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Minutes

Meeting minutes – Executive Committee — Niles– April 20, 2013

MINUTES
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
NILES AMTRAK STATION, NILES
APRIL 20, 2013

Members Present:  Robert Tischbein, Hugh Gurney, Rosemary Horvath, John Langdon, Kathleen Newell, Kay Chase

Also Present:  Burton TenBrink, Gerald Smith, Phillip Mange, Mark Baruth, Charley Bonnell, Rick Rasmussen, Christine Ballard, Rich Vavra-Musser, David Williams, Deems Jensen, Chuck Merkel, Jeanie Merckel,  Jack Kessler, Dan Westcott, Barb Spaulding-Westcott, Robert Patterson, Diane Patterson, Dan Platz, John DeLora, Doug Wilson, Kim J. Powell, Frank Popp, John Nevins, Bob Lotsbaich, Rachael Weber, Pete Weber, Robin Meyers

Call to Order:  Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to order at 11:45 a.m..  Horvath moved to accept the agenda as written.  The motion was seconded by Chase and approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.

Minutes were distributed by Secretary Gurney.  Langdon moved to accept the minutes of the March 9, 2013 Executive Committee meeting, held in St. Johns.  Newell seconded the motion.  It was approved by the members of the Executive Committee meeting present.

Langdon then moved acceptance of the minutes of the March 9 Monthly Membership meeting held at St. Johns.  Newell seconded the motion and it was approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.

Treasurer’s Report:  Robert Patterson presented the Treasurer’s Report as prepared by Treasurer Dave Randall.  As of March 31, 2013, MARP’s checking account stood at $31,892.29, of which $17,141.26 are Pratt Fund proceeds awaiting reinvestment.  In response to a query as to why it was taking so long to reinvest the Pratt Fund proceeds, Patterson responded that we were making more money holding it in the checking account.  He agreed to check with Randall on this.

Collection of membership dues is proceeding well.

Langdon moved acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report. It was seconded by Gurney and the report was approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.

By-Laws Committee:  Chairman Tischbein, in response to a request for clarification, specified that Gurney will be the chair of the By-Laws Committee with Langdon as a member.  Tischbein will participate as an ex-officio member.

Recess:  The Executive Committee recessed at 12:00 noon.

 

Respectfully Submitted:                                             Accepted:

 

 

 

Hugh D. Gurney                                                         Robert Tischbein

Secretary                                                                     Chair

 

News

After years of planning, bus rapid transit begins taking shape in Grand Rapids

From The Grand Rapids Press:

Work on a new bus rapid transit station at the corner of Fulton Street and Ransom Avenue started on Monday, April 1 in Grand Rapids. (Emily Zoladz | Mlive.com)
Work on a new bus rapid transit station at the corner of Fulton Street and Ransom Avenue started on Monday, April 1 in Grand Rapids. (Emily Zoladz | Mlive.com)

Ten years of planning. Ten years of patience and hoping, years marked by defeat and success alike. Now, finally, a tangible part of Grand Rapids’ forthcoming $40-million bus rapid transit Silver Line is beginning to show.

Work began April 1 on the first of 33 stations that will line Division Avenue and several downtown thoroughfares, marking the start of construction on the 9.6-mile line between Wyoming and Grand Rapids.

Twenty-nine stations are slated for construction this year, with the remaining four scheduled to be built in spring 2014. The endeavor will cost $15.6 million, a total that includes street and sidewalk improvements, utility relocation, cement and what Rapid leaders said will be some impressive landscaping at some of the stations.

The expectations, in each the transportation and financial realms, are vast. Once operational in August 2014, it will be Michigan’s first bus rapid transit line, so-called for shaving 40 percent off commute times over regular buses. Project leaders say it will spark economic investment.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/04/after_years_of_planning_bus_ra.html

Announcements, FYI

Rail and Intermodal Transportation Summer Youth Program offered at Michigan Tech.

michtechyouthlogoMichigan Technological University, Houghton MI, is offering a week long summer youth program designed to create awareness of, and stimulate interest in, the world of rail and intermodal transportation.  Students will learn why trains are called the “green transportation alternative”, how fast high-speed passenger trains move, and how containers find their way from China to USA.

The program is open to current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. Included are technical tours to rail and intermodal facilities in Marquette, MI and Duluth, MN. Full scholarships are available to all who are accepted in the program.

The program is a collaborative effort by Michigan Tech’s Rail Transportation Program and the Transportation and Logistics Management Program at University of Wisconsin—Superior.

For more details and a program application, visit http://www.syp.mtu.edu/docs/RTP_App.pdf

Announcements, FYI

Operation Lifesaver meets May 10 in Durand

OLlogo150You are invited to attend the Michigan Operation Lifesaver Quarterly Meeting scheduled to take place on Friday, May 10, 2013 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the historic Durand Union Station, 200 S Railroad Street, Durand, MI 48429. You’ll be the guest of Jon Cool, President of the Michigan Railroads Association, for lunch following the meeting.

Our meeting will focus on education, engineering, and enforcement initiatives, OL presenter training activities, new OL initiatives, update from Michigan’s railroad companies, and information on Michigan’s incident data.  We expect to have some interesting guest speakers at our meeting.  We would like our railroad partners and others to provide updates on their rail safety initiatives. In addition, Bob Chaprnka will introduce his successor – Jon Cool.

As always, your attendance at our MI OL quarterly meetings and your active personal and corporate participation on our OL subcommittees is vital to our mission to increase driver and pedestrian compliance to highway-rail safety regulations.

Please confirm that you will attend the Friday, May 10, 2013 MI-OL Quarterly Meeting in Durand. Your confirmation of attending will help utilize our fiscal resources in the most effective manner possible. If possible, please confirm by e-mail to samcrowl@comcast.net, by phone 248-823-7037, or the address below.

Thank you for your continued commitment and involvement in Michigan’s Operation Lifesaver program.

Be safe at all railroad intersections!

Look-Listen-Live

 

Sam A. Crowl- State Coordinator