CRC Summit: ‘Convene, Connect, Collaborate’ in Chicago

The Commuter Rail Coalition is hosting its 2023 Commuter Rail Summit at the InterContinental Hotel in Chicago Sept. 18 -20, an event organizers note is “an opportunity to connect with industry peers in an intimate setting to explore new ideas and collaborate over today’s most pressing commuter rail issues.”

On the agenda are roundtable discussions, fireside chats with industry leaders and technical tours—two major new starts projects on the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), plus Metra’s 49th Street railcar rehab facility—as well as “next-level networking with thought leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from across the industry to prepare for the challenges and the unprecedented opportunities awaiting commuter railroads,” says CRC Executive Director KellyAnne Gallagher. “This event has much to offer agency CEOs, deputies and CXOs; operations, safety, marketing and public/government affairs team members; and OEMs, suppliers, consultants and contractors working with commuter railroads.”

Among the featured speakers are STB Chairman Martin Oberman, Metra CEO Jim Derwinski, FRA Deputy Administrator Jennifer Mitchell, FRA Director, Office of Research, Development and Technology Maryam Allahyar, MxV Rail CEO Kari Gonzalez, NICTD President and General Manager Mike Noland, Cline Strategic Consulting Principal John Cline, Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell Attorney Chuck Spitulnik, and former agency heads Tom Prendergast, Joe Giulietti, Sally Librera and Jeff Knueppel.

Program Highlights



Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) tour of the $650 million Double Track Corridor and $950 million West Lake Corridor projects. A Commuter Rail Coalition special will depart Millennium Station, travel along the Metra Electric District right-of-way and the South Shore Line to Hammond, Ind., to be met by buses that will travel the project area and see the progress being made on these two New Start projects.



“Becoming the Transportation Provider of Choice in a Changing Landscape.” As the transportation landscape continues to shift in a post-COVID world, how does commuter rail become a traveler’s mode of choice? By meeting and exceeding the changing needs of riders and offering amenities that they can either only find on commuter rail—or are superior on commuter rail. CRC has assembled agencies from across the country to share what’s going right for them.



Technical Tour: Explore Metra’s 47th and 49th Street Shops. View the various stages of the agency’s program to rehabilitate railcars and locomotives. At the 47th Street diesel shop, witness firsthand the breakdown and rebuild of Metra’s MP36 locomotive rehabilitation program. Passenger cars are being refurbished in-house at the Metra’s 49th Street Car Shop, using Metra’s skilled and experienced workforce. By doing the work in-house, Metra is saving riders and taxpayers money, pumping dollars back into the local economy and reducing the time that a car is out of service. Tour the new training center where the latest programs and apprenticeships are implemented.



“Commuter Rail Brain Trust.” An “Ask Me Anything” opportunity to pick the brains of the emeriti who have already wrestled with many of the challenges agencies are facing today. Panel to include Tom Prendergast, Sally Librera, Joe Giulietti, and Jeff Knueppel. Moderated by Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono

Safety and Security Fireside Chat. New York MTA Chief Safety Officer and CRC Founder Patrick Warren leads a conversation with the Transportation Security Administration on what’s putting agencies at risk, and where CEOs must turn their attention.



Perspectives From Capitol Hill: A chance to ask a panel of insiders about the political realities in Washington and how they shape legislation impacting commuter rail. And, perhaps more important, find out how to make your voice heard in policy and funding debates.



2023 Champions of Commuter Rail. This CRC award recognizes individuals who have impacted the industry through their innovative thinking and inspirational leadership. The awards were shaped by the memory of Robert Doty, whose work in Taipei, Korea, and the UK transformed commuter and regional railroads. CRC’s 2023 Champion of Commuter Rail is Chuck Spitulnik, a man who, without fanfare, has left a legacy through his determination to improve the industry. The 2023 “DOTY” Award is presented to Joe Giulietti for a career spent demonstrating the value of building and empowering teams of diverse individuals and nurturing the next generation of railroad leaders.



“Innovations.” From cutting edge to bleeding edge, what are the innovations that agencies need to know about to save time, save money, reduce opportunities for human failure? Learn about the research that’s behind the solutions that will transform the industry.



Building for the Future: Mega Projects. With Scott Sherin, Alstom; Mike Noland, NICTD; Dave Hancock, Utah Transit Authority; Josh Van Jura, Utah DOT, Ayelet Hirschkorn, Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell; and Sally Librera, AECOM



“The Future of Cities.” Humans have flocked to cities for thousands of years for a better life. In our cities, we have withstood wars, plagues and pestilence of all kinds only to rise again and thrive. It is, however, in the post-COVID era that we are beginning to question the value of cities. With many central business districts boarded up, overrun with homeless, and workers still not returning to the office; it is easy to pessimistic. In this session, an esteemed panel of experts will discuss the future of cities and role of transit in their post-COVID transformation.

Fireside Chat: STB Chairman Martin Oberman in conversation with Metra CEO Jim Derwinski.



Project Pricing Risk and Reward: Putting NICTD’s Double Track Corridor Project under the microscope to discuss the harsh realities of what inflation has wrought on the price of projects.

Full Agenda and Registration


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