Rail Passengers Applauds Nominatiion of Koos, Feinberg

For Immediate Release (20-07)

Contact: Sean Jeans-Gail, Rail Passengers Association (202-320-2723; [email protected])

Rail Passengers Applauds Nomination of Koos, Feinberg to Amtrak Board

The Rail Passengers Association applauded the decision by the Trump Administration to nominate Chris Koos of Illinois and Sarah E. Feinberg of West Virginia to be Directors on the Amtrak Board of Directors.

“Ms. Feinberg and Mayor Koos not only have excellent transportation credentials, they have a well-articulated and compelling vision of how Amtrak’s passenger rail network can better serve Americans from all parts of the country and all walks of life,” said Rail Passengers President Jim Mathews. “We look forward to working with Congress to speed their confirmation process.”

Mayor Koos is currently the Mayor of Normal, Illinois, where he has served as mayor since 2003. He is a nationally recognized voice for how transit and intercity rail can benefit small town America and was recognized by Rail Passengers with the Ross Capon Citizens Advocacy Award in 2019.

Ms. Feinberg previously served as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Chief of Staff to the former Secretary of Transportation. Rail Passengers endorsed Feinberg’s nomination to head the FRA in 2015, citing the ability she demonstrated as acting-Administrator in a challenging regulatory and safety oversight environment, her effective coordination of the FRA response to two deadly accidents, and her responsive and transparent management of the contentious debate over Positive Train Control.

The nominees will now advance to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

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About the Rail Passengers Association

The Rail Passengers Association is the oldest and largest national organization speaking for the more than 40 million rail passengers in the U.S. Our mission is to improve and expand conventional intercity and regional passenger train services, support higher speed rail initiatives, increase connectivity among all forms of transportation and ensure safety for our country's trains and passengers. All of this makes communities safer, more accessible and more productive, improving the lives of everyone who lives, works and plays in towns all across America.