REES 2026 Program

Tuesday, June 16

 
7:30 – 8:15 AM

Check In at Metro Transit North Loop Garage
600 N 8th Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55411

7:30 – 8:30 AM

Continental Breakfast Available

8:30 – 8:35 AM

Introductions
Bryan Sooter, Director-Standards, American Public Transportation Association

8:35 – 8:40 AM

Welcome
Elizabeth Caruso, Executive Director/CEO, AREMA

8:40 – 8:45 AM

Safety Briefing

8:45 – 9:00 AM

Why Are We Here? – Dr. Christopher P.L. Barkan, PhD, George Krambles Director - Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, Director – National University Rail Center of Excellence, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

9:00 – 10:30 AM

Industry Needs from Universities

10:30 – 10:45 AM

Break

10:45 AM – 12:15 PM

Industry Needs from Universities (continued)

12:15 – 1:15 PM

Lunch

1:15 – 2:30 PM

Town Hall Discussion on Industry Needs
All Morning Sessions Panelists to Participate
Moderator:  David Nelson, Senior Research Engineer, Rail Transportation Program, Michigan Technological University

2:30 – 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 – 3:45 PM

AREMA & APTA Presentation:  Resources to Assist Universities
Elizabeth Caruso, Executive Director/CEO, AREMA
Daniel Rappoport, Civil Engineer III, Chicago Transit Authority
Bryan Sooter, Director-Standards, American Public Transportation Association

3:45 – 4:15 PM

REES & pREES Modules Overview, Discussions and Questions
David Nelson, PE, Senior Research Engineer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Tech Transportation Institute

5:00 – 9:00 PM

Reception and Dinner – TBD

Wednesday, June 17

 
7:30 – 8:30 AM

Breakfast on Your Own

TBD

Tour - Metro - Green Line Extension

TBD

Tour - Loram

TBD

Tour - BNSF - Northtown yard 

5:00 – 9:00 PM

Reception and Dinner – TBD

Thursday, June 18

 
7:00 – 8:00 AM

Continental Breakfast 

8:00 – 10:00 AM

Research Programs & Opportunities Presentations and Discussions

10:00 – 10:15 AM

Break

10:15 – 11:45 AM

DOT/FRA Centers & National University Rail Center of Excellence (NuRail CoE) Presentations and Discussions
National University Rail Center for Excellence (NuRail CoE) - Dr. Christopher P.L. Barkan, PhD, George Krambles Director - Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, Director – National University Rail Center of Excellence University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Transportation Center for Railroad Safety (UTCRS)

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 – 2:30 PM

Current Programs in Academia Presentations

2:30 – 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 – 4:00 PM

Open Topic Discussions

4:00 – 4:30 PM

Closing

Schedule subject to change.