STB Chairman Martin J. Oberman retires
Late last week, the Washington, D.C.-based Surface Transportation Board (STB), an independent adjudicatory and economic-regulatory agency charged by Congress with resolving railroad rate and service disputes and reviewing proposed railroad mergers, said that Chairman Martin J. Oberman has officially retired.
Oberman’s tenure at the STB took effect on January 22, 2019 after being confirmed by the United States Senate and began his role as STB Chairman on January 21, 2021, as designated by President Biden, STB stated.
“It has been the honor of my career to have served on the Board for the past five years, and more importantly, to have been selected by President Biden to serve as STB Chairman and as a member of the White House Competition Council,” said Oberman. “In my view, at the STB, over the last three years, we have been able to make meaningful contributions towards accomplishing those goals with respect to the railroad industry. While I look forward to spending more time with my family, I will miss the dedicated STB staff who have worked tirelessly as public servants.”
STB outlined various initiatives and accomplishments the concern achieved under Oberman’s leadership, in holding several public hearings on important topics, including serious rail service issues, the CPKC merger, and the Amtrak Gulf Coast matter.
STB said that in those hearings and in other public meetings, Chairman Oberman asked the hard, direct, and incisive questions necessary to get from parties the information the agency needed to get to the bottom of the issues presented.
“Within the agency, Chairman Oberman has been known as a consensus builder, always interested in hearing opposing viewpoints and identifying a path forward on which all can agree,” said STB.
STB said that upon Chairman Oberman’s departure, President Biden intends to designate Board Member Robert Primus as STB Chairman.
“Without question, Marty was the right Chairman at the right time,” said Primus. “His leadership and tenacity guided the Board through a tumultuous service meltdown as well as a myriad of difficult cases that came before the Agency. Marty elevated the voice of shippers and rail labor and never missed an opportunity to remind the Class Is of their public responsibility to provide consistent and reliable service on a safe and resilient network. Though he is departing the Board, Marty’s impact will be felt for many years to come.”
Update: Earlier today, President Biden designated Primus as Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board effective May 11, 2024. Chairman Primus is serving in his second term, following his nomination by President Biden on June 22, 2022, and his confirmation by the U.S. Senate on December 20, 2022. His current term expires December 31, 2027.
