WASHINGTON — The first meeting of the Surface Transportation Board’s Passenger Rail Advisory Committee has been set for Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. at STB headquarters in Washington, the agency has announced.
The 21 members of the board — selected from more than 90 applicants — include representatives of Amtrak, commuter rail agencies, state agencies, non-Amtrak passenger rail, freight railroads, rail labor, passenger advocacy groups, a shipper, and a half-dozen at-large members [see “STB names 21 …,” Trains News Wire, March 28, 2024].
An STB press release says potential agenda items include election of board offers, a presentation by the STB’s Office of Passenger Rail, a briefing on federal rules for advisory committees and ethical requirements, the operation of the committee at future meetings, and a discussion of topics and goals for the committee. It will largely be up to the committee to define its own role, though board members may seek input on specific topics [see “STB’s new passenger committee scope still to be defined: Analysis,” News Wire, April 1, 2024].
The committee will meet at least twice a year; meetings are open to the public. More information is available at this page on the STB website.
Just what America need: another committee with as many members as possible to accomplish as little as possible.
To reply to my own comment of a minute ago, the photo accompaying the article works against the article’s topic. The very successful Borealis rides the rails each day, before this inane committee is even formed.