12-4:30 p.m.

Registration

1-1:15 p.m.

Welcome

The Honorable Matt Walsh
Mayor of Council Bluffs, Iowa

1:15-3:20 p.m.

Updates

FRA National
Dee Chappell, Highway-Rail Crossing and Trespasser Programs Division (15 minutes)

• FRA National presentation

FRA Regional
Howard Gillespie – Regional manager of grade crossing safety and trespass prevention, FRA Region 6 (15 minutes)

• FRA Regional presentation

Legislative Update
Nicole Brewin – Railway Supply Institute (15 minutes)

• Legilative update presentation

State Rail Offices (10 minutes for each state)

• State update - Kansas DOT

State and National Operation Lifesaver (10 minutes for each state)

• National Operation Lifesaver update
• Iowa Operation Lifesaver update
• Kansas Operation Lifesaver update
• Missouri Operation Lifesaver update
• Nebraska Operation Lifesaver update

3:20-3:40 p.m.

Break

3:40-4:30 p.m.

Updates

Railroads
Chris Keckeisen – UP, Grade Crossing Assessment Program (30 minutes)

BNSF

• BNSF update

4:30-5 p.m.

Concurrent executive meetings

*State rail offices only

*Operation Lifesaver only

7:30-9 a.m.

Continental breakfast

7:30-10 a.m.

Registration

8-8:30 a.m.

Crossing safety action plan

Dee Chappell, FRA
What are the expectations of these plans? What guidance is available? What are the mandated timelines?

• FAST Act State Action Plans 201 presentation

8:30-9 a.m.

Short Line Safety Institute

Tom Murta, SLSI
An overview of the products and services available to the industry.

• Short Line Safety Institute Overview presentation

9-9:15 a.m.

American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association

Jo Strang, ASLRRA

9:15 - 10 a.m.

Open forum

10-10:20 a.m.

Break

10:20 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Crossing inventory panel discussion

Jim Dahlem, FRA; Bev Vonasek, NDOT; Chris Brownell, MoDOT
A facilitated panel discussion answering questions provided in advance by states, railroads, and the FRA. The discussions will be divided into two sections focusing on admin/policy/communication issues and interface/technical issues. Each section will be followed by its own open question period.

12-1 p.m.

Lunch provided

1-1:45 p.m.

New AREMA interconnect and advance preemption standards

Jason Field, Moffatt & Nichol

1:45-2 p.m.

Grade crossing research needs update

Howard Gillespie, FRA Region 6

• FRA Grade Crossing Safety Research presentation

2-3 p.m.

Section 130 priorization methodology

Kelly Morton, FHWA; Ric Cruz, TAVLA Solutions; Chris Brownell, MoDOT; Steve Prange, CMT; John Shaw, InTrans; Phil Meraz, Iowa DOT; Chris Goepel, HDR
A panel discussion describing current studies and innovations in the methods used to prioritize crossings. This should include maintenance/replacement of aging systems.

3-3:30 p.m.

Four state conference debrief and planning