New Amtrak Board Members Recognize America's Railroad is Key to Future of Passenger Rail

WASHINGTON – The three newest members of the Amtrak board of directors recognize that Amtrak, and its national network of high-speed and intercity passenger trains, are key to the future of passenger rail transportation in America.

Anthony R. Coscia, Bert DiClemente and Jeff Moreland were nominated by President Obama and recently confirmed by the United States Senate. They are expected to soon assume their new responsibilities guiding and overseeing America’s railroad.

“We welcome our newest board members with confidence they will contribute their considerable knowledge and experience to advance Amtrak’s growth strategy and efforts to make the nation’s railroad safer, greener, and healthier,” said Amtrak Chairman Thomas Carper.
“I am excited about serving as an Amtrak director because I strongly believe that a vibrant, competitive, and comprehensive passenger rail system is a critical component of a 21st Century multimodal transportation system,” stated Mr. Coscia.

“I am a believer in the critical role that Amtrak plays in the national transportation fabric of our country. I believe to the core of my being that Amtrak’s best days lie ahead of us,” said Mr. DiClemente. “Amtrak has made progress in recent years and I believe these positive trends will continue. I also believe it is important to the U.S. transportation system that Amtrak maintain a nationwide rail system and develop high-speed rail corridors in many areas of the country,” said Mr. Moreland.

Chairman Carper noted that with the arrival of these new members, eight of nine director positions will be filled. They will join himself, Donna Mclean, Nancy Naples, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray La Hood, and Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman on the Amtrak board of directors.

Anthony R. Coscia
Mr. Coscia was appointed Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in April 2003. As Chairman, Mr. Coscia has broad oversight responsibility in connection with the agency's varied transportation businesses and $6.7 billion annual budget. From February 1992 to March 2003, Mr. Coscia served as Chairman of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Mr. Coscia is also a Partner at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP. He has specific experience in the area of redevelopment finance and has worked extensively on corporate governance issues. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (B.S.F.S., 1981) and he received his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law (J.D., 1984).

Bert DiClemente
Mr. DiClemente recently retired as the Vice President of CB Richard Ellis, Inc., which is the largest commercial real estate company in the world. He has been serving in this capacity since 2003. Prior to this position, he worked for Insignia/ESG and Jackson Cross & Associates as Director and Associate Director. He was responsible for the leasing and selling of commercial real estate and represented a number of Fortune 500 Companies. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a B.A. in political science.

Jeffrey R. Moreland
Mr. Moreland was most recently executive vice president for Public Affairs at BNSF Railway Company. He had previously served as executive vice president, Law & Government Affairs and Secretary; executive vice president law and chief of staff; senior vice president law and chief of staff; and senior vice president law and general counsel. From 1970 to June 1978, Moreland was employed at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in positions of increasing responsibility. His last position at the SEC was branch chief in the division of corporation finance. Mr. Moreland received his B.S. from Georgetown University, a J.D. from Catholic University School of Law, and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

About Amtrak
As the nation’s intercity passenger rail operator, Amtrak connects America in safer, greener and healthier ways. Last fiscal year (FY 2009), the railroad carried 27.2 million passengers, making it the second-best year in the company’s history. With 21,000 route miles in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian provinces, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day—at speeds up to 150 mph (241 kph)—to more than 500 destinations. Amtrak also is the partner of choice for state-supported corridor services in 15 states and for several commuter rail agencies. Visit Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information.