Join the Commuter Rail Coalition and Kaplan Kirsch LLP for the 2025 Passenger Rail Law Workshop - Weekly Webinar Sessions. 

The Passenger Rail Law Workshop is a unique opportunity to hear from industry leaders and practitioners as they dive into the fundamental legal principles that underpin nearly every aspect of passenger rail law. You can also expect timely updates on recent legal developments impacting the industry, as well as a copy of the invaluable Passenger Rail Law Desk Reference.

Scroll down the page for a full list of sessions, this year provided as webinar sessions from October 23 through December 11.

REGISTER HERE

CLE ACCREDITATION

CLE accreditation is granted on a state-by-state basis. Each state has its own rules and regulations that define eligible course content for CLE credit. Due to varying state bar approval procedures, we cannot foresee how many credits the workshop will be approved for. However, typically this type of course earns approximately 1 hour of general CLE credits per session (for a total of 6 hours for all six sessions). Please check back here for a list of states which have approved the course and for how many credits.

It is the responsibility of each participant to file the appropriate paperwork with their own state bar(s) for continuing legal education (CLE) for this course. All participants will receive a letter certifying their attendance (in order to submit for CLE credits in their state). Most states have reciprocity agreements with one or more of the states from which we have applied for credit:

Colorado Course ID: application pending

Pennsylvania Course ID: application pending

Virginia Course ID: application pending

Registrants may request accreditation from their specific state after the workshop series has taken place by providing course materials and proof of attendance. Course information will be updated as it is received. Do not report hours until the last session has taken place

A PDF of the Agenda and Workshop Guide will be provided if you need it to submit in your specific state.

If you have questions about the certificates/proof of attendance for filing, contact MAJ@CommuterRailCoalition.org.

If you have questions about the approved CLE credits, please email marketing@kaplankirsch.com at Kaplan Kirsch.

PRLW WEBINAR 1 | Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. EST

Federal Grant Agreements: Tips on What You (and the Feds)
Can, Can’t, and Must Do to Meet Agreement Obligations

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Grant Agreements are a cornerstone of the relationship between the federal government and most passenger rail services. This session will provide insights into how to navigate the increased scrutiny of Grant Agreement compliance before, during, and after an award is made. It will also provide an overview of the rights and responsibilities of the federal government under Grant Agreements and the rights and recourse of grant recipients when faced with a dispute regarding their Grant Agreement compliance or delay in funding. The session will also discuss recent disputes concerning impoundment of federal funds, and provide an update on key litigation.

Moderator:

  • Ayelet Hirschkorn is a strong and effective advocate with extensive experience in the transportation industry. She successfully manages, drafts, and negotiates agreements for some of the nation’s largest transportation projects and advises her clients on federal and state policies, statues, and regulations in the railroad, environmental, utility and procurement industries. Ayelet also represents commuter rail agencies before the Surface Transportation Board, federal and state courts on a variety of issues including railbanking, abandonment of rail lines, environmental reviews, federal preemption and expansion of freight and intercity rail services. Ayelet spent a majority of her career in public service, ensuring that commuter agencies maximize their transportation services in an efficient and accessible manner.

Panelists:

  • Subash brings a significant depth of legal and public policy experience to the firm, including senior roles at USDOT and NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), North America’s largest transit agency. As USDOT Acting General Counsel, he served as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s top legal advisor, overseeing a 500-person legal team, leading the Department’s rulemaking agenda, streamlining processes to expedite project delivery, defending landmark transportation and environmental policies, and leading the Department’s legal work on international matters. As Chief Counsel at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Subash worked to implement the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and oversaw all FTA legal matters, including on Buy America compliance and safety and labor regulations. Prior to joining USDOT, Subash served as special counsel at the MTA and a litigator in private practice in Washington, D.C., where he helped deliver multiple Supreme Court and court of appeals victories for his clients.

  • Faris Mohammed is an attorney with experience in environmental and infrastructure law. He currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Chief Counsel for Development Law at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration advising on the agency’s multi-billion-dollar financial assistance portfolio. He has also worked at the White House Council on Environmental Quality where he supported federal policy initiatives on environmental review and permitting reform. He earned his Juris Doctor from Emory Law School and has a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

  • John Putnam is a seasoned attorney and policymaker with extensive experience in transportation, environmental, and energy law. Over his career, he has led in federal and state agencies, serving as the General Counsel for the United States Department of Transportation, Senior Advisor to the Governor of Colorado including chief negotiator for the Moffat Tunnel, and representing Colorado DoT on rail matters. His practice has focused on navigating complex federal and state regulations to deliver innovative solutions for infrastructure, sustainability and safety challenges. Known for his strategic counsel, John has played a pivotal role in advancing policies and projects that balance development, environmental stewardship, and community needs. His work includes implementation of the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), renegotiation of the historic Moffat Tunnel lease under the Continental Divide, and provision of passenger rail access from Denver to the mountains, as well as efforts to develop and implement legislation to fund Colorado rail initiatives and preserve rail lines affected by coal plant and mine shutdowns.

PRLW WEBINAR 2 | Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. EST

Swimming Out of the Deep End: Insurance Pools and Liability Caps for Passenger Rail

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Allocating and mitigating financial risk is a key concern for passenger rail owners and operators. This panel will explore the latest legal developments for two important tools that serve to mitigate the financial exposure of passenger rail systems: insurance pools and the federal statutory liability cap. Passenger rail insurance pools are mechanisms where multiple railway operators or entities share the risks and costs associated with passenger rail accidents or incidents. This pooling of risks and resources can help ensure financial stability and accessibility of rail services, especially for operators who might struggle to afford individual insurance premiums. The rail passenger transportation liability cap is a maximum amount of money a passenger rail operator can be held liable for injuries or deaths resulting from an accident. The cap is adjusted every five years, with the next adjustment occurring at the end of the year.

Moderator:

  • John Putnam is a seasoned attorney and policymaker with extensive experience in transportation, environmental, and energy law. Over his career, he has led in federal and state agencies, serving as the General Counsel for the United States Department of Transportation, Senior Advisor to the Governor of Colorado including chief negotiator for the Moffat Tunnel, and representing Colorado DoT on rail matters. His practice has focused on navigating complex federal and state regulations to deliver innovative solutions for infrastructure, sustainability and safety challenges. Known for his strategic counsel, John has played a pivotal role in advancing policies and projects that balance development, environmental stewardship, and community needs. His work includes implementation of the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), renegotiation of the historic Moffat Tunnel lease under the Continental Divide, and provision of passenger rail access from Denver to the mountains, as well as efforts to develop and implement legislation to fund Colorado rail initiatives and preserve rail lines affected by coal plant and mine shutdowns.

Panelists:

  • John has served as Metra’s Deputy General Counsel since 2015. His previous positions at Metra (which he joined in 2009) were as Senior Trial Counsel, Director of Risk Management, and Senior Director of Litigation and Risk Management.

    John has over 40 years of experience as a trial attorney in both Michigan and Illinois. John earned both his Bachelor of Arts (with honors) and Law Degrees at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Following graduation, he served as a senior staff attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Prior to joining Metra, John was a partner in a mid-sized Chicago defense firm for over 10 years.

    In 2025, John was awarded the David W. Fries Award by the Railroad Insurance Management Association (RIMA) of the Association of American Railroads for exemplary risk management efforts and practices in the railroad industry.

  • Kevin Woods is the Managing Director of Gallagher's Railroad Services for the

    Transportation Practice Group, bringing over 30 years of experience in property and

    casualty insurance. His career began in 1994 as a flood underwriter before transitioning to commercial insurance underwriting. In 2000, Kevin launched an independent retail brokerage company, which merged with Gallagher in 2012. He was named National Director of the Railroad Services Division in 2015 and later promoted to Managing Director in 2023.

    Kevin has spent over 25 years developing and managing insurance programs for rail

    industry clients. He has extensive expertise in ensuring proper coverage applicability and providing general insurance support for short-line railroads, rail contractors, rail industry manufacturers, trans-load operations, public transportation, and belt railroads. His role

    includes managing marketing strategies and negotiating complex insurance coverages with rail carriers on behalf of Gallagher clients. Kevin's dedication and problem-solving skills have earned him recognition as a Transportation Power Broker® by Risk & Insurance in 2022, 2024, and 2025.

  • Chelsea Carter is an Executive Vice President for Artex Risk Solution. She oversees one of Artex’s growing captive division in North America and is responsible for all aspects of the strategy from new business, renewals, new program development, client retention and stewardship.

    Prior to her current role, Chelsea was the Senior Vice President of Business Development for Artex Risk Solutions. She focused her business development efforts on a region and national level. In addition, also was a member of Artex’s Sales, Analytics and Advisory committee, which is global taskforce designed to bring together Artex’s subject matter experts across all product segments globally. This allows Artex to approach each program in a holistic manner bringing tailored solutions to each and every client. Chelsea also had a practice focus in the rail, real estate, higher education and healthcare industry. Specific to property and casualty risks, she specialized in the formation of single parent captives, group captives for middle market clients in various industries for property and casualty risks. Additionally, Chelsea helped employers evaluate the opportunity to utilize captive solutions specific to their employee benefit risk.

    Throughout her career at Artex and Gallagher, Chelsea provides a comprehensive and consultative approach to evaluating the alternative risk marketplace across all elements of the organization

    Chelsea began her insurance career in 2011 as a member of Gallagher’s Summer Internship Program and re-joined Gallagher full-time in 2018. Prior to Gallagher, Chelsea held various sales and marketing roles working for the U.S. Men’s Open Golf Championship (2013-2015) and Ernst & Young LLP (2015-2018).

    Chelsea received a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. She has earned a Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist designation.

    In 2024, Chelsea was named Captive International’s “40 under 40” list recognizing the next generation of captive insurance industry leaders.

PRLW WEBINAR 3 | Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. EST

Frontline Player: Passenger Rail Operations Confronting Human Trafficking and Federal Immigration Enforcement Activities

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This session will cover key legal considerations raised by the frontline role that passenger rail systems and facilities may play in law enforcement efforts, focusing on two current hot-button issues: human trafficking and enforcement of federal immigration laws. Panelists will review the various legal obligations of public agencies in both of these areas and discuss examples of strategies pursued to navigate legal requirements and address policy priorities.

Moderator:

  • Allison Ishihara Fultz brings a wealth of expertise in transactional and regulatory matters related to transportation infrastructure. Her diverse client portfolio includes public transportation agencies, state and local governments, private entities, and safety oversight organizations. Allison’s practice encompasses a wide array of issues, such as the acquisition and abandonment of railroad rights-of-way, agreements for shared use of freight and passenger rail corridors, and the conversion of rail corridors into recreational trails under the rails-to-trails program. Before rejoining the firm, Allison served as Chief Counsel of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), where she was the agency’s top legal officer. In this role, she provided strategic counsel on complex regulatory, legislative, and policy matters affecting the nation’s rail system to FRA and US Department of Transportation leadership. Leading FRA’s team of legal professionals, she helped guide FRA’s implementation of the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and ensured compliance with federal laws while advancing the agency’s mission to promote safety, efficiency, and sustainability in rail transportation.

Panelists:

  • Jared Garth is a Senior Associate General Counsel with Amtrak. He focuses on Employment & Labor litigation and supports Amtrak Police Department (APD) and Corporate Security operations. He is also responsible for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) litigation and compliance. Prior to joining Amtrak, he served as a Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Mr. Garth was an FBI Agent for twenty-one (21) years. He worked in the New York Field Office, Portland, Oregon Field Office, and FBI Headquarters. He worked on a variety of FBI classifications including counterintelligence, counterterrorism, white collar crimes, asset forfeiture, and crimes against children. He was also a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for two years in the District of Oregon and prosecuted crimes on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Before becoming an FBI Special Agent, Mr. Garth was a prosecutor in Spokane, Washington. He also served as a law clerk for the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division III. Mr. Garth is a 1994 graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington. He holds an undergraduate degree in Art History from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.

  • In May 2023, Kathy Silbaugh joined the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission as its first in-house General Counsel. For the prior 5.5 years, she was the General Counsel at the National Transportation Safety Board. She also started her federal government career at the NTSB, serving as a staff attorney between 2000-2010. In between her two tenures at the NTSB, she served at the Department of Justice as the Deputy Director for the Departmental Ethics Office, which administers the ethics program for DOJ. Ms. Silbaugh continued her federal ethics work for the Judiciary, as the principal legal advisor to the Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosure. The Committee is comprised of sixteen Federal District and Circuit Court judges from throughout the country. And just prior to rejoining the NTSB in 2017, she worked at the Department of Health and Human Services as the Deputy Associate General Counsel and Alternate Agency Ethics Official. Ms. Silbaugh earned her undergraduate degrees in History and Psychology from Lafayette College and her Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

  • Laura Kilgarriff brings a decade of federal regulatory expertise to Kaplan Kirsch. Prior to joining the firm, she served as Assistant Chief Counsel for Security Policy and Acting Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations and Security Standards for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Chief Counsel Office. Ms. Kilgarriff oversaw legal issues related to TSA’s issuance of regulations, security programs, security directives, and guidance across all modes of transportation, including aviation, freight railroads, public transportation systems, passenger railroads, motor carriers, pipelines, and maritime. As a senior TSA lawyer, she regularly coordinated and negotiated with other U.S. government entities on TSA programs and policies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of the Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Defense (DOD), White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Security Council (NSC). Ms. Kilgarriff received her undergraduate degree from Allegheny College and earned her Juris Doctor at the George Washington University Law School.

PASSENGER RAIL LAW WORKSHOP -
WEEKLY WEBINAR SESSIONS

OCTOBER-DECEMBER, 2025

ADDITIONAL NEW TOPICS FOR 2025

How Can Passenger Rail Help Address America’s
Mobility and Housing Crises

PASSENGER RAIL LAW WORKSHOP WEBINAR 4 OF 6

Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. EST

This panel session will explore effective legal strategies for fostering partnerships between public agencies and private developers to facilitate development tackling two of the big issues facing communities: mobility and affordable housing. Panelists will discuss successful case studies that illustrate how collaboration can enhance urban planning, improve transit accessibility, and stimulate economic activity while also tackling major housing shortages, particularly for lower income residents. The session will cover legal aspects of successful partnerships, including key mechanisms and regulatory frameworks. Attendees will learn about the legal benefits and challenges of aligning public transit goals with private development interests, as well as innovative approaches to creating sustainable, transit-oriented communities.

Moderator: Hanna C. Gustafsson, Associate, Kaplan Kirsch LLP

Panelists: (coming soon)

Reforming NEPA: What Recent Legislative, Executive,
and Judicial Changes Mean for Environmental Review
of Rail Projects

PASSENGER RAIL LAW WORKSHOP WEBINAR 5 OF 6

Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. EST

The past several years have seen changes from Congress, the current and previous Administrations, and the courts affecting the environmental review of processes under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). This session will track some of these changes and their implications for undertaking new projects requiring NEPA review. The panelists will share with attendees what has, and has not, changed, in undertaking NEPA review of a project and will provide insights into how this will shape environmental review of future projects.

Moderator: Casey Morris, Associate, Kaplan Kirsch LLP

Panelists: (coming soon)

Non-Federal Actors Leading the Way on Regional and Intercity Passenger Rail Development

PASSENGER RAIL LAW WORKSHOP WEBINAR 6 OF 6

Thursday, December 11, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. EST

This panel session will focus on the legal issues arising from the pivotal role that non-federal actors are playing in advancing regional and intercity passenger rail development. Panelists will highlight successful initiatives and innovative legal strategies implemented by various states to enhance rail services and connectivity. The discussion will cover the legal aspects of key projects, funding mechanisms, and collaborative efforts between state agencies and local stakeholders aimed at improving passenger rail infrastructure and service quality. Attendees will gain insights into the legal challenges and opportunities faced by states in promoting rail development, as well as best practices that can be adopted elsewhere. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of how the law is implicated as state, regional, and local entities shape the future of regional and intercity passenger rail across the nation.

Moderator: John E. Putnam, Partner, Kaplan Kirsch LLP

Panelists: (coming soon)