Speaker: Robert Eckels - Texas Central Railway

Speaker: Robert Eckels - President, Texas Central Railway

Topic:  "Texas Central Railway - Bullet Train from Houston to Dallas"

Judge Eckels served as County Judge for Harris County, Texas from 1995 until 2007-a role in which he oversaw executive, legislative and judicial functions of a county that is home to nearly four million residents. He had previously been elected to the Texas Legislature while in his 20's, where he served six terms as a State Representative.

As County Judge, Eckels chaired both the Houston Galveston Area Council Transportation Planning Council and of the Harris County Toll Road Authority - a 500 lane-mile toll road system that is the only county-owned toll road system in the nation, and a pioneer in interagency partnerships and applying technology for efficient operations.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Eckels successfully transformed the Astrodome—in less than one day—into a combined emergency field hospital, mental health screening center, short-term shelter, and processing hub for over 27,000 desperate evacuees. His leadership during the crisis won international acclaim, with Esquire magazine describing it as “an island of competence in the face of catastrophe, a demonstration of how government ought to work.”

In addition to serving on numerous state transportation finance and planning commissions and committees, from 2002 to 2010 Eckels was the founding chairman of the Texas High-Speed Rail and Transportation Corporation, a coalition of local governments, educational institutions and the private sector working to bring high-speed rail to Texas.

After leaving public office, Eckels joined the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP as a Partner focused on Transportation and Infrastructure, Public Finance, Homeland Security and Disaster Law, Government Relations and Public Law. Judge Eckels has operated his own independent legal practice and is today a Member of the Texas based law firm, Gray Reed & McGraw, P.C.

Tickets
Rotarians $28.00 each
Non-Rotarians $32.00 each
CLICK HERE to register

Time
11:30 am Networking/Social
12:00 noon Meeting Begins
1:00 pm Adjourn

Location
Houston City Club
1 City Club Drive
Houston, TX 77046