National Association of Railroad Passengers
Regional Meeting

On Saturday March 14, 2009, the annual meeting of states formerly identified as NARP Region 9 (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas) will be held in the Sheraton City Center Hotel, 400 South 14th Street, in downtown St. Louis. The hotel is located near Metrolink's Civic Center station (first stop east of Union Station). This meeting will feature several presentations dealing with regional rail passenger issues, and will also include a presentation by NARP Vice President David Johnson, a member of NARP's Washington, D.C. staff. NARP members from all states, as well as non-member rail passenger advocates are invited to attend.

Meeting registration is $25 (cash or check), payable at the door. Pre-registration is NOT necessary.

MEETING SCHEDULE, Saturday March 14:

• 7:39 a.m. - Texas Eagle train #22 arrives in St. Louis from Texas, Arkansas and Poplar Bluff, MO.
• 8:45 a.m. - Tour of new Gateway Station
• 9:40 a.m. - Registration (immediately following station tour) Sheraton City Center, Breckenridge Ballroom Salon A (13th Floor)
• 10:00 a.m. - Meeting called to order
• 10:10 a.m. - David R. Johnson, NARP Vice President
• 11:05 a.m. - Lisa Lamons, Missouri Department of Transportation
• 11:50 a.m. - Jennie Claflin, Illinois Department of Transportation
• 12:15 p.m. - Lunch - on your own
• 1:30 p.m. - Rick Harnish, Midwest High Speed Rail Association
• 2:10 p.m. - Jim Brzezinski, Amtrak Senior Director, Product Management (Central Division)
• 3:05 p.m. - Dave Randall, NARP Vice Chair, Service Delivery
• 3:45 p.m. - Adjourn
• 4:00 p.m. - Missouri River Runner train #313 departs for Kansas City.
• 5:00 p.m. - Dutch-treat German dinner open to anyone wishing to attend to "talk trains" and socialize. St. Louis Gast Haus, 1740 Chouteau (several blocks from Gateway Station)
• 8:00 p.m. - Texas Eagle train #21 departs for Arkansas, Texas and Poplar Bluff, MO.

PLEASE NOTE:

• There will be a St. Patrick's Day run at 9 am followed by a parade down Market Street (two blocks north of the Sheraton) at noon, and this could result in some street closures approaching the Sheraton, so allow a little extra time. For those coming to tour the station, all streets should still be open that early.
• Parking is available at the hotel, but is more expensive than the nearby parking lots. Parking on the street is free all day Saturday.

If the hotel is already sold out when you attempt to make reservations, meeting coordinator Greg Montgomery [314-397-5275 -- cell] has reserved a limited number of rooms for Friday night and/or Saturday night. These rooms are $119/night plus tax, and must be reserved through Greg.

For additional St. Louis visitor information, please visit the following web pages:

• Texas Eagle - St. Louis station page

• Metrolink light rail system

• St. Louis Union Station

• St. Patrick's Day Information

• St. Louis Convention and Visitor Bureau

• Citizens for Modern Transit