People news from AAR and Front Range Passenger Rail District

The Association of American Railroads announced Steve McNealy is the recipient of the 2025 Holden-Proefrock Award, which recognizes his contributions to environmental safety and hazardous materials management. During his 40-year career, McNealy rose from the diesel shop to senior leadership at Kansas City Southern Railway (now Canadian Pacific Kansas City). His accomplishments include enhancing risk assessment frameworks to hazmat shipments and leveraging GIS mapping to strengthen emergency preparedness and response. Leveraging his experience at KCS, he also helped shape industry standards through his work with the AAR Tank Car Committee, Hazardous Materials Committee and TRANSCAER, according to an AAR press release. McNealy played a pivotal role in enhancing first responder training in the United States and Mexico, AAR officials said. 

The Front Range Passenger Rail District in Colorado has named Salvatore “Sal” Pace as permanent general manager. Pace, a former Colorado House minority leader and Pueblo County commissioner, has more than a decade of experience in passenger-rail policy, coalition building, and public infrastructure development as the district enters a new era of planning and implementation for Front Range passenger-rail service, district officials said in an press release. The district is charged under state law with developing and operating intercity rail service from Wyoming to New Mexico. As GM, Pace will focus on several key priorities, including preparing a district-wide referendum for voter approval; leading outreach to mayors, legislators, county commissioners, business leaders, labor unions and community organizations; building public trust through visible progress on the Northwest route through joint service; and ensuring comprehensive station area plans for all district communities.