AA-Carolinas (CAPT) will be meeting Friday, July 18th at the historic Salisbury Train Station. The meeting will be from 12:30 - 2:45 pm in a board room off the waiting room. Lunch will be provided for those who desire it. LA Murphs will be the food vendor. Please make your menu selection and send it back to Martin Wheeler. If you don't, we won't have record of your requested lunch. No need to select a drink as it will be provided at the station. Also, please make payment for the meal to CAPT either by check to Treasurer Ralph Messera at the meeting or via US Postal Service , or via the online payment portal

Make your check to “CAPT” & mail to Ralph Messera, Treasurer 401 S. Freemont St, Matthews, NC 28105.

Each lunch is $10.99 . If one tries to substitute for a particular item then an up charge may be incurred. If you wish to do that call LA Murph's on the phone for any additional cost that might occur. Selections should be in by 10 am Wednesday, July 16th, as arrangements with LA Murphs must be made at that time.

The meeting is planned to allow those wanting to travel by train from the north or south to do so, and return to their destinations after the meeting concludes. Meeting hours are expected to be 12:30-2:45 pm. The meeting site is courtesy of the Historic Salisbury Foundation.

1. Welcome to all in attendance, and introductions of officers, directors, other CAPT members, and guests. (Martin Wheeler)
2. North Carolinians for Passenger Rail Beau Mills, President of newly formed 501c4 organization in North Carolina. Mills will discuss structure, goals and purpose,, and how CAPT and other rail advocacy groups can work together for the goal of increased rail passenger service. The meeting is the result of cooperation between NC4PR, CAPT, and the Historic Salisbury Foundation. We are allowing time for a representative for Salisbury to speak on possible future developments concerning the train station. Time will be allotted for a question and answer period with our guests.
3. Secretary’s Report: Further 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 Messera)
5. Organizational and Operational Issues for “All Aboard Charlotte” chapter ( Jim Fetchero and Chris Wallace ) Chapter report on current activities ( CATS decides on projects to be funded by potential new Sales Tax approved by the NC General Assembly for Mecklenburg County pending voter approval in November.
6. Amtrak’s Continued Existence and Future Plans for Expansion: discussion led by Martin Wheeler on the ways and means that CAPT might respond within North Carolina, South Carolina, and nationally. Suggestions include:
        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.
7. Board Member, Officer, and Visitor additional comments (Martin Wheeler) (David Thomas) Rail safety education campaign. All Aboard Carolinas may want to advocate for legislative action to require rail safety training for first responders, 911 operators, and for Drivers Education.
8. Rail Users Network news: (Martin Wheeler) Summer newsletter and plans for nationwide Fall virtual conference.
9. Planning for future meetings: rest of 2025 and 2026 (Martin Wheeler, CAPT Board members )
10. Membership database issues (Martin Wheeler)
11. Organization website - developments on updating site and transition to All Aboard Carolinas THE BANNER ON THE EXISTING WEBSITE HAS BEEN CHANGED.
12. CAPT newsletter update (Martin Wheeler for Don Yehle )
13. Piedmont public awareness campaign update, Piedmont Corridor developments, NCDOT equipment restoration plans (Martin Wheeler)
14. Western NC Rail Committee update; Western NC rail news, including Hurricane Helene impacts ( Old Fort Loops ) and Saluda grade (Martin Wheeler)
15. Eastern NC Rail Advocacy Developments (Tommy Thomas)
16. FRA Corridor ID grants for NC; status update (Martin Wheeler)
17. Charlotte-to-Wilmington; potential Corridor ID grant proposal? Could segment of corridor be potential Charlotte-Monroe commuter line? (Martin Wheeler)
18. South Carolina rail news and developments; Assembly Street grade separation project in Columbia; new signage, other improvements planned for Amtrak station in Columbia (Martin Wheeler and Charles Gossett)
19. South Carolina Goals for CAPT; Economic Impact Studies for potential rail lines; creation of Columbia chapter, further involvement with SC DOT and the legislature (Martin Wheeler and Charles Gossett)
20. 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)