WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will nominate former Federal Railroad Admininstration Administrator Ron Batory and Elaine Marie Clegg, CEO of Valley Regional Transit in Idaho’s Ada and Canyon counties, to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors, the White House announced today (May 2).
Batory, now a resident of New Mexico, and Clegg, of Boise, Idaho, would help address the geographic requirements that have been a stumbling block in filling board vacancies [see “Senators challenge Northeast Corridor tilt of Amtrak board nominees …,” Trains News Wire, April 26, 2023, and “Senate confirms three nominees …,” News Wire, Jan. 24, 2024].
Batory’s lengthy resume in the rail industry spans more than 45 years, and includes stints as president of the Belt Railway of Chicago and CEO of Conrail Shared Assets. He also recently served as the trustee of the CP-Kansas City Southern Voting Trust, overseeing KCS prior to the approval of the CPKC merger. He served as FRA administrator from February 2018 to January 2021, overseeing the implementation of positive train control and publication of a final governing Amtrak on-time performance on host railroads, among other accomplishments.
Clegg has spent 25 years as a public servant focusing on transportation and land use, including nearly 20 years on the Boise City Council; she has been Valley Regional Transit’s CEO since February 2023.
“I am deeply honored to be given this opportunity by the Biden-Harris administration to join the Amtrak Board of Directors and contribute to the advancement of rail transportation in our country,” Clegg said in a press release. “I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to ensure Amtrak continues to serve the needs of passengers and communities across America. It is especially exciting to have a chance to serve at this time as passenger rail is making a comeback and to represent the West as it seeks rail expansion.”
Both nominees must be confirmed by the Senate and would serve five-year terms.
BOTH Batory and Elaine Clegg are excellent nominees with strong backgrounds in addressing the need for improved railway transportation (passenger and freight), and both are (much needed) WEST of the Mississippi!
Your opinion would have more weight if it had a real name behind it. For all we know you are an official for the Biden Administration which means jack on this site..
Also might “AI” creep…
I agree with Mr. Landey. Ron is a great choice, I would argue the BEST choice. I’ve worked with and I’ve known Ron for several years. He’s certainly not a ‘yes man’ and he is one of the most experienced and well-rounded rail transportation professionals in the business. Amtrak sorely needs his knowledge and experience to help guide them.
I agree Charles, Batory is an excellent choice. He has a good resume of past achievements.
Since my original post of a couple of days ago, I’ve contemplated if there would be anyone better than Batory. I come up totally blank. In my mind, his suitability for the job is A+.
That’s all we need another Biden yes mam, not good at all
What were you hoping for? An airline CEO or a freight logistics CEO?
Personally, I think both of these nominations are excellent choices and will be better at pursuing improvements with Amtrak rather than figuring out how to further gut and cripple it.
Batory is an excellent choice.