Texas Rail Advocates

About Us

Texas Rail Advocates is a non-profit education organization educating the public and elected officials about the benefits of improved rail transportation in Texas and the Southwest.

Our mission is to accelerate Texas's economic growth and enhance the quality of life enjoyed by its people by advancing the development of rail service to its full potential as a carrier of freight and passengers.

History

A Time Line History of Texas Rail Advocates
2000-2006

2000		Texas Rail Advocates established (Bylaws finalized in October)
	October	Paul Mangelsdorf met with Jim RePass from the National Corridor Initiative.
		Paul Mangelsdorf met with representatives in Washington, DC.
2001	January	Adopted the Federally Designated South Central High Performance Rail Corridor as a major project: Working to publicize the corridor and get funding for stdy and development.
	February	Attended Texas State Senate hearings on transportation legislation. Met Mark Yachmetz, Federal Railroad Administration
	May	Made Presentation at the National Corridor Initative Conference, Washignton, D.C.-appropriate congressional contact visit as well.
		Attended Rail Coference in Milwakee, Wi.
	June	Meeting with State Representative Tommy Merrit and Texas Transportation Commission member Robert Eckels in Longview 8/2001
	August	meeting with Texas Transportation Comission member Ric Williamson and BNSF legislative contact, Dennis Kearns in Austin
		Attended the Texas Transportation Summi
2002	February	Met with Chris Heckmann from Governor Perry's office
	March	1st meeting with Senator Florence Shapiro
	May	Made a Texas Rail Presentation at the National Corridor Initative Conference in Washington, D.C.. Attended congressional hearings on Amtrak chaired by Senator John McCain. Calls on apprpriate congressional offices. Meeting with FRA's John Cikota. Meeting with Cogressman Michael Burgess.
	June	Gave Testimony on behalf of a Rail Division before Senate Transportation Cmmittee in Austin
	August	AttendedTexas Transportation Summit 2003
	December	Taylor Sharpe, John Radovich and Paul Mangesldorf met with Senator Florence Shapiro.
2003	February	Meeting in Austin with staeSenators and Representatives abd Legislative representative for BNSF Railway
	March	Austin meetings with TxDOT Executive Director Michael Behrens and Chris Heckmann, Transportation representative for Governor Perry.
	August	Rail Transportation at Texas Transportation Summit. Meeting with Congressman Michael Burgess at the Summit
	November	National Passenger Rail Goal Conference in Chicago and calls on Senators and Congressional delegates in Washington.
	December	TRA met at Senator John Cornyn's Office.
2004	June	Washington meetings.
	August	Texas Transportation Summit meetings with Congressman Burgess, County Judge Eckels, Harris County and Ron Davies with Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.
	November	Meeting with Senator Florence Shapiro.
2005	January	First South Central High Speed Rail Corridor conference.
	March	Oklahoma ran a special train to the legislature and Peter LeCody and John Radovich participated.
	August	Meeting in Fort Worth at Congresswoman Kay Granger's Office.
	September	Peter LeCody participated in the San Antonio Mobility conference. TRA had and exhibit and also met with Union Pacific.
2006	January	2nd Annual South Central High Speed Rail Corridor conference.
	April	Peter LeCody participated in the National Association of Rail Passenger's conference in Washington, DC.
	September	First TRA Open House and Board Meeting
		Paul Mangelsdorf represented TRA and had congressional meetings in Washington, DC.
		Peter LeCody went to the Council of Governments conference in Houston.
	October	Peter LeCody was in Austin for a meeting with Colby Chase with TXDOT and also attended the NARP regional meeting.
		Corridor Planning Session at Dick Watkin's lake house on Cedar Creek Lake. GoRail participated.
		John Radovich, Josh Coran, Peter LeCody and Paul Mangelsdorf had lunch with State Representative Linda Harper Brown.
		Paul Mangelsdorf and Peter LeCody met with Senator John Corona.