According to USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is the single largest new investment in our national surface transportation network since the creation of the interstate highway system in the 1950s. However, nationwide, states and MPOs have only invested two percent of these funds in the freight rail infrastructure that is so critical to our nation’s economy. What will it take to make certain the next federal surface transportation authorization bill makes freight rail infrastructure a priority?

At this event, U.S. Rep Tom Petri (R-Wis.), member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy for Transport Canada, Ms. Kristine Burr, discussed Canada’s $2 billion investment in freight rail infrastructure using public-private partnerships (PPP), and explored opportunities to improve the movement of goods in the United States. Vice President of Planning at McCain Foods Ltd. (a global leader in the frozen food industry), Mr. Ron Pillsbury, joined the panel representing the private sector, which relies on seamless multi-modal transportation.

Recorded Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at Union League Club of Chicago.