ALL NEW TOPICS FOR 2025

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

PASSENGER RAIL LAW WORKSHOP WEBINAR 1 OF 6

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

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, Partner, Kaplan Kirsch LLP

Panelists: (coming soon)

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

PASSENGER RAIL LAW WORKSHOP WEBINAR 2 OF 6

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

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 E. Putnam, Partner, Kaplan Kirsch LLP

Panelists: (coming soon)

Frontline Player: Passenger Rail’s Role In Combatting Human Trafficking and Enforcing Federal Immigration Law

PASSENGER RAIL LAW WORKSHOP WEBINAR 3 OF 6

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

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 I. Fultz, Partner, Kaplan Kirsch LLP

Panelists: (coming soon)

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)