Allan Rutter, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), announced that he is leaving his current post in mid-June for a position with a Texas transportation organization, according to the FRA.

"It was a difficult decision, but ultimately it is what is best for my family," Rutter stated. "The opportunity to serve President Bush as FRA Administrator has been truly an honor and a privilege and one of the great experiences of my life."

His new position will be as deputy executive director of the North Texas Tollway Authority. A native of Texas, Rutter looks forward to moving his family back home.

"I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to Transportation Secretary Mineta and all FRA management and staff for working with me to make real and substantive progress to improve the overall safety of this nation's rail network," said Rutter. "Together, we have achieved significant results."

Under his leadership, the FRA has experienced measurable improvements in a variety of important rail safety statistics, including a reduction in the train accident/incident rate and continued declines in highway-rail crossing fatalities.

He also has been successful in moving to completion in a timely manner a number of important administrative rules such as locomotive train horn use and standards for processor-based train control systems.

And, he has been responsible for key initiatives in the area of intercity passenger rail. He oversaw improved management of federal appropriations to Amtrak through the use of grant agreements and he helped lead the Bush administration's innovative policy to fundamentally reform the nation's intercity passenger rail system, the first such comprehensive reform proposal since Amtrak was created in 1970.

Administrator Rutter was nominated by President Bush in May 2001 and confirmed by the United States Senate in July 2001. He previously served then-Governor Bush as Transportation Policy Director in Texas.