Left to right: Chuck Baker, OneRail Coalition Board Chair; Mariah Morales, Amtrak; Paul Nissenbaum, FRA; Anne Canby.
WASHINGTON, DC, November 20, 2024 – OneRail Coalition Director Devon Barnhart announced that Paul Nissenbaum of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Mariah Morales of Amtrak are the recipients of the 2024 Canby Awards. The awards, named for the organization’s former director, Anne Canby, are given in recognition of an individual’s strong support for advancing rail in the United States. The awards were presented at an event here last week.
“The OneRail Coalition is pleased to present this year’s Canby Awards to Paul Nissenbaum and Moriah Morales in recognition of their longstanding dedication to preserving and improving the U.S. rail network,” said OneRail Coalition Board Chair Chuck Baker. “Their work has contributed to the increased visibility of rail across the U.S. and raised public awareness of the critical role of passenger and freight rail to the economy, public safety and the environment.”
Barnhart stated, “Paul’s deep expertise in rail policy, engineering, environment and financing has guided oversight of the FRA’s crucially important rail investment and network development programs, benefiting communities across the U.S. Mariah has been a steadfast leader and role model for women in the rail industry, and her can-do, positive attitude and vast network has been fundamental to growing support for passenger rail.”
Said Canby, “We are so pleased to recognize Paul and Mariah for their long time commitment to advancing rail as a critical part of our nation’s infrastructure and a solution to our economic and climate challenges.”
Nissenbaum has served as Associate Administrator for Railroad Development at the FRA since January 2012, leading an office of professionals responsible for FRA’s rail investment and network development programs. He also directs technical assistance and oversight to advance rail projects. Before joining the FRA, Nissenbaum worked at Amtrak, on Capitol Hill as a Congressional staffer and as a surface transportation and environmental consultant.
Morales, who is Director, External Affairs for Amtrak, is a recognized leader both at Amtrak and in the rail industry with a track record of success driving innovative approaches to advancing passenger rail policies and initiatives. As a part of the Amtrak Government Affairs team since 2015, she has been working with Congress, coalitions and advocacy groups as well as labor and trade associations. Prior to joining Amtrak, she was a government affairs representative for transit, transportation, and municipal clients.
About the Canby Awards
The Canby Awards were created in 2022 in honor of former OneRail Coalition Executive Director Anne Canby’s perseverance for advancing rail in the United States. Anne Canby dedicated her life’s work to transportation and promoting rail at all levels of government, serving as the New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation, Delaware’s Secretary of Transportation, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. She helped found the OneRail Coalition as an organization to promote America’s freight and passenger rail industry. Anne served as Executive Director for more than a decade until she stepped down in 2021.
About the OneRail Coalition
OneRail is a diverse group of stakeholders who have come together to educate America about the benefits of a strong freight and passenger rail system. Learn more at www.onerail.org; follow OneRail on Facebook, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn.
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