Business and industry leaders, city council and commissioners court members and staff from 14 counties across Northeast Texas will gather Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Sulphur Springs Country Club to discuss something that affects nearly everyone — transportation.
The Northeast Texas Transportation Summit, hosted by the Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation and Ark-Tex Council of Governments, is designed to provide an “opportunity for chief stakeholders throughout the region to work together on critical transportation issues,” according to information provided by SS/HC EDC Executive Director Roger Feagley and ATCOG Executive Director Chris Brown.
The goal is to encourage entities to work together to improve communication and transportation planning efforts.
“Leaders desire to understand the role that freight shipping by truck, rail and air plays in each of their communities, and where passenger rail may also be needed. Without necessary changes and improvements to its transportation systems, Northeast Texas will continue to face costly challenges in the areas of business, economic and community development,” Feagley and Brown note.
The cost to attend the summit is $25 per person and registration is required and online. Lunch is included.
The summit begins at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until 1:30 p.m. Oct. 30, with Vence Haggard, Federal Railroad Administration, as the keynote speaker. Linda Harper Brown – TEX-21, TXDOT Atlanta & Paris Engineers
Major and Regional Rail Operators, is slated to provide a legislative update. Other TxDOT engineers from Paris and Atlanta district, local short line rail representatives, local officials and business leaders have also been invited to take part in the summit.
The agenda is as follows:
- 8:30-9 a.m. Registration
- 9-10 a.m. Welcome and General Session
Transportation Planning and Local Involvement
Linda Harper Brown with Dean International will speak about the
importance of being involved with planning at a regional level
pulling from her experience as a six-term member of the Texas
House, member of the House Transportation Committee and key
advisor for TEX-21 - 10-10:45 a.m. Railroad Panel Discussion
Shortline Rail and NETEX Rail District - 10:45-11 a.m. Break
- 11-11:45 p.m. TxDOT Update – Planning and Construction Phase Status
TxDOT Atlanta and Paris Districts will present updates on the
status of current corridor projects - 12-1 p.m. Lunch – Keynote Address
Federal Railroad Administration
Vence Haggard, Regional Administrator - 1-1:15 p.m. Closing remarks
Additional information may be obtained by contacting either Feagley at SS/HCEDC, 1200 Enterprise Lane in Sulphur Springs, 903-439-0101; or Brown at ATCOG, 4808 Elizabeth St. in Texarkana, Texas, 903-832-8636.
