Passenger Rail Forum

Business people, elected officials, and economic development professionals are invited to hear how investing in passenger rail can rebuild communities. The 2013 Passenger Rail Forum is Monday, October 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Toledo Club in downtown Toledo.

The forum is an annual meeting where transportation advocates share news about development of passenger rail service in Ohio and neighboring states. It is presented by TMACOG and the Northwest Ohio Passenger Rail Association (NOPRA). The featured speaker is John Robert Smith. Smith is the co-chair of Transportation for America and senior policy advisor for Smart Growth America. His presentation for the forum is titled, “Revitalizing Communities: The Power of Station Renovation.”

 John Robert Smith was an early practitioner of transit-oriented development. When he served as mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, he successfully renovated the city’s historic train station, a project that helped revitalize Meridian’s downtown. That experience made Smith a passionate advocate for the power of station renovation projects to link transportation and community revitalization. He speaks widely, making the case for strategies and policies that support multi-modal transportation and affordable housing to develop our nation’s communities.

Registration is required. Log on to PassengerRailForum.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $28 for NOPRA members, $33 for non-members, and $20 for students. For more information, contact NOPRA at NWOhioPassengerRail@gmail.com, or Diane Reamer-Evans at TMACOG at 419.241.9155 ext. 117.