Texas Rail Advocates

News Releases

TRA Commends TxDOT on New Rail Division & Director

(Dallas) - November 23, 2009

The long awaited creation of a Rail Division within the Texas Department of Transportation and naming of it's first Director today was greeted with thumbs up from Texas Rail Advocates, a Dallas-based grass roots organization that has been calling for the establishment of a separate division since 2001.

The new Rail Division and its Director, William "Bill" Glavin, will allow Texas to catch up with other states that have been far ahead in developing passenger rail corridors and improving the flow of freight rail traffic.

"We commend Amadeo Saenz, the Executive Director at TxDOT for his foresight in moving the concept of a Rail Division forward," said Peter LeCody, President of Texas Rail Advocates. "This shows that TxDOT is no longer just a highway department but is committed to moving people and goods on more than just roads in the future. We are so far behind other states in planning and implementing intercity and regional passenger rail service that it hurts. We have a long way to go to catch up with other passenger rail corridors now under development around the country and our state and federal legislators from Texas now need to get onboard. The TxDOT Rail Division can also be a welcome hand in working with the freight railroads on their congestion problems and help with capacity constraints. The new Rail Division will be able to speak as one voice for the entire state."

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About Texas Rail Advocates:

Established in 2000, TRA's mission is to accelerate Texas's economic growth and enhance the quality of life enjoyed by its people by advancing the development of rail service to its full potential as a carrier of freight and passengers. The Dallas-based non-profit holds the only all-rail conference each year. The next conference is scheduled for January 28 – 29, 2010, at the Magnolia Hotel in Dallas. www.SWRailConf.org

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From TxDOT news release 11/23/09:

Bill Glavin comes to TxDOT with more than 30 years experience in the rail industry, including stints with Burlington Northern Railroad, North American RailNet and, most recently, as a consultant with RVBA and Associates. Bill earned his bachelor's degree in biology in 1975 from Johns Hopkins University and his bachelor's in civil engineering from Michigan State University in 1977. After graduation from MSU, he went to work for Burlington Northern as a corporate management trainee and rose through the ranks to eventually become system chief engineer and general manager of strategic network design, where he was responsible for short- and long-term planning and budgets.

Creation of the Rail Division will consolidate the department's major rail responsibilities—planning, inspection, at-grade rail crossings, management of the South Orient Railroad and rail public transit—under a single division.

For additional information contact Peter LeCody, Executive Administrator, Texas Rail Advocates at peter@texasrailadvocates.org