Fall 2013 Forum on Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness
Event Information
Description
2013 Fall Forum
Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness
Friday, September 20th, 2013 8:30am-12:00pm
Did you know that…
- Freight rail transported 228 million tons of freight in Minnesota in 2012
- Minnesota has the 8th largest rail system in nation with 4,481 route miles of track
- Minnesota is 1st in the nation in movement of iron ore, 3rd in farm products and 4th in food
The lesson: Freight transportation is vitally important to jobs and economic competitiveness in Minnesota.
Please join us to hear local and national perspectives on freight transportation and economic competitiveness from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), Matt Rose, CEO of BNSF Railway, and former Congressman James L. Oberstar. The event will also include two panel discussions featuring businesses and local policymakers. The business panel features Scott Nagel (President, ADM-Benson Quinn), Mahendra Mishra (Assistant VP, Essar Steel), Steve Weiby (Vice President, C.H. Robinson), and Greg Pace (USMC Fellow, U.S. Chamber of Commerce). The policy panel features Sen. Scott Dibble, Rep. Mike Beard, St. Paul Port Authority President Louie Jambois, and William Gardner, Director, Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations, MnDOT. Additional participants will be added upon confirmation.
Discussion will focus on how to maximize the role freight can play in Minnesota’s economy, the impact of freight rail in the state, the most effective policies to improve the freight transportation network, and the economic benefits of an efficient system. Below is the agenda for the event.
8:30-9:00am: Registration & Coffee, Humphrey Atrium
9:00-9:05am: Welcome and Opening Remarks, James L. Oberstar, Cowles Auditorium
9:05-9:30am: Presentation: The Value of Freight Economy in Minnesota—Lee Munnich and Tom Horan, SLPP
9:30-9:45am: Keynote: Matt Rose, CEO, BNSF Railway
9:45-10:00am: Keynote: U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
10:00-10:45am: Panel Discussion: Business/Shipper Perspectives
· Participants: Scott Nagel (President, ADM-Benson Quinn), Mahendra Mishra (Assistant VP, Essar Steel), Steve Weiby (VP, C.H. Robinson), Greg Pace (USMC Fellow, U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
10:45-11:30am: Panel Discussion: Policy Perspectives
· Participants: Sen. Scott Dibble, Rep. Mike Beard, Louie Jambois (President, St. Paul Port Authority), William Gardner (Director, Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations, MnDOT)
11:30-11:45am: Closing Remarks, Congressman James L. Oberstar, Cowles Auditorium
11:45am: Adjournment
Sponsored by the Humphrey School's State and Local Policy Program, the University of Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies, and the BNSF Foundation.
The Humphrey School of Public Affairs of the University of Minnesota is hospitable to a diversity of opinions and aspirations. The Humphrey School does not itself take positions on issues of public policy.
