New FMCSA, FRA Administrators Sworn In
FMCSA's Raymond P. Martinez is a former commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. FRA's Ronald L. Batory was president and chief operating officer of Conrail, the eighth-largest freight railroad in America, from 2004 until his retirement in April 2017.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao swore in new administrators Feb. 28 for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration. Raymond P. Martinez became the sixth administrator for FMCSA and Ronald L. Batory the 14th administrator of FRA.
Martinez is a former commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Ronald L. Batory was president and chief operating officer of Conrail, the eighth-largest freight railroad in America, from 2004 until his retirement in April 2017.
"Ray's years of experience promoting traffic safety at the state level, as well as his knowledge of the commercial motor vehicle industry, will help FMCSA fulfill its critical mission of improving truck and bus safety," Chao said, adding at the other cermony that Batory "brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Federal Railroad Administration during a critical time for rail and passenger safety. His 45-year career in the operation and maintenance of railroads will be of great value in helping to implement new safety technology and improve compliance with safety alerts."
Martinez most recently served eight years as the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission's chairman and chief administrator, overseeing the agency's 2,500 employees and a $330 million annual operating budget. "It's an honor and privilege to serve my fellow Americans in this capacity and, under Secretary Chao's leadership, I look forward to working with all commercial vehicle stakeholders to effectively reduce the number of truck and bus crashes on our nation's roads," he said.
"Railroads are an integral part of America's transportation system and vital to our national economy," Batory said. "In addressing the challenges and opportunities ahead, my goal is to use data-driven decision making to further enhance safety while embracing leveraging innovative new technologies that will revolutionize America's rail transportation network."