Juneau - Connecting Alaska with the rest of the North American rail network will be the topic of a one-day conference Thursday here at the Baranof Hotel. The goal of the conference is to increase awareness of the project, particularly as it relates to construction of the Alaska Highway natural gas pipeline. Governor Frank Murkowski will address the session, along with Canadian cabinet member Larry Bagnell.

The focus of the conference will be on how best to proceed with completing what's being called "the last transcontinental railroad." Approximately 1,000 miles separate the end of the Alaska Railroad near Eielson AFB with the Northern limits of the British Columbia Railroad at Fort Nelson.

Addressing the morning session of the conference will be Glenn Scammel of Rep. Don Young's office. Scammel is Chief Counsel, House Transportation Committee, Subcommittee on Rail.

Keynote speakers for the morning session include Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie, and two members of the British Columbia parliament. Leading the B.C. panel will be Minister Greg Halsey-Brandt (Intergovernmental Relations) and (MLA) Mr. Dennis MacKay, member of the Northern Caucus.

The conference is sponsored by Sen. John J. Cowdery, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Rep. Jim Holm, his House counterpart. Registration is from 7-7:45 a.m. with seven panel discussions scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The afternoon session includes panels exploring environmental, permitting, military and resource factors. Forums will be open for questions to panelists, time permitting.

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Rail Conference Agenda

Connecting Resources, Building for the Future
A Corridor to Increase Economic Activity

Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Baranoff Hotel, Juneau, Alaska

Registration Reception
No Host Bar
Baranof Hotel, Treadwell Room

Thursday, January 15, 2004
Baranoff Hotel, Juneau, Alaska

Registration and Continental Breakfast

Senator John J. Cowdery
General welcome, opening comments
Introduces MC, House Chair Jim Holm
General welcome, opening comments

Former Representative Jeannette James
"We've talked enough ... Now it's time to move forward."

Success Through Partnerships
Rep. Holm introduces Yukon Premier

Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie

Jesse Duke, Director of Mineral Planning and Development
George Privett, Business Facilitator/Economic Development, Yukon's Development Potential

Rep. Holm introduces B.C. Minister

Honorable Greg Halsey-Brandt
Minister for State for Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Dennis MacKay, MLA for Bulkley Valley-Stikine (Norther Caucus)
Colin Kinsley, Mayor of Prince George
Wayne Dahlen, Mayor of Dawson Creek

Break for Coffee

The case for the rail connection
Rep. Holm introduces Glenn H. Scammel

Glenn H. Scammel, Chief Counsel, House Transportation Committee - Subcommittee on Rail

Renewed Emphasis on Alaska-Canada Partnership
Senator Fred Dyson introduces Matt Morrison

Matt Morrison, head of PNWER
Matt Morrison introduces Cascadia Institute

Cascadia Institute
Charles Kelly
Canadian perspective on transportation infrastructure
Bill Van Ness
Connecting Alaska to the Northwest - new coalitions

Premier Fentie introduces
Grand Chief Ed Schultz
Economic Ties with Yukon First Nations

Sponsored by the Alaska Railroad

Break for set-up

Senator John Cowdery introduces
Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski
Premier Dennis Fentie introduces
The Honorable Larry Bagnell, MP for Yukon, Parlimentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs with a special emphasis on Northern Economic Development
Jeannette James introduces
Consul General Louis Arreaga
and a video presentative by
Steve Hites, owner Skagway Streetcar Company
the value of a Transcontinental Railroad to Northern Tourism
Senator Cowdery intrduces
Lt. Governor Loren Leman and Commissioners, Legislative Leaders

Break
Press Conference with Governor Murkowski, Honorable Larry Bagnell, Premier Dennis Fentie, Minister Halsey-Brandt, Senator John Cowdery, Representative Jim Holm, MLA Dennis MacKay

The Green Factor
Representative Jim Holm introduces Dr. Charles Jurasz

Dr. Charles Jurasz
Grass and Cash are Green
Gerald Fox
Building the Permittable Railroad: a presentation by HDR, Inc.
George Jeffrey, Canadian Air Crane
Leaving a small construction footprint

Toward a Bi-National Multi-Use Corridor

Representative Jim Holm introduces Jack Eidson and Kels Boland

Jack Eidson, Lockheed-Martin/University of Alaska
Kells Boland, Prolog Canada, Inc./Van Horne Inst.
"Seeking synergies amoung trans-border infrastructure investments."

Break for coffee

Multimodal Corridors in Movement of Resources

Representative Jim Holm introduces Dr. Paul Metz

Dr. Paul Metz, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Representative Jim Holm introduces Dr. Hal Cooper

Dr. Hal Cooper, Cooper Consulting

Question and answer period

Special Acknowledgments: Jeannette James
Briefly introduce Joe Henri, Scott Robart as long-time supporters of rail connection

Round Table, Q & A

as time permits