Murta is SLSI Executive Director

Thomas “Tom” Murta will be joining the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) as its Executive Director on July 10, 2017. He replaces Ron Hynes, who left SLSI in June.

Murta most recently served as Assistant Vice President of Safety and Operations Compliance for CSX Transportation. He held a variety of positions at CSX spanning his 24 years with the railroad including positions responsible for safety and compliance, hazardous materials systems, environmental compliance, and infrastructure. Prior to CSX, Murta spent six years with the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources. He holds a B.S. in Geology & Environmental Science from Morehead University, and a Masters in Public Administration from Kentucky State University. Murta is also the recipient of several industry awards.

“Tom comes to the SLSI with significant industry knowledge in the areas of compliance assessment, risk reduction, crisis management and emergency planning,” said Linda Bauer Darr, President of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and SLSI Board of Directors member. “In addition to his rail expertise, Tom has experience working in and with government agencies as well as serving on not-for-profit boards, which will provide important context for his work in taking the Safety Institute to the next level.”

“Tom has been a valued member of the SLSI Advisory Board, sharing his deep industry knowledge, particularly related to HazMat movement,” said Peter V. “Doc” Claussen, Jr., Vice Chair of Gulf & Ohio Railways, Inc., and Chairman of the SLSI Board of Directors. “Ron Hynes, our first Executive Director, was critical in guiding the Institute from a project to a full-scale operation. Tom will hit the ground running, with full knowledge of where we have been, and a vision for where we want to go.”

“I am thrilled to be selected to move the Short Line Safety Institute forward,” said Murta. “I’m committed to achieving the goals of SLSI, including being the industry-recognized leader in safety culture assessments, developing innovative training to assist short lines in continuous improvement of safety culture, and guiding research to identify additional areas of work.”