Brandy D. Christian, the president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA), was recently appointed to the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC).
The appointment follows Port NOLA’s board of directors’ approval of a resolution that would open negotiations with New Orleans city government and the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad for the port to purchase the railroad.
“It is an honor to contribute maritime industry insight from a port’s perspective on railroads and the shipping community while representing New Orleans and the Gulf region,” Christian said. “I look forward to working with board members and council members to develop the best practices to benefit all rail and shipping partners involved.”
RSTAC focuses on issues important to small railroads and shippers. It advises on policy, legislative and regulatory matters related to railroads to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and to the Secretary of Transportation.
Since 1995, it has prepared an annual report and has worked with the private sector to identify and solve industry challenges.
RSTAC was created by the Surface Transportation Board, an independent, regulatory agency charged by Congress. The board has jurisdiction over rail issues as well as certain trucking and bus companies.