WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board is seeking nominees for its newly formed Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, with nominations for the 18 positions due by Feb. 5.
“The Board seeks to fill all PRAC positions with active and engaged transportation professionals to help us more fully understand the complexities of passenger rail issues,” STB Chairman Martin J. Oberman said in a press release. “The Board has benefitted greatly from the energetic engagement of the members of our existing advisory committees … and I am confident that members of the new PRAC will provide the same kind of advocacy for their concerns with passenger rail that will significantly contribute to the Board’s fulfilling its new and ongoing passenger rail responsibilities. Indeed, there are several pressing areas of concern in passenger rail for which the Board will need broad, diverse, and insightful perspectives. We expect to fill these positions and have discussions commence as soon as possible. I look forward to productive conversations regarding effective and efficient passenger rail.”
The new group will become the board’s fourth advisory committee, joining the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council, Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Council, and National Grain Car Council. Information on each of those groups is available here. The passenger committee’s duties will include providing information, advice, and recommendations on issues including improving efficiency on passenger routes; reducing disputes between passenger operators and host freight railroads; and improving regulatory processes related to passenger rail.
The advisory committee’s membership will include two representatives from Amtrak; two representatives from commuter rail operators who use facilities owned or used by Amtrak, another intercity passenger operator, or freight railroads; two representatives from non-Amtrak intercity passenger operators, either existing or under development; one representative from a state that funds state-supported intercity passenger rail; one representative from a state served only by long-distance trains; two representatives from Class I freight railroads; one representative from a Class II or III freight railroad; one representative from a rail labor union; two representatives from passenger rail advocacy organizations; one representative from a rail shipper or customer advocacy group, an individual shipper, or an individual customer; and three at-large representatives with relevant experience, such as passenger equipment manufacturing or transportation planning. Additional details, including terms for representatives, are available in the STB decision requesting nominations. That document also includes the information on where and how to submit a nomination. Self-nomination is permitted.
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