[1] The organization was founded by Anthony Haswell in May 1967, to lobby for the continuation of passenger trains in the United States.

RPA publishes a newsletter eleven times a year detailing news in the passenger rail world.

[7] The immediate past Chair and Treasurer hold non-voting, ex-officio, advisory roles on the Board.

In addition to the elected leadership, the small paid staff in Washington, D.C., includes a President; Vice President for Policy; Chief of Staff; and Directors for Resource Development, and Community Engagement & Organizing.

[8] Jim Mathews, formerly Executive Editor of the Aviation Week Intelligence Network, has served as RPA President and CEO since August 2014.