REES 2024 Program

Monday, June 17

6:00 – 8:00 PM

Dinner on Own

Tuesday, June 18

7:30 – 8:15 AM

Registration/Check In

7:30 – 8:30 AM

Continental Breakfast Available

8:30 – 8:35 AM

Introductions
Bryan Sooter, Director-Standards, American Public Transportation Association

8:35 – 8:40 AM

Welcome
Elizabeth Caruso, Executive Director/CEO, AREMA

8:40 – 8:45 AM

Safety Briefing
Brian Sawyer, Director of Fleet Engineering, Utah Transit Authority

8:45 – 9:00 AM

Why Are We Here? – Dr. Christopher P.L. Barkan, PhD, George Krambles Director - Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, Director – National University Rail Center of Excellence, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

9:00 – 10:30 AM

Industry Needs from Universities
Contractors - TBD
Passenger Mechanical - Jens Steger, Head of Engineering, Stadler US
Transit Agencies - Greg Gerber, Director Talent Acquisition, Utah Transit Authority
Communications/Signals - Dan Meservey, Director of Operations, Modern Railway Systems
Contractors - T. Craig Morgan, VP, Freight Rail & Industrial Development, Ames Construction and Cody Moore, Manager, Preconstruction Services, Freight Rail, Ames Construction

10:30 – 10:45 AM

Break

10:45 AM – 12:15 PM

Industry Needs from Universities (continued)
Class I Railroad - Steve Ashmore, Assistant Vice President-Engineering Infrastructure, Union Pacific Railroad
Short Line Railroad - William Riehl, Chief Engineer Structures, Genesee & Wyoming Rail Services
Engineering Consultants - Matthew Sibul, USA Southwest Mountain Transportation Lead, WSP
Freight Rolling Stock - Maureen Werner, Vice President of Engineering, MxV Rail

12:15 – 1:15 PM

Lunch (Lunch Provided)

1:15 – 2:30 PM

Town Hall Discussion on Industry Needs
All Morning Sessions Panelists to Participate
Moderator:  David Nelson, Senior Research Engineer, Rail Transportation Program, Michigan Technological University

2:30 – 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 – 3:45 PM

AREMA & APTA Presentation:  Resources to Assist Universities
Elizabeth Caruso, Executive Director/CEO, AREMA
Daniel Rappoport, Civil Engineer III, Chicago Transit Authority
Bryan Sooter, Director-Standards, American Public Transportation Association

3:45 – 4:15 PM

REES & pREES Modules Overview, Discussions, Q&A for new Professors 
David Nelson, PE, Senior Research Engineer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Tech Transportation Institute

5:00 – 9:00 PM

Reception and Dinner – Rice Eccles Stadium/Ken Garff Stadium Club/VIP Lounge
Keynote Presentation:  Jay Fox, Executive Director, Utah Transit Authority

Wednesday, June 19

7:30 – 8:30 AM

Breakfast on Your Own

9:00 AM

Tour Departs from Salt Lake Central TRAX Station (Blue Line)

9:30 – 11:30 AM

Tour - Utah Transit Authority Warm Springs Commuter Rail Facility

12:00 – 3:30 PM

Tour - Stadler US (Lunch Break included) 

5:00 – 9:00 PM

Reception and Dinner – Squatters Pub Brewery/The Loft
Keynote Presentation:  Steve Ashmore, Assistant Vice President-Engineering Infrastructure, Union Pacific Railroad

Thursday, June 20

7:00 – 8:00 AM

Continental Breakfast at UTA Frontline Headquarters 

8:00 – 10:00 AM

Research Programs & Opportunities Presentations and Discussions
FRA Research Funding - Mark Patterson, Associate Administrator, Office of Research, Data & Innovation, Federal Railroad Administration
FTA Research Funding - Molly King, Deputy Associate Administrator, Federal Transit Administration
Ensco, Transportation Technology Center - Ruben Peña, Government Service Transportation, ENSCO, Inc. Transportation Technology Center
AAR and MxV Rail - Scott Cummings, AVP, MxV Rail Research & Innovation 

10:00 – 10:15 AM

Break

10:15 – 11:45 AM

DOT/FRA Centers Presentation and Discussions
National University Rail Center for Excellence (NuRail CoE) - Dr. Christopher P.L. Barkan, PhD, George Krambles Director - Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, Director – National University Rail Center of Excellence University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Transportation Center for Railroad Safety (UTCRS) - TBD, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Rural Railroad Safety Center - Dr. Eric Fitzsimmons, Associate Professor, Kansas State University

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Lunch (Lunch Provided)

1:00 – 2:30 PM

Current Programs in Academia Presentations
Michigan Technological University - David Nelson, Senior-Research Engineer, Rail Transportation Program at Michigan Tech
Fresno State University - Dr. Ching Chiaw Choo, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Program
University of South Carolina - Dr. Dimitris Rizos, Director, Railway Engineering Graduate Certificate
United States Military Academy West Point - Dr. Gary Jordan, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering
Morgan State University - Dr. Anthony Saka, Professor, Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies
University of New Mexico - Dr. Fernando Moreau, Associate Professor, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

2:30 – 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 – 4:00 PM

Open Topic Discussions

4:00 – 4:30 PM

Closing