CAROLINAS ASSOCIATION FOR PASSENGER TRAINS
“ALL ABOARD CAROLINAS”

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, PAGE-WALKER HOUSE, CARY NC
FRIDAY MARCH 21, 2025, 12 NOON – 3 PM ONLY

MEETING AGENDA

- - - - - URGENT ITEMS - - - - -

1. Welcome to all in attendance, and introductions of officers, directors, other CAPT members, and guests. (Martin Wheeler)

2. Agenda Modification: explanation of reasons for changing the draft agenda that was distributed by email two weeks ago. (Martin Wheeler)

3. Secretary’s Report: Discussion on proposed voice recording and AI transcription to produce meeting minutes (Martin Wheeler)

4. Treasurer’s Report: finances, membership renewals and first-time joins (Ralph Messura)

5. Membership Drive Report: (David Robinson)

6. NC By Train’s Timetable Revision of July 10, 2023: Presentations by David Robinson; comments by City of High Point Council Member (and Mayor Pro-Tem) Michael Holmes.
This timetable revision involved skipping stops at Burlington (BNC), High Point (HPT), and Salisbury (SAL) by Trains 71 (first daily train from RGH to CLT) and 76 (late afternoon daily train from CLT to RGH); and Kannapolis by Trains 77 (last daily Piedmont train from RGH to CLT) and 78 (last daily Piedmont train from CLT to RGH.) (David Robinson, presentation, and discussion leader.) All attendees are encouraged to participate.

7. Threat to Amtrak’s Continued Existence and Future Plans for Expansion: presentation by David Robinson, followed by a discussion led by Martin Wheeler on the ways and means that CAPT might respond within North Carolina, South Carolina, and nationally.
Activities under consideration include (but are not limited to) the following: Outreach to (1) local governments, business organizations, tourism bureaus, universities/colleges, and regional planning agencies in station cities in NC and SC; (2) NCDOT Board of Transportation Members, and SCDOT Commissioners; (3) state legislators in NC and SC; and (4) elected congressional representatives and senators in NC and SC, including staffs of local offices. These items will require considerable effort on the part of CAPT’s officers, directors, and other interested members, hence a GO FUND ME campaign might be considered to offset participating individuals’ pre-approved travel expenses. The April edition of FROM THE CAB should probably be focused on the unfolding Amtrak status, and what CAPT is doing.

8. Rail Users Network news: (Martin Wheeler)

9. Planning for future meetings: rest of 2025 and 2026 (Martin Wheeler, Charles Gossett, Tommy Thomas)

10. Board Member, Officer, and Visitor additional comments (Martin Wheeler)

-----NOT AS URGENT ITEMS -----

The following originally planned agenda items will only be opened for discussion if the previous ones are concluded with follow-up actions approved by the board. If there is no time left, information-only items will either be transmitted to the officers and directors by email, or appear in the April edition of FROM THE CAB.

11. Update CAPT regional chapter for Greater Charlotte area (Martin Wheeler, Chris Wallace, etc.)

12. Membership database issues (Martin Wheeler)

13. Organization website - developments on updating site and transition to All Aboard Carolinas (David Robinson)

14: CAPT newsletter update (David Robinson)

15. Affiliate Organization Members status (David Robinson)

16. South Carolina rail news and developments; Assembly Street grade separation project in Columbia; new Amtrak station for Columbia’s Union Station? (Martin Wheeler and Charles Gossett)

17.South Carolina Goals for CAPT; Economic Impact Studies for potential rail lines; meeting with Southern Group on push for more SC rail passenger service (Martin Wheeler and Charles Gossett)

18. Creating/expanding CAPT liaison efforts between local transportation entities (bus, light rail, commuter rail) and Amtrak/NCDOT for future expansion of rail service in the Carolinas (Martin Wheeler)

19. Piedmont Corridor developments, NCDOT equipment restoration plans; Piedmont public awareness campaign (Martin Wheeler)

20. Western NC Rail Committee update; Western NC rail news, including Hurricane Helene impacts and Saluda grade (Martin Wheeler)

21. Eastern NC Rail Advocacy Developments (Tommy Thomas)

22. FRA Corridor ID grants for NC; status update (Martin Wheeler)

23. Charlotte-to-Wilmington; potential Corridor ID grant proposal? Could segment of corridor be potential Charlotte-Monroe commuter line? (Martin Wheeler)

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