Port of New Orleans President and CEO Brandy D. Christian has been appointed to the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC). A council created by statute under the Surface Transportation Board (STB), RSTAC provides advice on regulatory, policy and legislative matters to the Board Members, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on railroad-transportation policy issues.
Christian’s appointment to RSTAC comes after the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans approved a resolution during a June 2017 special meeting to begin negotiations with the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and the City of New Orleans to realign the Public Belt and its assets under the Port. The planned acquisition of the Public Belt will enhance Port NOLA’s global competitiveness.
“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,” said Christian. “I look forward to working with the board members and council members to develop the best practices to benefit all rail and shipping partners involved.”
Appointed by the STB Chairman, RSTAC has 15 members consisting of senior officials representing large and small shippers, and large and small railroads. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation and each of the Surface Transportation Board Members serve as ex officio members.
