ARC Testimony before Congress

Congressional Reporting Requirements

For More Information Contact:
Deirdre O'Sullivan
(202) 366-0631
 May 8, 2000

For Immediate Release

       The Amtrak Reform Council (the Council), an independent federal oversight commission established by Congress, will hold an Outreach Meeting on the State of California's Rail Program in Sacramento on Thursday, May 18th, to focus on all aspects of intercity rail passenger service in the state as well as the State of California Rail Program.  The program will include our keynote speakers:  State Senator Jim Costa of the California State Legislature and State Senator Betty Karnette, Chair, Senate Transportation Committee, California State Legislature.  Other speakers include Gil Mallery, President of Amtrak West; John Ferrera, Assistant Secretary for Transportation of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency; Tony Harris, Acting Director, California Department of Transportation; Jeremiah Hallisey, Commissioner, California Transportation Commission; and Warren Weber, Rail Program Manager.  In addition, the program includes representatives from the State Rail Corridors and the Commuter Authorities.

          The Outreach Meeting will be held in the Folsom Room at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West, 2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento, CA and will begin at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) and adjourn at 5:00 p.m.  The following day, Friday, May 19th, the Council will hold its business meeting at same location but in the Tahoe Room from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) to discuss, among other items, the Council's working paper on the Northeast Corridor, items tabled from the last business meeting in March, and new business items proposed by Council members.

           "The Council is looking forward to hearing more about the California Rail Program which is the most ambitious and largest state rail program in the country," said Gilbert E. Carmichael, Chairman.  "California is a great example of a state that's taking the lead to provide its constituents with rail as a real alternative to driving the highways."

           The Amtrak Reform Council is an independent federal oversight commission established under the provisions of the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 (P. L. 105-134) to recommend improvements in Amtrak's operations and to monitor its financial performance. 

           An agenda for the California Outreach Meeting for May 18th is available on our website at www.amtrakreformcouncil.gov or by contacting the ARC office at (202) 366-0591.  The Business Meeting Agenda for May 19th will be posted on our website next week.

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