FRA 04-04
Contact: Steven W. Kulm
Telephone: (202) 493-6024
Friday, April 30, 2004
Federal Railroad Administrator Allan Rutter
Announces Move to Texas Transportation Position
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Allan Rutter, Administrator of the Federal Railroad
Administration, announced today that he is leaving his current post in mid-June
for a position with a Texas transportation organization.
“It was a difficult decision, but ultimately it is what is best for my family,”
Rutter stated. “The opportunity to serve President Bush as FRA Administrator has
been truly an honor and a privilege and one of the great experiences of my
life.”
His new position will be as Deputy Executive Director of the North Texas Tollway
Authority. A native of Texas, Rutter looks forward to moving his family back
home.
“I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to Transportation Secretary Mineta
and all FRA management and staff for working with me to make real and
substantive progress to improve the overall safety of this nation’s rail
network,” said Rutter. “Together, we have achieved significant results.”
Under his leadership, the FRA has experienced measurable improvements in a
variety of important rail safety statistics, including a reduction in the train
accident/incident rate and continued declines in highway-rail crossing
fatalities.
He also has been successful in moving to completion in a timely manner a number
of important administrative rules such as locomotive train horn use and
standards for processor-based train control systems.
And, he has been responsible for key initiatives in the area of intercity
passenger rail. He oversaw improved management of federal appropriations to
Amtrak through the use of grant agreements and he helped lead the Bush
administration’s innovative policy to fundamentally reform the nation’s
intercity passenger rail system, the first such comprehensive reform proposal
since Amtrak was created in 1970.
Administrator Rutter was nominated by President Bush in May 2001 and confirmed
by the United States Senate in July 2001. He previously served then-Governor
Bush as Transportation Policy Director in Texas.
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Accomplishments of Allan Rutter, Administrator
Federal Railroad Administration
Rail Safety
* The train accident/incident rate has decreased 17.4 percent from 2000 to 2003.
* Highway-rail crossing fatalities reached a record low of 324 in 2003. They
have decreased 47.2 percent since 1994.
Administrative Rules
* Several important administrative rules have been completed or are nearing
completion including:
Use of Locomotive Horns at Public Highway-Rail Crossings
Provides authority to local communities to address quality of life issues
through the creation of Quiet Zones.
Standards to Develop and Use Processor-Based Signal and Train Control Systems
Provides guidance to further industry development of sophisticated communication
based systems to control train movements and signal equipment.
Policy
* Intercity Passenger Rail Investment Reform Act
This comprehensive proposal seeks to fundamentally reform the nation’s intercity
passenger rail system by restructuring Amtrak, giving greater responsibility to
the States for development of passenger rail, and promoting competition in
passenger rail services.
* Oversight of Federal Funding for Amtrak
Federal appropriations for Amtrak made through the FRA are managed and
administered with greater care through the reinstatement of grant agreements.
* Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program
Restructured the program and approved the first low-cost loans available to
Short Line and Regional railroads totaling more than $353 million.
Management
* Presidential Management Agenda
FRA continues to make progress on this important presidential directive. FRA
scored an 80 on the Rail Safety Program, won a departmental award for IT
security systems, and launched Work Force Planning in each major office.
* Improved organizational culture and employee morale
Broadened number of people eligible for recognition, focused training on rank
and file employees, and increased senior management skills.
