Amtrak Honored Caltrans Rail Chief William Bronte and the Capitol Corridor’s Eugene Skoropowski with its prestigious President’s Service and Safety Award.

Also honored was Patricia Quinn of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA).

Recipients in the State Partner category “must demonstrate extraordinary and creative efforts in developing resources to preserve and expand rail service. Recipients must demonstrate leadership in promoting rail service on a state and/or local level.”

Eugene Skoropowski

During ceremonies in Washington, Amtrak President and CEO, Alex Kummant presented Skoropowski with Amtrak’s most prestigious award, the President’s Service and Safety Award for State Partner.

“Under Gene’s leadership, the CCJPA has developed the ability to work constructively with Amtrak and Union Pacific,” said Kummant. “He has developed unique intermodal partnerships with regional transit agencies throughout the corridor.”

Recipients in the State Partner category “must demonstrate extraordinary and creative efforts in developing resources to preserve and expand rail service. Recipients must demonstrate leadership in promoting rail service on a state and/or national level.”

Skoropowski has a vision for intercity passenger rail service in California. In partnership with Amtrak, the Capitol Corridor has increased the number of frequencies from four roundtrips in 1998 to 16 roundtrips today (32 trains a day between Sacramento and the Bay Area and 14 daily trains to San Jose). This expansion was a result of his skilled management techniques which enabled the CCJPA to use existing rolling stock on the route.

The route has seen eight consecutive months of record ridership growth with more than 1.5 million passengers traveling on the route in FY07, making it the third busiest in the nation.

William Bronte

Also honored was William Bronte, Chief, Division of Rail for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), for special recognition among state and local leaders across the nation for his support of Amtrak and his commitment to passenger rail service.

During ceremonies here, Amtrak President, CEO Alex Kummant said, “Your efforts exemplify initiative, commitment and dedication to Amtrak, and our entire organization extends to you our highest appreciation.”

Recipients in the State Partner category “must demonstrate extraordinary and creative efforts in developing resources to preserve and expand rail service. Recipients must demonstrate leadership in promoting rail service on a state and/or national level.”

Bronte is an outstanding advocate for intercity passenger rail in the U.S. His dedication to the expansion of intercity passenger rail service in California has offered rail passengers many convenient options for business and leisure travel and provides a strong foundation for continued growth. Bronte has led the California Rail Program, Amtrak’s largest state partner, representing approximately 50 percent of all state-supported trains and counting for almost 25 percent of Amtrak’s total ridership since 2005.

Under his leadership, there has been a dramatic growth in ridership on the Pacific Surfliner, from 1.7 million in 2002 to 2.7 million in 2007, an increase of 57 percent. The route is ranked the second busiest outside the Northeast Corridor.