Administrator Szabo to depart FRA at year's end

Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo plans to step down by year's end, according to a memo he distributed to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) staff members yesterday. He will become a senior fellow for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning in January.

"Billy Joel sang 'life is a series of hellos and good-byes,' and I have found this to be so true. In January, I will say good-bye to you and hello once again to my family and friends in Chicago," Szabo wrote in the memo. "In my new capacity, I’ll work with the region’s local elected officials, the Illinois General Assembly, the freight- and passenger-rail industry, organized labor and logistic firms, and other metropolitan regions on transportation planning and programing. It is a role that allows me to return to my roots in local government, to serve as a senior advisor on transportation policy, and — from Chicago — continue to advance the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of people and goods for a strong America, just like we’ve done together here at FRA."

In May 2009, Szabo became the FRA's 12th administrator and first to come from the ranks of rail labor. A fifth-generation railroader, he was vice president of the Illinois AFL-CIO from 2006 to 2009. Prior to that, Szabo served as mayor of Riverdale, Ill., vice chairman of the Chicago Area Transportation Study’s Executive Committee and state legislative director for the United Transportation Union (UTU).

In 2002, he chaired the Governor’s Freight Rail Subcommittee and in 2005 was assigned by UTU International to the FRA’s Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC). Szabo has served on the Executive Council of Chicago Metropolis 2020, focusing on land use planning and transportation issues, and was a member of the Chicagoland Metropolitan Planning Council.

"It has been an honor to serve my president, former [U.S. Transportation] Secretary Ray LaHood and Secretary Anthony Foxx. Thanks to such an incredible team at FRA we have much to be proud of," Szabo wrote. "As a 38-year veteran of the rail industry — one who worked out in the ranks — the most meaningful improvement to me was the dramatic drop in employee fatalities to a new record low."

Over the course of his railroad career, Szabo lost five friends to on-duty fatalities and survived his share of close calls in the workplace, he said.

"Through [our] good work, we drove that down to a record low number of 14 employee fatalities in 2013 — still too many, but a remarkable improvement," Szabo wrote. "Now, 10 months into 2014, we are at five fatalities for the year and getting so close to the ultimate goal of zero."

Szabo has been an outstanding administrator during his tenure, championing many issues critical to the commuter-rail industry, said American Public Transportation Association President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Melaniphy in a prepared statement.

"Because of him, our industry is safer. He has put safety first in all his policies and initiatives related to commuter rail and has been a strong and fervent supporter for high-speed and intercity rail," said Melaniphy. "On behalf of the 1,500 member organizations of the American Public Transportation Association, we thank him for his exemplary service to the citizens of the United States and wish him well in his new endeavors."