Mark Vaughan, a city council member from Hastings, was elected chair in January of the Great River Rail Commission. Commission members elected Paul Drotos, a Goodhue County commissioner, as vice chair.
In 2009, elected officials from 17 cities and counties along the Mississippi River from St. Paul to La Crescent banded together to advocate for expanded passenger rail service. In January, that group chose a new name for itself-the Great River Rail Commission. The Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission is changing its name to the Great River Rail Commission to better fit its mission and purpose.