Tim Geeslin, TXARP President and Region 9 Director, opened the 2002 Region 9 NARP meeting at the Clarion Hotel in Fort Worth on Saturday March 16, 2002.     This was the largest Region 9 meeting held in recent years.

Tim is seen giving a presentation on transportation public policy.

From left to right, Ray Dunbar, new Region 9 Director & TXARP East Texas Director, Tim Geeslin, Region 9 Director & TXARP President, John Mills, Region 9 Director at Large, and Dr. Bill Pollard, Region 9 Director, President of ARKRAIL, TXARP member and advisor to TXARP Board.

Mr. Dick Schiefelbein, Chairman, Rail Committee, Greater Houston Partnership gave an excellent presentation on Freight Issues Affecting Passenger Rail.    He answered many questions on a one to one basis during the breaks and at lunch, a very good speaker.

Mr. Steven E. Simmons, P.E., Deputy Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation presented the new Trans Texas Corridor Plan.    This plan is Texas sized with an aim of creating a series of transportation corridors 1,200 feet wide and some 4,000 miles in total length.    The corridor will provide for highways (6 lanes), rail lines (6 tracks), plus utilities.     The initial plan is due in the Governor's office in less than 90 days.    One of the key reasons for doing something now is that it is expected that Texas will have an additional 29 million citizens in less than 50 years.    Planning for this growth must start now.    They can't wait years to start planning for this.   This was an eye opening, informative speech.

Hard to see but on the screen is a presentation of what the corridor will look like.

Tim Geeslin is seen being interviewed by the media.     Several others were interviewed as well.

At the registration desk we find two hard working people you can count on.    On the left is Mary Irwin, TXARP Treasurer, and on the right is Alta Jones, TXARP Secretary.    These two ladies are always there when needed and do what is needed to make things work.

Here we are at the fun desk.    Here we find "Three for Five" Dunbar explaining the upcoming raffle.     We almost had too many things to raffle off.    In the Red Dress, is West Texas TXARP Director, Sue Castles.

Sue Castles, TXARP Director is seen visiting with Joy Smith, Amtrak Southwest Business Manager.     Could she be dropping a hint that Amarillo and Lubbock want passenger rail service?

Here we have the expected.     The AV guy told us, with a huge smile, just push the button, trust me it will work.

Our Keynote speaker, Mr. James P. RePass, President & CEO, National Corridors Initiative gave a well-received presentation.    He is an excellent speaker and holds the audience's attention.

Views from around the luncheon.

Views from around the luncheon.

Views from around the luncheon.

The afternoon speaker was Travis Hinton, Vice President, Intercity. Travis gave a, from the heart, Amtrak insider look at just how things are. This is a very critical time for passenger rail in the United States. It's all on the line.

Tim Geeslin's son , Tom, did the honors drawing for the raffle.    We had a lot of prizes and a lot of winners.    I don't think anyone was unhappy with the outcome.

John Dundee, TXARP Board Advisor, is in the thick of things working to give away the raffle prizes.     John is Director of the Galveston Rail Museum and among other things is trying to get a passenger train running between Galveston and Houston.