Friday, April 30, 2004 (Washington, DC) Allan Rutter, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, announced today that he is leaving his current post in mid-June for a position with a Texas transportation organization.

“It was a difficult decision, but ultimately it is what is best for my family,” Rutter stated. “The opportunity to serve President Bush as FRA Administrator has been truly an honor and a privilege and one of the great experiences of my life.”

His new position will be as Deputy Executive Director of the North Texas Tollway Authority. A native of Texas, Rutter looks forward to moving his family back home.

“I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to Transportation Secretary Mineta and all FRA management and staff for working with me to make real and substantive progress to improve the overall safety of this nation’s rail network,” said Rutter. “Together, we have achieved significant results.”

Under his leadership, the FRA has experienced measurable improvements in a variety of important rail safety statistics, including a reduction in the train accident/incident rate and continued declines in highway-rail crossing fatalities.

He also has been successful in moving to completion in a timely manner a number of important administrative rules such as locomotive train horn use and standards for processor-based train control systems.

And, he has been responsible for key initiatives in the area of intercity passenger rail. He oversaw improved management of federal appropriations to Amtrak through the use of grant agreements and he helped lead the Bush administration’s innovative policy to fundamentally reform the nation’s intercity passenger rail system, the first such comprehensive reform proposal since Amtrak was created in 1970.

Administrator Rutter was nominated by President Bush in May 2001 and confirmed by the United States Senate in July 2001. He previously served then-Governor Bush as Transportation Policy Director in Texas.

Accomplishments of Allan Rutter, Administrator Federal Railroad Administration

Rail Safety
· The train accident/incident rate has decreased 17.4 percent from 2000 to 2003.

· Highway-rail crossing fatalities reached a record low of 324 in 2003. They have decreased 47.2 percent since 1994.

Administrative Rules

· Several important administrative rules have been completed or are nearing completion including:

o Use of Locomotive Horns at Public Highway-Rail Crossings

Provides authority to local communities to address quality of life issues through the creation of Quiet Zones.

o Standards to Develop and Use Processor-Based Signal and Train Control

Systems

Provides guidance to further industry development of sophisticated communication based systems to control train movements and signal equipment.

Policy

Intercity Passenger Rail Investment Reform Act

o This comprehensive proposal seeks to fundamentally reform the nation’s intercity passenger rail system by restructuring Amtrak, giving greater responsibility to the States for development of passenger rail, and promoting competition in passenger rail services.

Oversight of Federal Funding for Amtrak

o Federal appropriations for Amtrak made through the FRA are managed and administered with greater care through the reinstatement of grant agreements.

Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program

o Restructured the program and approved the first low-cost loans available to Short Line and Regional railroads totaling more than $353 million.

Management

Presidential Management Agenda

o FRA continues to make progress on this important presidential directive. FRA scored an 80 on the Rail Safety Program, won a departmental award for IT security systems, and launched Work Force Planning in each major office.

Improved organizational culture and employee morale

o Broadened number of people eligible for recognition, focused training on rank and file employees, and increased senior management skills.