by Michael Mackner, Member
<Csmjmackner@aol.com>

1999 Highlights

• Amtrack Reform Council held hearings in Dallas at Union Station.
• Organization meeting held with Gilbert E. Carmichael former FRA administor under the Sr. George Bush administration in Dallas.

2000 Highlights

• Orgaizational meetings held and the name Texas Rail Advocates was selected.
• TRA attempted to bring high speed rail equipment to the State Fair of Texas for public inspection. TRA was not successful in accomplishing this goal.
• TRA created a website.
• TRA created its Board and named those responsible for committee assignments.
• TRA made contact with the National Corridors Initiative. We have the head of this organization (Mr. Jim Repass) on TRA'S Board of Advisors.
• A meeting was held with Talgo American Chairman Mr. Jean Pierre Ruiz.

2001 Highlights

• Contacted Mr John Cikota, Director, High Speed Rail Corridor Development at the FRA.
• Attended the Annual National Corridors Initiative Conference(Washington, DC)
  
• Development meeting for the South Central and Gulf Coast Corridors were held (Washington, DC)
• TRA attended the annual High Speed Ground Transportation Conference (Milwaukee, WI)
• Met with Mr Allan Rutter FRA administrator in Austin, Texas.
• Met with members of the Texas Transportation Commission during August and September.
• TRA particpated in Texas Natural Resource Commission's roundtable on how multi-modal transportation should be the main trust of TXDOT in the future.
• TRA particated in the annual Texas Transportation Summit.
• TRA continued throughout 2001 to meet with Texas legislative and/or federal representatives.