ASLRRA tabs Darr to succeed Timmons as president

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has named Linda Bauer Darr president to succeed Richard Timmons, who plans to retire at year's end.
 
Currently the president and chief executive officer of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), Darr will become the first female president in ASLRRA's 101-year history. She plans to depart AMSA at September's end.

Prior to becoming AMSA's leader in 2007, Darr held senior positions at the American Bus Association and American Trucking Associations. From 1998 to 2000, she served in President Bill Clinton's administration as deputy assistant secretary for budget and programs at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
 
"ASLRRA undertook a nearly year-long search for its new president and we believe we have concluded that search with an outstanding selection," said ASLRRA Chairman Ed McKechnie in a press release. "Ms. Darr has significant experience in leading trade associations and has spent almost her entire career in the transportation industry. Her government service was at a very senior level in the agency that has direct budget and programmatic oversight over the Federal Railroad Administration, the federal agency with the most interaction with the railroad industry."

Association of American Railroads (AAR) officials lauded Darr's appointment.

"I have known and worked with Linda over many years. She is a smart, energetic leader with a wealth of experience in the transportation industry," said AAR President and CEO Ed Hamberger. "I look forward to maintaining the strong partnership we have enjoyed with ASLRRA under Rich Timmons’ leadership."

Timmons is concluding his 12th year as ASLRRA's president. He previously planned to retire on Aug. 31, 2013, but the association's board extended his contract through Dec. 31, 2014, so he could help ASLRRA address a number of challenges facing the short-line industry, such as the expiration of the short-line tax credit. Prior to joining the association, Timmons was a resident vice president of public affairs for Norfolk Southern Corp. and had served the U.S. Army for 32 years, retiring as a three-star general.

"Rich transformed our association. He made us a stronger, more effective and more member-focused organization, and we are sincerely grateful for the energy and enthusiasm he gave us during his tenure," said McKechnie. "In Linda, we look to taking our association to an even higher level of effectiveness as we address the challenges of improving safety, building on our legislative successes and enhancing the short-line railroad brand."
 
Short lines are a dynamic and increasingly important part of the nation's transportation network, said Darr.

"They are owned by entrepreneurs who are risk-takers in the very best sense of the word, and I am looking forward to helping them be as successful as possible," she said.