Joseph C. Szabo

Federal Railroad Administrator (since April 2009)

(Mark Wilson/
Getty Images)

Why He Matters

Traveling on trains is set to make quite a comeback with the billions in federal money being channeled into high-speed rails. Both the 2009 stimulus package and 2010 federal budget authorized billions in funds for the expansion of these fast commuter trains in an effort to connect more of the American landscape through railways. Szabo is the person in charge of regulating this growing system.

A former mayor of Riverdale, Ill., Szabo comes from the United Transportation Union (UTU), where he was the union's Illinois director, and is the first railroad labor official to ever lead the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). He's a fifth-generation railroad worker who has spent time in various positions on the railways prior to his full-time efforts with the union.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: State Director of the United Transportation Union's Illinois legislative board (1996 to 2009); Mayor of Riverdale, Ill. (1997 to 2000); Vice chairman of UTU's Illinois legislative board (1990 to 1996)
Alma Mater: Governor's State University, B.A. (labor relations), 1990

DC Office: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590; Phone: 202-366-4000
Web site

Path to Power

The Szabo's have a long history working on the railways, boasting five-generations of railroaders. Joseph Szabo didn't want to break that tradition, and joined the railroad industry in 1976, at the age of 18. He worked in a variety positions for both freight-rail and passenger-rail lines, including yard switchman, road trainman and commuter passenger conductor.

Szabo also became highly involved in the union that represents rail workers, the UTU. When Szabo was young, he would crunch union financial numbers with his father, who was the treasury of the UTU local 1299. In 1984, Szabo followed in his father's footsteps, becoming the UTU's Local 1290 treasurer. After earning a bachelor's degree in labor relations at Governor's State University of Illinois in 1990, Szabo became vice chairman of UTU's Illinois legislative board. He stayed there until 1996, when the UTU voted Szabo state director of UTU's Illinois legislative board. Unwilling to give up the position, Szabo would win re-election to that post three more times in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

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The Issues

During the 2008 presidential campaign, President Barack Obama emphasized building high-speed rails to connect Midwestern states, which he claimed would help revitalize their economies while reducing congestion and energy consumption. And when Obama first entered office in 2009, he urged Congress to pass a stimulus bill that placed a heavy emphasis on improving the U.S. transportation system through construction projects. But as the House drafted what would become the $787 billion stimulus bill, the administration did not request any high-speed rail funds.

It wasn't until the Senate Appropriations Committee received the bill from the White House that the administration asked for $2 billion for expanding the rail system. Then, as the House and Senate negotiated the final version of the stimulus bill, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel suddenly asked the panel to find room for $10 billion for high-speed rails.

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Congress decided on $8 billion, and approved the measure with little controversy. These last-minute negotiations greatly increased the importance of Szabo's responsibility as FRA head since the railroad regulator will have a substantial role in implementing the high-speed system.

High-Speed Rail

Szabo will help distribute the high-speed rail funds. The $8 billion will go towards building 13 large-scale, intercity corridors across the country. The DOT has begun distributing the funds. In January 2010, California received $2.25 billion to begin the process of developing a $45 billion rail system across the state.

Florida also received $1.25 billion to help connect Tampa and Orlando via a rail system that has the capability to travel 168 miles-per-hour.

In total, 31 states will receive a portion of the funds in order to lay the "groundwork for future high-speed intercity rail service" across the country.

Railroad Safety

In September 2008, a Metrolink commuter train crashed into a Union Pacific freight train in Chatsworth, Calif., killing 25 and injuring 130. The tragedy called into question railroad oversight of employees, who travel long distances over many hours with little sleep.

Congress quickly moved to strengthen federal oversight of commuter rails and their employees, passing the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 in October of that year. It provided $1.65 billion for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 in order to implement rail-safety measures, which included grants for the creation of technology to prevent train collisions. This bill also gave the FRA more responsibility in assuring the safety of rail passengers and workers.

The law stated that no rail employee could work longer than 12 consecutive hours, nor could the employee spend more than a combined 276 hours-per-month on duty, including riding the train home or mandatory obligations like training hours. Szabo will also lead efforts to study issues like the use of cell-phones by conductors while on duty and what rules need to be changed for conductors to earn certification.

The Network

When Szabo worked on the UTU's legislative board, he had interactions with then-State Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill).

In 2002, Szabo co-chaired the Freight Rail Sub-Committee on indicted former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's (D) transition team.

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Campaign Contributions

Szabo has personally donated over $17,000 since 1998, all of which has gone to Democratic candidates or the United Transportation Union political action committee. In 2008, he donated $4,460 to Obama's presidential campaign.

Additional Resources