Grand Vision: Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo Speaks Candidly on His Past, Stimulus Funding, Amtrak and the Vision of Future Rail in the United States

This interview of Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo focuses on the effects of stimulus funding on rail, Amtrak’s future, and Szabo’s vision for the future of rail in the U.S. The article describes Szabo’s background in railroading, his degree in labor relations and personnel management, and his appointment to the FRA’s Railroad Safety Advisory Committee. He describes the investiture of $8 billion in federal funds for high-speed rail as transformative for the FRA, adding it has required expansion. He responds to questions about a national rail system, in which Amtrak serves as a foundation, but suggests that network connectivity and developing rail corridors over and above Amtrak are required. He points out that high-speed rail in many cases will be sharing freight right-of-way, which will require expanding capacity and modernizing infrastructure. He dismisses charges that Amtrak is not “self-sufficient,” saying the railroad recovers 75 percent of its operations from the farebox, better than any transit system in the nation.