Nearly 400 representatives from Class I’s and short lines to suppliers, contractors, and the associations that represent them advocated for the freight rail industry on March 4 at Railroad Day on Capitol Hill—a tradition that spans more than 25 years.
The participants met with more than 330 congressional offices to share their stories and “to ensure elected officials understand their perspective when considering important legislation that affects the freight railroad industry,” according to event host American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), which was one of eight associations participating, along with the Association of American Railroads, National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association, Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, Railway Supply Institute, Railway Systems Suppliers Inc., Railway Tie Association, and GoRail.
At the meetings, industry representatives focused on four key points, calling on Congress to:
- “Update tax policies that incentivize private investment in infrastructure.
- “Guarantee full and consistent funding for federal rail safety grants and encourage the innovation and deployment of safety-enhancing technology.
- “Accelerate speed to build, advancing permitting reforms that provide greater transparency and predictability while ensuring timely, focused environmental reviews.
- “Restore the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) to a user-based system and oppose increases to truck size and weight limits.”
“The services our industry delivers support tens of thousands of shippers nationwide, helping businesses stay competitive and keeping prices affordable for American families,” ASLRRA President Chuck Baker said. “Railroad Day on Capitol Hill puts a face on the businesses and communities that Congressional actions will impact, making connections that will be invaluable to the industry and to Congress as it considers legislation that will produce powerful outcomes for the public.”
Union Pacific (UP) was among those that sent a delegation to Washington, D.C. The 17 members from the Public Affairs, Environment, Operations, Communications, and Marketing and Sales departments met with numerous congressional members and their staff. They discussed, among other things, “ways in which the federal permitting process can be streamlined to speed up infrastructure projects and how America’s freight railroads are vital to the country’s economic development,” according to the railroad.
“Strong public policies that support the rail industry are not just good for railroads, they also provide critical support to the nation’s supply chain and the businesses and consumers who rely upon railroads to deliver their products,” said Andrew Brady, Vice President-External Relations for UP. “This was also a great opportunity to educate our country’s leaders about the merger and how it will increase competition in the nation’s supply chain.”
Following are highlights from the event.
