Carolinas Association for Passenger Trains


CAPT Board Meeting
January 24, 2025
Columbia, S.C.

The Carolinas Association for Passenger Trains will meet in Columbia, SC at the main Richland County Library on Friday, January 24, 2025. The address is 1431 Assembly Street and the telephone number is 803-799-9084. The meeting will be held on the second floor from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Take the escalator in the center of the main floor to the second floor. There will be no virtual presentation via the internet.

Parking on the streets around the library is generally available, but metered . There is also limited parking in the lot behind the Library, and some parking along Park Street nearby. Lunch will be on your own. Suggested nearby locations are Maurice's Piggy Park BBQ at 800 Elmwood Avenue open at 10 am, or Blue Marlin in the old Seaboard train station at 1200 Lincoln Street open at 11:30 am. For those travelling to Columbia, reach out if you'd like to carpool. We'll try to match up people where possible.

Meeting Agenda

Welcome

Secretary's Report

Treasurer's Report

Report on creation of an advocacy group for Skip-Stop repeal for affected Piedmont trains

Creation of CAPT regional chapter for Greater Charlotte area ( provided for in the bylaws )

Proposed Membership Drive for 2025

CAPT website, Developments on updating site

CAPT newsletter update

South Carolina Rail News and Developments; Status of South Carolina Rail Plan; Assembly Street grade separation project in Columbia; New Amtrak station for Columbia’s Union Station?

South Carolina Goals for CAPT; Development of dedicated rail division, preservation of rail corridors; Economic Impact Studies for potential rail lines. Meeting with Southern Group on push for more SC rail passenger service

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

Piedmont Corridor Developments, Restoration plans for equipment, and public awareness campaign

Western NC Rail Committee Update; Western NC Rail news, including Hurricane Helene impacts and Saluda grade

Eastern NC Rail Advocacy Developments

FRA Corridor ID grants for NC; Assignment of Board members to monitor specific routes

Charlotte to Wilmington; potential Corridor ID grant proposal? Potential sponsors of grant request if not DOT? Could segment of corridor be potential Charlotte-Monroe commuter line?

Board Member & Officer Comments

Amtrak update – issues affecting the Carolinas

RPA "Rail Nation" developments

Rail Users Network news

Planning for future meetings

Adjournment