Amtrak unveils corporate restructuring plan

Amtrak will streamline its corporate structure by cutting in half the senior management team into six direct reports, the railroad announced yesterday.

The move is part of a plan to improve passenger service and make Amtrak more competitive, said Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Wick Moorman in a press release.

"This new structure aligns with our focus on improving the way we do business, modernizing and enhancing the customer experience, and investing in the future," Moorman said.

Effective immediately, the senior management team will consist of operations, led by Chief Operating Officer Scot Naparstek; marketing and business development, led by Executive Vice President Jason Molfetas; finance, led by Chief Financial Officer Jerry Sokol; law, led by General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Eldie Acheson; administration, led by Chief Administrative Officer DJ Stadtler; and planning, technology and public affairs, led by Executive Vice President Stephen Gardner.

To strengthen Amtrak's focus on safety and service delivery, train operations will be managed regionally through three general managers and supported by mechanical, engineering, network support, police and security organizations.

The marketing and business development group will expand beyond its traditional role to include product development, planning and contract management functions of the current business lines.

A new administration group will serve to manage human resources, labor relations, procurement and enterprise project management.

Certain corporate planning, information technology and station and facility functions — as well as the government affairs and corporate communications division — now will be part of the new planning, technology and public affairs group.

The corporate restructuring also will give Amtrak more flexibility to comply with the new account structure created under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Congress included Amtrak reauthorization for the first time in the surface transportation funding bill, which lawmakers passed in late 2015.

Also yesterday, Amtrak announced it has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking "partnership opportunities" for 725 miles of right of way and other real estate across the nation for telecommunications, energy distribution, and associated activities considered appropriate by Amtrak.

The RFP follows recent efforts to make better use of the commercial value of Amtrak assets such as 2 million square feet of industrial station properties, 6 million square feet of maintenance facilities and active right of way, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

Much of Amtrak's portfolio is concentrated along the Northeast Corridor, where the railroad owns 363 miles of the 457-mile route between Washington and Boston.

A pre-proposal conference call will be held Jan. 10 for those wishing to respond to the RFP. Amtrak will accept responses to the RFP through March 10. Parties interested in obtaining solicitation documents should contact Carole Owens in Amtrak's procurement department at OwensCA@amtrak.com.