Coscia elected chairman, Amtrak board of directors

WASHINGTON – The Amtrak Board of Directors has elected Anthony R. Coscia to be its next chairman to help guide the future of the railroad and carry out initiatives to increase ridership and improve operational and financial performance. In addition, the Amtrak board elected Jeffrey R. Moreland as vice-chairman.

An Amtrak board member since June 2010, and current chairman of its Audit and Finance committee, Coscia succeeds departing board chairman Thomas C. Carper whose term on the board expires this month.

“During my five years on the board of directors, Amtrak has made undeniable progress and all board members have worked together successfully, and in bipartisan fashion, to improve our nation’s intercity passenger rail service,” said Carper.

“I am confident Tony and Jeff will provide effective leadership, continue what is working while promoting new initiatives and work closely with President and CEO Joe Boardman to further transform Amtrak so it better delivers on its national mission to provide connectivity and mobility across the country,” Carper added.

“It is an honor to serve as Amtrak’s next chairman and I thank the Obama administration and many members from both houses of Congress whose support for Amtrak has been invaluable,” Coscia said. “On behalf of the Board and Amtrak’s employees I also want to thank Tom Carper and Nancy Naples for their exemplary service as their terms as board members come to an end.”

“As chairman, I am committed to increasing ridership, strengthening Amtrak’s operational performance and improving its financial position,” he explained. “Over the many years that I have been involved in infrastructure, and especially over my last three years on Amtrak’s board, I have come to recognize that passenger rail is vital to America’s economic growth and to addressing our nation’s growing need for mobility and connectivity.”

Since joining Amtrak’s board, Coscia has strongly supported investments in America’s national rail network. In particular, he is a strong advocate for making improvements to rail corridors that link the nation’s urban centers, such as the Northeast Corridor, and that connect parts of the country underserved by other modes of transit. He also supports investments in rail infrastructure so it can handle more trains and carry more passengers at higher speeds.

Coscia brings to the position an extensive background, including previously serving as chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and experience in redevelopment finance and corporate governance. Currently, he is a partner at the law firm of Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP.

Jeffrey Moreland also has been an Amtrak board member since June 2010 and is the chairman of its Government Affairs and Legal & Corporate Affairs committee. He succeeds Nancy Naples as vice-chairman. He enjoyed a long career at BNSF Railway including several senior management positions in law and government affairs, and most recently as executive vice president for public affairs.

“I look forward to continuing to work with Tony, the other board members and Joe Boardman and his management team. I believe all of us working together will allow Amtrak to continue to make progress in achieving our goals,” said Moreland.

“The success of Amtrak is, in part, a result of the strong and collaborative relationship between management and the board of directors,” said President and CEO Joe Boardman. “Tony and Jeff have always brought both passion and solutions to the discussion and their leadership will help carry Amtrak into the future and to continued improvements.”