifer Macdonald – Assistant Vice President of Government Affairs, Association of American Railroads
Lisa Stabler – President, Transportation Technology Center, Inc.

[And MORE yet to be announced…]

Agenda

Registration Form

For hotel accommodations contact the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel at (920)733-8000.

Mention the Wisconsin Railroad Committee while reserving your room.

 

This Year We Welcome The Kammer Group
as the New Government Affairs Partner for
The Wisconsin Railroad Committee