(NASHVILLE) The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) will honor former U.S. Congressman Bob Clement with the Distinguished Service Award. The prestigious award will be made this coming Tuesday (10/10/2023) at its conference in Orlando. The award recognizes Clement for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing the cause of public transportation, a mission highly valued by countless individuals.
The retired congressman said, "It is an enormous honor and privilege to receive the APTA Distinguished Service Award. I am grateful to APTA's leadership for this recognition and for all that the APTA community is doing to advance critical transit and rail projects in Tennessee and across the country."
During his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1988 to 2003, Clement served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and held the position of Ranking Member on the House Railroads Subcommittee. His advocacy spanned commuter rail, Amtrak, intercity passenger rail, and the freight rail industry, resulting in several significant legislative accomplishments.
In 1998, Clement secured a pivotal rail provision in the Surface Transportation reauthorization, leading to the creation of the Railroad Rehabilitation and Infrastructure Financing (RRIF) program. Originally intended to provide vital capital to short lines and regional railroads through low-interest loans, RRIF has since expanded to encompass a diverse range of commuter, passenger, and freight rail projects.
Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner remarked, "Throughout his career, Bob has championed Amtrak and the vital role that passenger rail can play in connecting communities across our nation. As a leader in Congress and a mentor to many, his vision for train travel and a more sustainable future helped set the stage for the transformational investments in Amtrak and passenger rail expansion underway today."
Nashville’s Mayor Freddie O’Connell also applauded Clement, stating, “Congressman Bob Clement was a leader whose passion was connected to his purpose, and he has been an inspiration for a long time. He has been a longstanding champion of passenger rail—something still needed to restore connectedness in the South—and a beloved public servant for decades. Besides representing us in Congress, he served us in the National Guard, from which he retired as a colonel. And I grew up admiring his leadership in a time when bipartsanship was a noble goal and one he pursued. I’ve known Congressman Bob Clement for 20 years, and I’m grateful to call him a friend. And I’m proud to celebrate his recognition by the American Public Transportation Association,”
Clement's commitment to commuter rail culminated in securing full funding for the WeGo Star Commuter Rail line, connecting Nashville and Lebanon, Tennessee, as part of the 1998 transportation bill. This service, utilizing existing tracks of the Nashville and Eastern Railroad, commenced operations on September 18, 2006, and boasted a ridership of 92,100 in 2022.
In Congress, Clement initiated vital discussions regarding passenger rail access to the freight network and introduced legislation to promote commuter and passenger rail services nationwide. He steadfastly advocated for the restoration of Amtrak intercity service, which had been eliminated in 1979, and consistently fought for increased funds to bolster Amtrak service throughout the country.
Caroline Decker, Senior Vice President at WSP USA, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms, and former Chief of Staff for the Congressman, noted, "His ability to collaborate across party lines and forge compromises between Democrats and Republicans was a hallmark of his public service. He worked closely with his colleagues on both sides of the aisle on the Transportation Committee, renowned for its bipartisan cooperation, to secure numerous legislative victories."
Congressman Clement's distinguished public service career spans thirty years, encompassing military service, a tenure on the Tennessee Public Service Commission, an appointment to the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Valley Authority by President Jimmy Carter, leadership as a college president at Cumberland University, and eight terms representing Tennessee's 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Jason Spain, Nashville Metro Council Member and Executive Director of the Tennessee Public Transportation Association, who also served on Congressman Clement's legislative staff, commented, “Tennessee is one of only six states in the nation with public transportation in every county, but when it comes to intercity passenger rail, we have a lot of work to do. Congressman Clement’s vision and leadership laid the groundwork for the future of passenger rail in our state, and I appreciate APTA recognizing his efforts with this prestigious honor. With record levels of federal investment available for transit and intercity passenger rail thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I am optimistic about the prospects of reconnecting Amtrak and intercity passenger rail service in Nashville and throughout Tennessee.”
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 public and private sector member organizations. APTA is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation, including bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed passenger rail. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada ride APTA member systems.
