STB seeks nominees for passenger-rail advisory panel

The Surface Transportation Board is soliciting member nominations for the newly formed Passenger Rail Advisory Committee (PRAC).

The PRAC's 18 voting members will include individuals knowledgeable in passenger-, commuter- and freight-rail transportation, rail labor and transportation public policy. Nominations are due Feb. 5.

"The board seeks to fill all PRAC positions with active and engaged transportation professionals to help us more fully understand the complexities of passenger-rail issues," said STB Chairman Martin Oberman in a press release. "The board has benefited greatly from the energetic engagement of the members of our existing advisory committees ... and I am confident that members of the new PRAC will provide the same kind of advocacy for their concerns with passenger rail that will significantly contribute to the board’s fulfilling its new and ongoing passenger-rail responsibilities."

There are several pressing passenger-rail concerns for which the board will need broad, diverse and insightful perspectives, he added.

The PRAC is being established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act to help the STB better fulfill its statutory responsibilities in overseeing certain aspects of passenger-rail service.