STB Chair Oberman 'welcomes' Biden’s executive order

Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman said in a prepared statement that he welcomes "the nationwide policy" and "joins the concerns" outlined in the executive order on competition that President Joe Biden signed today.

"The president’s emphasis on improving the competitive landscape across the entire economy fits well with my view of the board’s mission in the current rail environment," Oberman said in the statement, which is posted on the STB website.

"In harmony with the White House’s policy that the federal government should seek to boost competition nationwide, as I have previously indicated since being named as chairman, I intend to urge my fellow board members to prioritize and strongly consider the concepts embodied in several measures which are already pending or have been recommended by board staff or stakeholders, including but not limited to reforming the board’s competitive access policies; enhancing shipper visibility into first mile/last mile service; and increasing the practical accessibility of rate relief measures to shippers in market dominant situations," Oberman said.

Moreover, Oberman addressed the EO's emphasis on ensuring that passenger rail is not subject to delays and interruptions in service.

"Freight railroads have obligations to facilitate timely passenger-rail service," Oberman said. "Earlier this year, I formed an internal working group to advise the board on the resources necessary to fulfill the agency’s responsibilities to investigate compliance with the new on-time performance standards and, starting next year, to ensure that those standards are enforced. I will be making an announcement about those efforts in the near future."