Virginia rail director Mitchell to leave for FRA post

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Director Jennifer Mitchell will step down from the agency on Friday to become deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

As DRPT director, Mitchell steered the state through a number of major initiatives, including extending Amtrak service to Roanoke and the $3.7 billion Transforming Rail in Virginia effort, state officials said in a press release.

In 2020, Mitchell received the Thomas W. Rice award from the Virginians for High Speed Rail, and was named by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials as a "Woman Who Moves the Nation."

In her new role as the FRA's deputy administrator, Mitchell will play a key role in implementing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the massive infrastructure bill passed by Congress late last year.

"Jennifer has been a real credit to Virginia and we wish her well as she moves to this exciting and important position," said Virginia Transportation Secretary W. Sheppard Miller III. "We look forward (to) continue working with her in the future."

To learn more about Virginia's major rail initiatives, click here to read a recent interview with Mitchell on Progressive Railroading's subscription website, RailPrime.

Meanwhile, Miller has named Jennifer DeBruhl — who has been DRPT's chief of public transportation for over five years — as the the department's acting director. Today, DRPT also launched a new campaign to help rebuild public transportation ridership.

"Rediscover Your Ride" aims to inspire riders safely and confidently to the public transportation services used before to the pandemic, said DeBruhl.

"As Virginians begin returning to the office, whether full time or in a hybrid model, the commonwealth urges individuals to [return to] public transportation,” she said. “Public transportation agencies across Virginia are ready when you are with enhanced safety protocols, sanitation and reliable transportation services."