03.18.09

Durbin Praises Nomination of Joe Szabo for Federal Railroad Administrator

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised President Obama’s choice of Joseph Szabo to be the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation.

 

“Joe Szabo is uniquely qualified to serve as the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration,” said Durbin. “Five generations of his family have worked on the railroad and he has worked as a yard switchman, road trainman and commuter passenger conductor. Joe has a long and distinguished career as an advocate for sound rail transportation policy. I look forward to working with him to address our nation’s next round of rail innovation including expanded routes, improved reliability and high-speed service.”

 

Szabo currently serves as the Illinois State Director of the United Transportation Union. Parallel with his union work, for more than twenty years Szabo was active in local government in the Chicago suburb of Riverdale, eventually serving as mayor.

 

Szabo earned his Bachelor’s degree in Labor Relations from Governors State University in 1990. Combining his skills in railroading, union work and public service, he served as a member of the South Suburban Mayors Transportation Committee and Vice Chairman of the Chicago Area Transportation Study’s Executive Committee.