Rusty Roberts joins the High Speed Rail Alliance Board of Directors

The High Speed Rail Alliance (HSRA) announced the appointment of Russell (Rusty) Roberts to the organization’s Board of Directors. A resident in Longwood (Orlando area) Florida, Roberts has spent much of his professional career working in transportation policy and advocacy both in Congress and the private sector.

Mr. Roberts served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Brightline Trains, Florida’s private sector high speed rail system, from 2013 – 2020. He was the long-time Chief of Staff to former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman, John Mica (R-FL) and he was also Managing Director of the Transportation Practice at BGR Government Affairs, a top ten Washington, DC consulting firm founded by Governor Haley Barbour.

Following his retirement from Brightline, Roberts was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Florida Transportation Commission, a nine-member commission responsible for policy guidance and oversight of the Florida Department of Transportation and other state transportation agencies.

“Passenger rail and high-speed rail in particular has always been my special area of interest. Joining a highly respected advocacy organization such as the High Speed Rail Alliance allows me to continue that work and I am honored to work with them in their mission”, Roberts said.

HSRA Board Chairman Maurice Ball said, “Rusty Roberts brings a unique public and private sector rail experience to our organization, one which will help us accelerate our mission to educate and advocate for more investments, both from private and public sectors, in high-speed rail.”