American Railroad Daily

President Obama today announced that he will put forth, Joseph C. Szabo, as his nominee to head the Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).  The FRA is the federal government’s rail safety regulator, conducts research into equipment design and operating practices, and provides railroads with a range of loans and grant financial aid. The agency also sends teams to investigate train accidents and sometimes fines carriers for violations of its safe practice standards.

The previous FRA administrator, Joseph Boardman, left that post last fall to become president and CEO of Amtrak. UTU International President Mike Futhey said Szabo is “the first FRA administrator to come out of the ranks of rail labor. It is a validation that this Obama administration is a friend of organized labor.”

Szabo, 51, already serves on the FRA’s Rail Safety Advisory Committee that helps the agency develop regulations, the White House said. Joe Szabo is also the current Illinois State Legislative Director for the United Transportation Union. As State Director Szabo has provided vision and direction to rail safety and regulatory issues and worked with business and civic leaders in the advancement of freight and passenger rail service. Szabo also serves on the Federal Railroad Administration's Rail Safety Advisory Committee participating in the development of federal regulations on rail safety. Prior to this Szabo served as the Mayor of the Village of Riverdale where he managed over 100 employees and budget of $9 Million serving 15,000 residents. Szabo was elected Mayor after serving ten years as a Village Trustee.