The STB Advisory Committee on Passenger Transport holds its first meeting

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WASHINGTON – Rail industry professionals from across the country gathered in a conference room at the Surface Transportation Board headquarters last week for the first meeting of the STB’s Passenger Rail Advisory Committee. The purpose of the first meeting is to get to know each other, discuss goals and meet the four STB members they will report to.

Then-Chairman Martin Oberman suggested forming the committee before his retirement. Its published mission is to “provide ongoing advice and guidance to the Board and provide a forum to address passenger rail transportation issues in a manner that represents the interests of intercity and commuter rail passengers, as well as operators, government agencies, freight rail shippers and carriers.” , railroad workers and the general public.”

The full list of members is available on the Committee’s website. The geographically diverse roster, selected from more than 90 applicants, includes officials from Amtrak; operator authorities; Class I railroads; regional trains and short routes; commuter agencies and operators; railway work; passenger advocacy organizations; and state transport offices.

After being welcomed by Chair Robert Primus, Vice Chair Karen Hedlund and board members Michelle Schultz and Patrick Fuchs, committee members shared the qualifications that led to their selection.

Derwinski and Posner were named chairmen

The Charter of the Advisory Committee provides that two co-chairs are elected by the majority of the group: one representing the interests of rail passenger transport and the other representing the interests of rail freight transport. There were four nominees for the co-driver position:

— Jim Derwinski, CEO/General Manager of Chicago’s Metra (Commuter Train Category)
— Husein Cumber, Chief Strategy Officer, Florida East Coast Industries (not Amtrak)
— James Blair, assistant vice president of guest railroads, Amtrak (Amtrak)
— Roger Millar, Washington State Secretary of Transportation (state DOT funds Amtrak service)

There was no majority in the first round of voting; In a runoff of the top two vote-getters, Derwinski defeated Cumber.

In freight transport was Henry Posner, chairman of the Rail Development Corp. and the Iowa Interstate Railroad, the only candidate. He had previously been scheduled to speak at a Posner Foundation event, but Ida Posner, vice president of strategic planning for the Rail Development Corp., was present and co-chaired on his behalf.

Basic rules

Designated federal official Brian O’Boyle explained the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which allow the public not to observe but not participate in the proceedings. There is currently no option to stream the sessions live. The minutes of the event had not yet been published a week after the event.

Committee members voted to require in-person attendance, but yet-to-be-determined subcommittees can meet remotely. The bylaws call for two annual meetings, but the group opted for three meetings in 2025 because many members served two-year terms that began in March 2024.

The committee is expected to be available to assist STB’s recently created Office of Passenger Rail, which is embroiled in the dispute Amtrak has brought against Union Pacific’s handling of the train Sunset Limited [see “STB to end discovery portion of Sunset Limited on-time performance case,” News Wire, Aug. 20, 2024].

Ethics officer Chris Orley told the group: “You have been brought in because of your (outside government) perspective and financial interest, but you cannot trade your position. A government employee cannot represent these interests without committing a conflict of interest crime.”

But not so fast. He added that no matter can be discussed before the board without all STB members being present ex parte Rule. When asked by News Wire at the next break whether the Amtrak-UP on-time performance case could be discussed, Orley said that committee members “can only advise the board generally; You cannot make an argument that relates to the details of a procedure under review.”

Tackle hot topics

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What it does mean, however, is that the committee’s expertise and diverse viewpoints can help find a meaningful definition of what “preference” really means. This was one of the topics committee members raised as they identified challenges the group could try to resolve.

Derwinski noted, “Interstate commerce is critical to this country. It’s a big deal that we can’t get in each other’s way. This committee can help stimulate those conversations.”

Florida East Coast’s Cumber noted about using public money to expand capacity and his Brightline experience: “With elected officials who are term-limited, it becomes very difficult if they can’t see a project come to fruition during their time in office. “And the private sector has to worry about the cost of capital. But if you can do these projects much more efficiently, I think there will be a renaissance of passenger rail out there.”

For Ida Posner from Rail Development Corp. is it liability insurance. “Especially with smaller projects, the high costs represent a major obstacle.” She would also like to investigate how branch lines are evaluated in decommissioning procedures. “If we think long-term, how can we best utilize this infrastructure?” she asked.

Liability and the coexistence of cargo and passengers were also high on Carl Warren’s list. The president and CEO of the North Carolina Railroad told News Wire: “[These concerns] are something our company needs to constantly think about. The question of liability is a major hurdle that is not always addressed at the right point in the project process. That makes it very challenging.” Warren’s state tracks accommodate that Carolinian, Silver Star, And Piedmont Passenger trains and a variety of freight transport. “We need to recognize where freight and passenger traffic can reliably coexist and when separate rights of way and facilities make sense,” he said.

Rob Padgette, executive director of the California Capitol Corridor, says working groups on these issues will likely be established at the next meeting, scheduled for February 2025.

He tells News Wire, “They did a good job bringing a lot of different perspectives to the room. Presumably it could also be useful to organizations like the Federal Railroad Administration for issues we could take up.”

STB Chairman Primus concludes: “It is a great forum to bring issues to the public without fear of retaliation.”