Acting Chief of FRA Resigns

[mtuandrew]

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/ ... all-402093" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A top official charged with overseeing the safety of the nation's railroads has resigned "effective immediately," the Department of Transportation said Saturday after POLITICO raised questions about whether he was simultaneously working as a public relations consultant in Mississippi.

The news comes at a time of strain for the Federal Railroad Administration, which hasn’t had a permanent leader for more than a year while it investigates a string of fatal train crashes and deals with a rising trend of rail-related deaths.

There is apparently a successor in the wings, one Ron Batory (former Conrail president and COO), but legislators appear to be holding his confirmation for more leverage on a renewed Gateway.

[mtuandrew]

Ron Batory was confirmed today as permanent FRA administrator. Tweet from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association today at 10:11AM:

“The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, on behalf of the more than 600 short lines we represent, congratulates Ron Batory on his well-deserved confirmation as FRA Administrator. Ron Batory will bring a wealth of experience to the position and is well-qualified to guide the FRA through the critical work ahead of it including the oversight of Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation. We look forward to collaborating with Administrator Batory on PTC and other safety initiatives.” -Linda Bauer Darr, ASLRRA President