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APTA’s Kathy Waters recipient of Railway Age Graham Claytor Award

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief

Railway Age has chosen Kathryn D. Waters, Vice President-Member Services at the American Public Transportation Association, as the sixteenth recipient of the magazine’s W. Graham Claytor, Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to Passenger Transportation.

kathy-waters-at-marc.jpgThe award, given annually by Railway Age magazine to honor those who have contributed to the advancement of passenger rail in America, is named for the late president of Amtrak.

“Kathy Waters has distinguished herself throughout her career as one of our industry’s exemplary railroaders, and also as a role model for women who aspire to transportation careers,” said Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. “This award is well-deserved, because it honors a lifetime of notable achievements.”

Waters will be presented with the honor at Railway Age’s Passenger Trains on Freight Railroads Conference in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 20, 2009.

Kathryn D. Waters joined the APTA executive team in November 2007 as Vice President-Member Services. She came to APTA from Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore, where she was the Senior Deputy Administrator, responsible for all transit operations departments as well as transit police. With nearly 30 years experience in the transit and railroad industry, Waters has served in numerous positions of leadership, including Vice President-Commuter Rail and Railroad Management with Dallas Area Rapid Transit, as well as 20 years with MARC Train Service, culminating as Manager and Chief Operating Officer.

A planner by training, with a B.A. and MCP (Masters in Community Planning) from the University of Maryland, Waters began her career at the Maryland Department of State Planning office before going to work at the Maryland State Railroad Administration as a freight rail planner in 1980.

Waters has served as chair of the APTA Commuter Rail Committee, and on the APTA Executive Committee as Vice Chair-Commuter & Intercity Rail. She represented APTA for more than 10 years on the Federal Railroad Administration RSAC (Rail Safety Advisory Committee). She has also served in a volunteer leadership capacity with numerous transportation industry programs and organizations, and currently is a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Denver Intermodal Transportation Institute.

As Vice President-Member Services, Waters oversees a diverse group of APTA programs and responsibilities, including membership, technical services, meetings and conferences, international programs, safety and security, and standards development. She provides support to numerous APTA committees, including Rail and Bus CEOs, High Speed & Intercity Rail, Commuter Rail, and the Business Member Board of Governors.

Waters joins a distinguished group of Graham Claytor Award recipients. Among them are Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Managing Director Eugene K. Skoropowski; APTA President Bill Millar; former Metro-North President and Amtrak Chief Operating Officer Pete Cannito; former New York City Transit Authority and Amtrak President David Gunn; former New York MTA Executive Director and U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Mortimer L. Downey; former U.S. Health, Education & Welfare Secretary, Wisconsin Governor, and Amtrak Board Member Tommy Thompson; former Massachusetts Governor and Amtrak Board Member Michael Dukakis; former Congressman Jack Quinn; former Amtrak President Paul Reistrup; National Association of Railroad Passengers Executive Director Ross Capon; and the late U.S. Senators Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Claiborne Pell.

Established by Railway Age in 1994, the W. Graham Claytor, Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to Passenger Transportation honors the memory of the late Amtrak President W. Graham Claytor, Jr. A decorated World War II veteran, Claytor served as CEO of the Southern Railway, Secretary of the Navy, and Deputy Secretary of Defense and had an illustrious legal career prior to his 12 years of service as president of Amtrak. His skillful leadership, railroad expertise, and political skills are widely credited with Amtrak’s survival during particularly turbulent years.

First published in 1856, Railway Age covers developments in the $25 billion North American railway industry. The magazine’s editorial emphasis is on technology, operations, strategic planning, marketing, and other issues such as legislative and labor/management developments. Its circulation of 25,000 goes to railway management, railway suppliers, and consultants. Railway Age is the flagship publication of the Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation Rail Group.

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