About
Kevin Buettner
Kevin Buettner
Kevin Buettner began with a focus on a less than average passenger rail system: the Alaska Railroad. Moving back to Ohio, he learned the intricacies of Midwestern rail advocacy efforts. He was appointed to the RPA Board in August 2023 and provides a sustained voice for the Midwest.
“Ohio is not a fly-over state. We connect the mid-Atlantic to the central US, and we must tune the RPA message to decision makers as one of jobs and an expanding economy”, says Buettner. “Ohio has already been awarded three Corridor ID passenger rail grants from the FRA and I believe that will create momentum to create a regional network where Ohioans can commute to jobs and employers can rely on a larger, regional work force. We can thank the Bi-Partisan Jobs and Infrastructure Act for this.”
As an urban planner, I support multimodal options for my region’s mobility needs.
Kevin's education includes:
- Penn State – 2022 – Renewable Energy & Sustainability Systems
- Ohio State 2016 – City & regional Planning
- University of Alaska, Anchorage, 2014 – Political Science
- Air Force Community College – 2012 – Aviation Management
"It is an honor to be recognized by the Rail Passengers Association for my efforts to strengthen and expand America’s passenger rail. Golden spikes were once used by railroads to mark the completion of important rail projects, so I am truly grateful to receive the Golden Spike Award as a way to mark the end of a career that I’ve spent fighting to invest in our country’s rail system. As Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it has been my priority to bolster funding for Amtrak, increase and expand routes, look to the future by supporting high-speed projects, and improve safety, culminating in $66 billion in new funding in the Bipartisan infrastructure Law."
Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
March 30, 2022, on receiving the Association's Golden Spike Award for his years of dedication and commitment to passenger rail.