WASHINGTON — The former head of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party has been nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the last remaining vacancy on Amtrak’s board of directors. But unlike those Trump advanced during his first term, this nominee has been actively involved in pushing for increased Amtrak service from an area the passenger operator currently serves.
Robert “Rob” Gleason hails from Westmont, Pa., a community southwest of Johnstown. A U.S. Air Force active-duty veteran and reservist who is currently Pennsylvania president of a global insurance firm, Gleason was appointed as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Commonwealth in the mid-1980s and later served on Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the state’s Transportation Commission.
Earlier this month he told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat that despite a temporary hold on a $143 million Federal Railroad Administration-awarded grant to help pay for infrastructure improvements Norfolk Southern says it needs to permit a second daily round trip of the New York-Pittsburgh Pennsylvanian, he is “confident that the project will move forward.”
As is the case with other FRA grants [see “FRA personnel cuts …,” Trains News Wire, March 3, 2025] the agency has never obligated the money after funding was approved in December 2023. Gleason says, “My own personal opinion is that [funding] is not in jeopardy. But, if it is, I would not hesitate to go to President Trump and to be sure that this grant is honored.”
Four of the 11 projects involved along the Pennsylvanian route involve improvements in the Johnstown area. Pennsylvania DOT Secretary Mike Carroll said last month that he is “hesitant to go forward” with the work for the Pennsylvanian and other projects that have been awarded but not received federal grants “absent an obligation” [see “Fund for Pennsylvania rail projects caught …,” News Wire, Feb. 23, 2025].
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Gleason would serve a five-year term in the slot previously held by Albert DiClemente, and would be the Republican counterpart to Normal, Ill., Mayor Chris Koos in representing communities served by state-supported service. The appointment would also tip the balance on the board to a Republican majority [see “New Amtrak board members ready for the challenge,” News Wire Dec. 23, 2024]. Still to be determined: who will succeed Democrat Anthony Coscia in the Chairman’s role. The two likely candidates are either former FRA Administrator Ron Batory or Joel Szabat, the Republican serving the longest [since early 2024] on the current board.
More information on Gleason’s background, along with a photo, are available here.
Good news. Just think, a Republican President appointing a pro-Amtrak Republican to the Amtrak Board. Real progress.