Reconnecting America CEO Addresses Southern High-Speed Rail Commission
John Robert Smith, President and CEO of Reconnecting America, recently addressed a meeting of the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission (SHSRC) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Smith was in New Orleans for the Commission’s Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation Summit at the New Orleans Hilton on July 15-16.
Along with Gil Carmichael, a former Federal Railroad Administrator and former Amtrak board member, and current chairman of the board of the University of Denver’s Intermodal Transportation Institute and SHSRC member, Smith spoke on the economics of high speed rail, both from a national and local perspective.
“With the federal government committed to high-speed rail, the New Orleans-Baton Rouge corridor is a good candidate for investment,” Smith said. “High-speed rail provides not only economic development opportunities but accessibility for all citizens in their everyday lives, as well as in times of a natural crisis.”
In addition to Carmichael and Smith’s remarks, both New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden gave opening remarks at the SHSRC meeting and stressed the need for immediate funding of the New Orleans-Baton Rouge inter-city rail connector.
A native and former 16 year Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi, Smith is a long-time leader of passenger rail. He became President and CEO of Reconnecting America in 2009. Reconnecting America is a national nonprofit that is working to integrate transportation systems and the communities they serve to provide more connectivity and livability for all Americans whether they live in urban areas, small towns, or rural communities. Smith is co-chairman of Transportation for America, a campaign of partner organizations, businesses and elected officials focused on creating a bold, new national transportation program that will take America into the 21st century. Smith has served as a former chairman of Amtrak’s Board, a former member of the transportation committees of the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, as well as former co-chairman of the National Forum on the Future of Passenger Rail.
The Southern High-Speed Rail Commission serves the states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi in order to promote passenger rail transportation on a regional basis. The membership consists of the Governor of each member-state, a representative from each state’s Department of Transportation, and five citizenmembers appointed by the Governor of each state.
In coordination with the visits of Smith and Carmichael, a reception in their honor was hosted by Jim Bridger, New Orleans Pubic Belt; former Louisiana Lt .Gov. Jimmy Fitzmorris; and Arne Hook, Eden Enterprises. In attendance were State Representatives Steve Carter (R-Baton Rouge), Michael Jackson (D-Baton Rouge) and Walt Leger, III (D-New Orleans), along with representatives of Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and U.S Representatives Anh Cao (R-New Orleans) and
