WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will nominate former Federal Railroad Admininstration Administrator Ron Batory and Elaine Marie Clegg, CEO of Valley Regional Transit in Idaho’s Ada and Canyon counties, to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors, the White House announced today (May 2).

Batory, now a resident of New Mexico, and Clegg, of Boise, Idaho, would help address the geographic requirements that have been a stumbling block in filling board vacancies [see “Senators challenge Northeast Corridor tilt of Amtrak board nominees …,” Trains News Wire, April 26, 2023, and “Senate confirms three nominees …,” News Wire, Jan. 24, 2024].

Batory’s lengthy resume in the rail industry spans more than 45 years, and includes stints as president of the Belt Railway of Chicago and CEO of Conrail Shared Assets. He also recently served as the trustee of the CP-Kansas City Southern Voting Trust, overseeing KCS prior to the approval of the CPKC merger. He served as FRA administrator from February 2018 to January 2021, overseeing the implementation of positive train control and publication of a final governing Amtrak on-time performance on host railroads, among other accomplishments.

Clegg has spent 25 years as a public servant focusing on transportation and land use, including nearly 20 years on the Boise City Council; she has been Valley Regional Transit’s CEO since February 2023.

“I am deeply honored to be given this opportunity by the Biden-Harris administration to join the Amtrak Board of Directors and contribute to the advancement of rail transportation in our country,” Clegg said in a press release. “I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to ensure Amtrak continues to serve the needs of passengers and communities across America. It is especially exciting to have a chance to serve at this time as passenger rail is making a comeback and to represent the West as it seeks rail expansion.”

Both nominees must be confirmed by the Senate and would serve five-year terms.