Lauby named FRA administrator for safety

Robert C. Lauby has been selected as associate administrator for railroad safety/chief safety officer for the Federal Railroad Administration.

In that position, he will provide regulatory oversight for rail safety in the United States and oversees the development and enforcement of safety regulations and programs related to the rail industry.

Lauby has 35 years of railroad and rail transit experience. He joined the FRA in August 2009 and has been a member of the senior executive service since March 2010.

As the deputy associate administrator for regulatory and legislative operations, he was responsible for safety rule making activities and has served as chairperson of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC).

“Bob Lauby was formerly in charge of rail accident investigations at the National Transportation Safety Board and was very supportive of the UTU’s efforts at the NTSB with our Transportation Safety Team. He was very helpful at our Boston regional meeting this year,” SMART TD National Legislative Director James Stem said.

The FRA also announced that Les Fiorenzo, regional administrator for Region 1, will serve as acting deputy associate administrator for safety compliance and program implementation. In this role, Fiorenzo will be directly responsible for the safety inspection and enforcement program in the FRA’s eight regions.