By: Diane Benjamin

Chris Koos was nominated (3rd time) in January 2023 to replace Thomas Carper.

Amtrak Board of Directors: https://www.amtrak.com/about-amtrak/board-of-directors.html

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The Amtrak Board obviously isn’t a priority for the Senate who has to confirm nominees. The last movement of Koos’ nomination was in October.

Unlike as Mayor of Normal where the entire Council pretends to be nonpartisan, Koos is being appointed as a Democrat. See the bottom of this story: https://enotrans.org/article/senate-panel-approves-inmans-ntsb-nomination/

Maybe Koos will finally get a vote. Nobody seems to be in a hurry.

This article from 2022 is “inside Amtrak”. If you didn’t already know Amtrak is badly managed this should clarify it: https://corridorrail.com/u-s-amtrak-the-sadness-of-president-joe-bidens-amtrak-board-of-directors-nominees-its-time-to-go-in-a-different-direction-for-those-who-want-a-national-system/

Excerpt:

The most disappointing nominee is the renomination of Chairman Anthony Coscia, who has already served 12 years on the board. He may well be the longest-serving member of the board. If reconfirmed, he will almost guarantee little, if any, changes will come to Amtrak since the emphasis on the Amtrak Connects US initiative will continue unabated and most likely little attention will be paid to the long distance/inter-regional national system trains.

The same poor planning, possible intentional financial sabotage with non-daily trains, some trains not be operated, too short consists and an utter failure to provide sustainable food to all passengers possibly will become long-term company policy.

Anyone surprised with this excerpt?

It’s also important to note that $4 billion of federal COVID relief funds still seem to be mysteriously unaccounted for in Amtrak’s immediate future plans.

Maybe nominations aren’t moving forward because nobody wants the problems fixed.