March 7, 2026 - TRA Newswire -

He has a lot on his plate. The Administrator for the Federal Railroad Administration, David A. Fink, will deliver an address at the 22nd Annual Southwestern Rail Conference, May 18-19 at the Hurst Texas Conference Center.

Fink, a fifth generation railroader, served as President of Pan Am Railways in the Northeast where he modernized operations, elevated safety standards, and spearheaded technological innovation, including championing the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) and other advanced safety systems. His efforts contributed to measurable reductions in rail accidents and improvements in operational reliability.   

The administrator operates with a hands-on approach in dealing with a myriad of freight and passenger rail issues. Current Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant programs, largely funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), focus on safety, infrastructure, and passenger rail expansion. Key programs include Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI), Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP), Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) and the Corridor Identification and Development (CID) Program. 

Administrator Fink's agency recently issued a directive that proposes a restructuring of Amtrak, turning it into a holding company that splits operations into three distinct entities: infrastructure management, rolling stock management and train operations. 

Other recent FRA directives and advisories include fatal grade-crossing shoving of cars, rules on crew staffing, freight car safety and hazardous materials training as well as the agency promoting the use of innovative technology.

Fink holds a Master of Science in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Science in Transportation and Physical Distribution Management from Northeastern University. 

Registration and information about the Southwestern Rail Conference can be found here: https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/events/2026-southwestern-rail-conference/