About
Richard Bruss
Deprecated: ProcessWire\MarkupQA::__construct(): Implicitly marking parameter $page as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /home/narprail/public_dev/wire/core/MarkupQA.php on line 74
Deprecated: ProcessWire\MarkupQA::__construct(): Implicitly marking parameter $field as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /home/narprail/public_dev/wire/core/MarkupQA.php on line 74
Deprecated: ProcessWire\MarkupQA::findLinks(): Implicitly marking parameter $page as nullable is deprecated, the explicit nullable type must be used instead in /home/narprail/public_dev/wire/core/MarkupQA.php on line 623
Richard Bruss
As a retired Electrical Engineer with both Amtrak and Pullman Standard, Richard brings to RPA the over 42 years of experience and knowledge of passenger railroading, from specifying, designing, manufacturing, testing, introducing to service various types of cars and locomotives.
“I have a passion for all aspects of passenger railroading. I am one of few individuals on the Board who come from the industry and can thus have a unique perspective. Since so much of my life has revolved around passenger railroads, I want to share my knowledge to enhance the passenger rail experience and opportunities and help the RPA make informed choices in advocating for a better passenger rail fleet.”
Richard’s experience with rolling stock provides RPA with considerable knowledge regarding:
• Fleet Plan: what types of vehicles should comprise the fleet, and how do we get from where we are now to where we want to be through our advocacy
• Vehicle characteristics and amenities
• Car system upgrades
• Operations
• Procurement processes
Richard has been an RPA member since the 1970s, a member of the RPA Council and one term on the Board. He has been a regular participant in RPA annual Day on the Hill in Washington, DC since 2017 and has authored numerous letters to Members of Congress about passenger rail issues.
He has also been very active with the American Public Transit Association.
ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
- IEEE (institute of Electrical, Electronic Engineers
- ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers)
- APTA (American Public Transportation Association)
- PRIIA (Federal Regulations governing state corridors)
SIGNIFICANT LIFE ACHIEVEMENTS
- BSEE electrical engineering, 1973 University of Wisconsin
- PE License in engineering
- Electrical Engineer-Field Service Pullman Standard 1973-1976
- Amtrak electrical engineering, spec writing, project engineering and project management 1976-2015
Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/narprail/public_dev/site/modules/FieldtypeTable/FieldtypeTable.module on line 1676
Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/narprail/public_dev/site/modules/FieldtypeTable/FieldtypeTable.module on line 1676
Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/narprail/public_dev/site/modules/FieldtypeTable/FieldtypeTable.module on line 1676
Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/narprail/public_dev/site/modules/FieldtypeTable/FieldtypeTable.module on line 1676
Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/narprail/public_dev/site/modules/FieldtypeTable/FieldtypeTable.module on line 1676
Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/narprail/public_dev/site/modules/FieldtypeTable/FieldtypeTable.module on line 1676
"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.