President Trump To Nominate N.J. Man To Lead Federal Railroad Administration

President Donald Trump will nominate a New Jersey man to run the the Federal Railroad Administration in the Department of Transportation. Trump plans to nominate Ronald L. Batory, of Mount Laurel, Burlington County, to the key position in his administration, the White House announced this week.

Batory last served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Philadelphia-based Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail). In his 45 years of leadership in the railroad industry, he was also President of the Belt Railway Company of Chicago.

He earned his B.A. from Adrian College and his M.A. from Eastern Michigan University. He lives in Mount Laurel with his wife, Barbara.

The nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. That confirmation will go through the Senate Commerce Committee, and he can expect many questions on performance standards, according to railwayage.com. Surface Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) recently introduced legislation in that area in an effort to improve safety.

This isn’t the first time Trump, an Atlantic City casino magnate, has tapped a South Jersey native in his unlikely rise to the presidency. Kellyanne Conway, an Atco native and St. Joseph’s Prep School (Hammonton) graduate, served as Trump’s campaign manager during the election.

She famously coined the phrase “alternative facts” while serving as Trump’s counselor during an interview on “Meet The Press” earlier this year.

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