Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani asks questions of the panelist during the hearing. She represents the 17th Assembly District which lies in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley.

Assemblymember Warren Furutani was also in attendance at the hearing. He represents 55th Assembly District which includes the communities of Wilmington, Harbor City and the Harbor Gateway, Carson, and parts of Long Beach and Lakewood.

Richard Little, AICP., Director, Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy, University of Southern California discusses his thoughts about rail transportation in southern California.

(Front Row: L to R) George Elsmore, Program Manager, Railroad Operations Safety Branch and Richard Clark, Director of Consumer Protection and Safety of the California Public Utilities Commission discuss rail safety issues.

Commissioner Timothy Simon of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) discusses rail safety issues.

(L to R) Art Goodwin, Director of Planning, Alameda Corridor;  LaDonna DiCamillo, Director State Government Relations, BN Santa Fe Railroad Corporation; and Lupe Valdez, Public Affairs, Union Pacific discuss freight train capacity in Southern California during the hearing.

Diego Cardoso, Executive Officer, LA County Metropolitan Transit Authority, Metro Light Rail & Corridor Studies; Steve Lantz, Director of Communications & Development, Metrolink, Southern California Regional Rail Authority; Samantha Bricker, Chief Operating Officer, ExpoRail Construction Authority; Adrienne Gardner, FFP Community Relations/Jobs Program Manager; and Jackie Bacharach, Vice Chair  LOSSAN, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency all discuss the of commuter and passenger trains.

Andrew Jones, CalPIRG, High Speed Rail; and Carrie Pourvahidi, Deputy Director, California High Speed Rail Authority discuss High Speed Rail in Southern California.

Members of the community attend the hearing, which dealt with the impact of rail transportation in southern California.

Members of the community also asked questions of the committee members.