In this section, we showcase short line industry stories published in local media.
Fort Worth & Western Railroad Acquires Texas Central Railroad
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ASLRRA is pleased to welcome Nicole Brewin, the Association’s new vice president of congressional affairs. Brewin will lead ASLRRA’s congressional affairs team and work with Association staff and members to pursue legislative support for critical issues facing the industry.
Brewin was most recently vice president of government affairs at the Travel Technology Association. Prior to that, she spent 22 years at the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) rising to the role of senior vice president of government and public affairs. Brewin began her career as a legislative assistant to U.S. Congressman Peter Visclosky, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.
“Nicole is no stranger to the rail industry, having led government affairs for the Railway Supply Institute, a key partner for short lines, for many years providing insight and guidance in continually changing political landscapes,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “Her proven strengths in coalition building and legislative strategy, and more than twenty years influencing policy and regulatory actions will enable her to make a meaningful and immediate impact for ASLRRA’s members.”
“I’m looking forward to working on initiatives that enable the short line industry to continue to provide critical service to customers, and drive growth for our Class I partners and the economy,” said Brewin. “As we seat a new Congress in the coming months, it will be critical for our elected officials to understand how they can contribute to ensuring that America’s freight rail system, including our nation’s 600 short lines, continues to be world-class, flexible and sustainable.”
In addition to her work with RSI, Brewin has experience in the rail industry through service as a board member of the OneRail Coalition and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. She also served on the board of the D.C. chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar. In 2018 she received a Women in Rail Inspiring Leader Award from Railway Age magazine.
Thanks to Irwin Car for being a sponsor of this edition of Views & News.
In its eLibrary, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has posted a guide for preparing U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Crossing Inventory Forms for highway-rail and pathway crossings. Also linked with the guide is the required inventory form.
The FRA issued a final rule in 2015 mandating reporting of railroad crossings to the USDOT National Highway-Rail Crossing Inventory. Railroads are also required to periodically update data in the crossing inventory, particularly in the event of a sale of a crossing, a crossing closure or any changes made in certain crossing characteristics. The FRA maintains a Crossing Inventory website with information for railroads and states about how to submit their data and information about local grade crossings that is available to the public.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has issued an informational circular concerning changes to Equipment Advisory EI-0001, which includes notification of escalation of rail cars to XX status.
Equipment Advisory EI-0001 is a classification for active rail cars due or overdue for periodic air brake testing, while XX status means “restricted in interchange.” According to the circular, there are about 30,000 EI-0001 cars that have not moved in over one year and are overdue for testing. They will be escalated to XX status in three batches of 10,000 cars each.
On Aug. 19 AAR will issue a supplement to EI-0001 adding XX status to EI-0001. On Aug. 21 the first batch of 10,000 EI-0001 cars will be escalated, with the second batch escalated on Aug. 28 and the third on Sept. 4.
AAR subsidiary Railinc discusses the Equipment Advisory System, which replaced the Early Warning System, on its website and in a recorded webinar, both of which can be found here.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) reiterated the agency’s commitment to serving individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) in a press release issued in recognition of the 24th anniversary of the issuance of Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.”
The RRB details its work over the past 24 years to eliminate language barriers that keep LEP individuals from being able to access programs and services. This includes implementing policies and procedures described in the RRB’s language access plan. For example, the RRB has a dedicated Spanish-language page on its website, where it also makes copies of booklets explaining agency programs available in Spanish.
In addition, until the RRB is able to procure professional translator and interpreter services, employees who are multilingual often act in that capacity for a number of different languages. The agency adds that in this coming year it plans to work more closely with the Department of Justice’s Federal Language Access Working Group to take actions to help the RRB better meet the goals outlined in Executive Order 13166.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has issued a statement on its funding concerns and the recent fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding levels recommended by the Senate Appropriations Committee. While the Senate’s recommended funding exceeds that proposed by the House, the RRB points out both numbers still fall short of what the agency needs to adequately serve railroad employees and their families.
The Senate proposed $129 million for the RRB, compared to $100 million allocated by the House. Both are lower than the RRB’s requested $172 million for FY 2025 and the President’s budget request of $134 million.
Congress cut the RRB’s budget in FY 2024, forcing the agency to impose a hiring freeze and reduce operations, moves that have resulted in significant service delays. The Senate’s RRB budget reverses that cut to an extent, but, according to the RRB, still would not enable the agency to hire more staff or resume normal operations.
The RRB points out that the Senate’s FY 2025 budget increases funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help the SSA improve service delivery. According to the RRB, “Our nation’s railroaders also have earned their benefits through a lifetime of work and likewise deserve access to timely services…The RRB needs sufficient funding to increase staffing, continue to make needed IT improvements, keep field offices open to the public, and adequately execute its mission. Its constituents expect and deserve no less.”
Funding for the RRB comes from taxes paid by railroad employers and employees. In making its budget request the agency is seeking permission to access its own available funds in the railroad retirement trust fund system. General taxpayer funds do not go toward the agency’s budget for operations and railroad benefits.
In May, ASLRRA, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) sent a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Labor to urge them to meet the RRB’s requested budget amount of $172 million in their respective spending bills. The letter reiterates the negative effects budget cuts have on the RRB’s ability to serve its clients and describes the unique funding structure of the RRB.
ASLRRA signed a letter led by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) asking them to reject a request for a vote on H.R. 3372, which would establish a national pilot program enabling states to allow heavier trucks on federal interstates and connected roadways.
The program established by H.R. 3372 would allow 91,000-pound trucks on roads, up from the current limit of 80,000 pounds. In the letter, CABT points out the damage heavier trucks would inflict on local roads and bridges, since they would need to drive on these roads to access delivery points, fuel, food and other necessities. The letter further notes that Congress has “consistently rejected” truck size and weight increases due to concerns about the impact on infrastructure.
The letter goes on to urge proponents of this program to support comprehensive research plans initiated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Transportation Research Board if they “are serious about collecting more comprehensive information about the impacts of heavier trucks.” This research would include more robust data collection and off-road operational tests of bigger-truck configurations.
In addition to ASLRRA and CABT, 18 other organizations signed the letter, including the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the National League of Cities, United States Conference of Mayors, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, SMART-TD and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
In January, CABT published a document detailing its opposition to H.R. 3372, calling the proposed program “misguided and dangerous.”
Registration rates for all of ASLRRA’s fall events will increase this month, with the first deadline being Aug. 15 – the last day for early bird rates for the General Counsel Symposium and the Finance & Administration Seminar.
The General Counsel Symposium takes place Oct. 28 and 29 and the Finance & Administration Seminar takes place Oct. 29 and 30. Attendees must register separately for each event, which will be held concurrently with the Central and Pacific Region Meeting. Those who register for these events can secure a room in ASLRRA’s room block at the Westin Galleria Dallas, which is also the hotel for the Central and Pacific Region Meeting. The last day for discounted hotel rates is Oct. 7.
Early bird rates are slated to end Aug. 20 for ASLRRA’s Central and Pacific Region Meeting. The Central and Pacific Region Meeting will be held Oct. 28 to 30, with a golf tournament at the Luna Vista Golf Course. The cost for golf will also go up with general registration rates.
Registration for ASLRRA’s Eastern and Southern Region Meeting, including the rate for golf at the Slammer & Squire Course, will increase on Aug. 22. This meeting will be held Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida. Rooms are still available in ASLRRA’s room block at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville. The deadline for discounted hotel rates is Sept. 9.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will award over $41 million in grants to help fund pipeline and hazardous materials safety programs across the country. The awards will go to states, territories, tribes, unions and non-profit organizations to bolster safety efforts in local communities and with first responders, firefighters and other groups.
In a press release, PHMSA listed the programs receiving funding and pointed out specific increases including in grants for training for firefighters and grants awarded to Federally Recognized Indian tribes. Overall, about $32 million will go to six hazardous materials (hazmat) programs and roughly $9.2 will go to five pipeline safety programs.
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) will receive a $561,204 Hazardous Materials Instructor Training (HMIT) grant to support instruction for those who conduct hazmat training programs. With the funding, SLSI’s team is able to train railroad employees, conduct simulations and exercises and prepare Transportation Emergency Response Plans (TERPs) for railroads.
SLSI will also receive a $350,000 Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grant. SLSI uses ALERT funding to train firefighters and other first responders on railroad safety and operations. These individuals also learn best practices for working with railroads and railroaders if a hazmat incident occurs in the community.
To learn more about SLSI’s hazardous materials training, make an inquiry or schedule a training event, click here.
ASLRRA’s Leadership Development – Regulatory Module training seminar covers a wide range of material to help participants improve their knowledge of federal regulatory agencies and railroad rules while bolstering their managerial and leadership skills. This year, the Association will hold its leadership training seminar Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 in Jacksonville, FL.
There are only a few open spots left for this event. The seminar is co-located with the Eastern and Southern Region Meeting, but separate registration is required. The two-day training also overlaps with the first two days of the meeting. Click here for more information or to register for the seminar.
To help employees of small railroads attend this important industry training, ASLRRA offers both Doug Golden Scholarships and Jake Jacobson Memorial Scholarships. These scholarships are made possible through generous donations from the Doug Golden-Mary Cullen Charitable Fund and the family of the late Jake Jacobson, respectively. Click here to access more information about the scholarship program and find links to online application forms. Applications are accepted and awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year.
ASLRRA Member Discount Program Preferred Provider MaxAccel offers a suite of software products available in web and mobile-based solutions to assist small railroads in driving safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and return on investment.
Over 220 freight railroads, passenger operations and railroad contractors rely on MaxAccel’s electronic recordkeeping applications every day, making them some of the most widely used in the rail transportation industry.
MaxAccel’s product offerings, available as part of the Member Discount Program, include all eight solutions on the AssetPro and SafeTrack Platforms. ASLRRA members can choose one application or several to make MaxAccel their single solution for electronic recordkeeping. MaxAccel also provides interactive infographic analytics capabilities for easy assessment of reporting and risk management.
JR Gelnar, Fred Oelsner, Mike Ogborn, Jo Strang and Sarah Yurasko were in St. Paul, Minnesota for the Joint Committee Meeting this week. They provided Association updates during the all-committee group meeting held yesterday and participated in individual committee meetings held today.
Those who are looking to learn more about legal issues in the railroad industry can find several recordings in ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinar Library. Look for the titles below in the legal category online:
Visit ASLRRA’s webinar homepage and log in to view all the on-demand offerings in the Association’s webinar library.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced dates for this year’s Rail Share conference. It will be held Nov. 19 to 20 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina.
The conference will bring together rail industry professionals, regulators and safety experts to discuss ways to address challenges related to railroad safety. In particular, participants will discuss best practices for creating dynamic and engaging training that helps combat loss of situational awareness and other safety issues.
A general description of the event is available on the FRA’s Rail Share website. More information about registration and lodging will be posted on that site in the coming weeks.
Click here for a calendar of industry events.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
