Justin Broyles Succeeds Matt Walsh as Chairman of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2026 —  The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has announced that Justin Broyles, President and CEO, R.J. Corman, has assumed the role of Chairman of the ASLRRA Board of Directors, succeeding Matt Walsh. Walsh, Executive Vice President of Global Corporate Development at Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. has served as Chairman for three years and fulfilled his term.

ASLRRA Honors Lake State Railway Company For Environmental Stewardship

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2026 —  ASLRRA has selected Lake State Railway Company (LSRC) as the 2026 Green Spark Award recipient. The Green Spark Award is presented annually to an ASLRRA member business that has integrated eco-friendly practices into their operations, products or services, proving that size is no barrier to impact. Award recipients serve as inspiring examples of how short line railroads can lead the way toward a greener future while maintaining profitability and growth.

ASLRRA Files Comments in Response to STB NEPA Proposal

STB Docket No. EP 779 – Permitting Reform - Environmental Review Process

Washington, D.C., April 24, 2026 — The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) filed comments in support of the Surface Transportation Board’s proposal to clarify, update, and streamline its environmental regulations implementing NEPA. ASLRRA endorses the Board’s efforts to align its rules with recent statutory amendments, CEQ regulatory changes, and case law, and views the proposed reallocations of authority to the Office of Environmental Analysis as a meaningful step toward more efficient decision?making. ASLRRA generally supports the expansion of categorical exclusions, incorporation of statutory deadlines and page limits, elimination of draft EAs and EISs, and the establishment of clearer procedures for environmental reviews, including in emergency situations. From the short line railroad perspective, these changes could significantly reduce time and compliance costs, freeing limited resources for infrastructure investment.

ASLRRA raises two targeted issues for the Board to address in a final rule: (1) clarification of whether the proposed exemption for “purely procedural” actions is intended to align with the existing “ministerial” exemption, and (2) consideration of whether reduced agency workload from streamlined reviews could justify lower filing fees for projects that are categorically excluded or subject to abbreviated environmental review. Overall, ASLRRA concludes that streamlined permitting reform is critical to enabling timely, cost?effective infrastructure development while maintaining reasonable environmental protections.