Washington, D.C. (MPG) - Rail Passengers Association congratulates Patrick Fuchs on his appointment, announced Jan. 22, as the new Chair of the Surface Transportation Board.

“This is a wise and solid selection by the Trump Administration,” said Association President & CEO Jim Mathews. “He brings a broad base of knowledge to this role, ranging from his time in the Executive Branch to his service with Sen. John Thune helping to craft the then-revolutionary Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, and beyond.

“Since joining the STB,” Mathews continued, “he has proven over and over again to be insightful, thoughtful, and committed to understanding root causes of thorny problems while working in a bipartisan way to solve them. We look forward to working with him, not only as an Association but also through our membership on the STB’s Passenger Rail Advisory Committee.”

Fuchs succeeds Robert Primus in the role, who assumed the Chair last May upon the departure of Martin Obermann. Fuchs was sworn in as an STB member on Jan. 17, 2019, and reconfirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 14, 2024. His second term expires Jan. 14, 2029, according to his bio on the STB website.

About the Rail Passengers Association:

The Rail Passengers Association is the oldest and largest national organization serving as a voice for the more than 40 million rail passengers in the U.S. Our mission is to improve and expand conventional intercity and regional passenger train services, support higher speed rail initiatives, increase connectivity among all forms of transportation, and ensure safety for our country's trains and passengers. All of this makes communities safer, more accessible, and more productive, improving the lives of everyone who lives, works, and plays in towns all across America.