First-ever Tri-State Rail Conference (CT/MA/RI)

Hartford, CT, April 11, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Senior elected leaders from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, as well as representatives of the transportation and environmental advocacy community, will gather in Hartford April 12 to hear Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray address the region on the growing transportation crisis, and how the New England states might work more closely together to solve it.

Assembled by the National Corridors Initiative at the request of the Connecticut state legislature’s leadership at the suggestion of CT State Rep. David McCluskey (D-West Hartford), the unprecedented three-state transportation summit is being hosted by Connecticut State Senate President Don Williams and Connecticut House Speaker Jim Amann. The conference grew out of a White Paper by NCI calling for a regional New England/New York State entity to tackle infrastructure on a permanent basis.

Following an opening statement by Senate President Williams and House Speaker Amann, in addition to Massachusetts Lt Gov. Tim Murray the conference will hear from Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, NCI President Jim RePass, Rhode Island Economic Policy Council Executive Director Kip Bergstrom, First Albany Corporation Managing Director and infrastructure expert Ned Flynn, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers representative Dan Lauzon, former Massachusetts State Senator and long-time transportation activist John Businger, and American Road and Transportation Builders Association President & CEO Peter Ruane, with closing remarks and public commentary and questions called for by President Williams and Speaker Amann.

The conference begins at 10:30 a.m. in Room 2E of the Connecticut State Legislative Office Building.

Invitees include: CT/RI/MA Lt. Governors, Senate Presidents; House Speakers; Majority and Minority Leaders, Chairman and Members of all three states’ Senate and House Transportation Committees. Please route RSVPs/inquiries to NCI President Jim RePass, jprepass@comcast.net or jprepass@nationalcorridors.org; the event is open to the public, with public questions and suggestions will be taken both at the conference and via email afterward.

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