Podcasts about surface transportation board

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 2:21

Senior transportation policymakers are calling for passage of several big-picture supply chain-centric bills with the congressional August recess approaching. A bill recently introduced in the Senate meant to improve freight rail connectivity is the latest in this series of measures awaiting consideration in Congress. The Reliable Rail Service Act, sponsored by Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, and Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, would pursue certain updates to operations at the Surface Transportation Board. Doing so, the sponsors insisted, would promote reliability across the freight rail network.

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Rail mergers, river situation: What's likely ahead for this spring?

Feedstuffs in Focus

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 28:58

What might spring bring in terms of the export and shipping situations? What about Canadian Pacific Railway's acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway? What's the latest on the Mississippi River situation? Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, joins today us with an update.This episode is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting the website at UnitedANH.comFor more information, on this and other topics, including additional coverage from the AASV meeting, we invite you to visit our websites - www.Feedstuffs.com and www.NationalHogFarmer.com. While you are there be sure to check out our digital editions and our new Feedstuffs 365 platform.

Guest: Steve Smith of Airlink on delivering emergency relief to world hotspots; Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern get the go-ahead; Warehouse technologies work in combination for greater productivity

Logistics Matters with DC VELOCITY

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2023 23:24

Our guest on this week's episode is Steve Smith. He is the president and CEO of Airlink, a non-profit organization that provides logistics coordination for relief organizations reaching the world's trouble spots. Airlink is offering ongoing assistance to war-torn Ukraine as well as recently coordinated transportation of people and supplies to aid victims of the last month's earthquake along the Turkey-Syria border.It has been a long time in coming, but the U.S. Surface Transportation Board has finally given the green light for the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railroads. But there are a few conditions that the STB demands for its blessings. We discuss those conditions and how the newly combined rail network will benefit shippers.Designing a warehouse can be very complex, with so many technology options available today. There is beauty, however, in seeing a design where these different systems can work together to be even more productive than they could be on their own.DC Velocity's sister publication CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. The third season of eight episodes has fully launched and focuses on attracting and retaining labor in our supply chains. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:AirlinkU.S. regulators approve merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City SouthernFast DCs require layers of automationVisit DCVelocity.com for the latest news. Visit Supply Chain QuarterlyListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Quarterly's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastListen to Supply Chain Quarterly's Top 10 Supply Chain Threats podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@dcvelocity.com.Podcast is sponsored by: YaleOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITYTop 10 Supply Chain Management Podcasts

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Surface Transportation Board Approves CP and KCS Rail Merger

Land & Livestock Report

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2023

Surface Transportation Board Approves CP and KCS Rail Merger

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Transport Topics (March 16, 2023)

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 2:31

By a 4-1 vote, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board on March 15 approved the more than $31 billion merger of Canadian Pacific Railway and the smaller but strategically significant Kansas City Southern Railroad. The deal is the nation's first major rail merger in 25 years. The 212-page decision paves the way to creating the first single-line railroad linking Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Gazette Daily News Briefing, March 16

The Gazette Daily News Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 3:29

This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Thursday, March 16.Don't forget your umbrella Thursday, although you might want to hang onto it tight. According to the National Weather Service there will be a 90 percent chance of rain in the Cedar Rapids area, with the highest probability of rainfall being between noon and 10pm It will also be windy, with gusts as high as 30 mph during the day, and up to 45 mph during the evening. The high temperature will be 45 degrees, with a low around 20 degrees. The main good news is more snow is being deemed unlikely this go aroundBirth control pills, contraceptive patches and vaginal rings would be available to Iowans from a pharmacist without a prescription under legislation approved Wednesday by the Iowa Senate — including by Republican lawmakers who previously rejected the proposal.If it becomes law, Iowa would join 17 other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing the dispensing of birth control without a prescription, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit organization that researches and advocates on women's reproductive health care policies.The proposal covers only birth control, not drugs designed to induce an abortion.Iowa Sen. Jeff Edler, a Republican from State Center who has been overseeing the bill, said during debate that the entire bill “continues to expand the access of health care to Iowans.” After debate, he declined a request to comment on the amendment that added birth control.Senate Democrats were pleased to see and support the amendment.House Republicans are scheduled Monday morning to hold a legislative hearing on their version of Gov Kim Reynolds' maternal health care bill, House File 427, which still includes the birth control provision that the senate initially removed.According to reporting from the Quad-City Times, federal approval has been secured for a train merger that is expected to deliver considerably more train traffic to several cities in Eastern Iowa.The Surface Transportation Board, a federal regulatory authority, announced its decision Wednesday, clearing the way for the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern to create the first single-line freight rail network connecting Mexico, the United States and Canada.This is the first major rail merger in 25 years, Chairman Martin Oberman said in a news conference Wednesday. The board determined combined rail lines would bring economic and environmental benefits to the country, which outweighed what he billed as minor local concerns.The merger is expected to divert more than 64,000 truckloads from the roads to rail each year because of increased efficiencies of the single-line railway, which means train traffic is expected to gradually increase over several years along the route.

DriveTime: March 15, 2023

Agri-Pulse DriveTime

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 5:00

The Surface Transportation Board has approved a major rail merger, much to the chagrin of ag groups. Hear the latest on that and a House Ag listening session in today's DriveTime.

drivetime surface transportation board

DriveTime: March 15, 2023

Agri-Pulse DriveTime

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 5:00

The Surface Transportation Board has approved a major rail merger, much to the chagrin of ag groups. Hear the latest on that and a House Ag listening session in today's DriveTime.

drivetime surface transportation board

Rep. Krishnamoorthi on whether controversial railroad merger can be stopped

Chicago's Afternoon News with Steve Bertrand

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL 8th-Schaumburg) joins Lisa Dent to talk about an upcoming vote by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board that would allow a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads, and whether federal lawmakers can delay that vote in order to conduct an analysis on the strain it would put on local […]

People Speaking Rail EP01 Surface Transportation Board has full docket for 2023

FreightCasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 25:45

FreightWaves' Mike Baudendistel and Joanna Marsh discuss the regulatory outlook for the freight railroad industry in 2023.

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Lawsuits over Great Redwood Trail accumulate

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2022 6:30

December 20, 2022 — The Great Redwood Trail has had a string of successes this year. The Surface Transportation Board, the federal entity that regulates railroads, has rebuffed efforts by local and out of state rail interests that wanted to use the line for its original purpose. Two months ago, the Board ruled that the Great Redwood Trail Agency will be allowed to railbank the track from Willits to Eureka, or build the trail directly on top of if by filling it in with dirt and aggregate. Senator Mike McGuire announced that the state is awash in funds for trail projects. He hopes neighboring landowners will benefit from the increased economic activity he expects from outdoor recreation, but lawsuits are proliferating. Almost three hundred landowners with property adjacent to the future trail in Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity counties are suing the federal government to compensate them for land they say was taken from them by the Surface Transportation Board's order. They believe the trail will reduce the value of their property by using it for a purpose that has nothing to do with the original railroad easement — which they claim was terminated when the line was abandoned. Thor Hearne is a lawyer representing sixteen landowners in Mendocino and Humboldt counties. He's taken rails to trails cases all over the country, in what has become a specialized area of jurisprudence.

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Rails to trails lawsuits hinge on historic right of way agreements

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2022 6:31

December 30, 2022 — Lawsuits about rails to trails projects have become an industry, according to an expert in the history of public lands in the U.S. In northern California, close to 300 private landowners are suing the federal Department of Justice over the Great Redwood Trail. Planning efforts for the future recreational trail are the responsibility of a state agency after the Surface Transportation Board, a national body that regulates railroads, ruled that the span of line between Willits and Eureka can be abandoned and railbanked. But portions of the trail run through or alongside private property, and some of those landowners are demanding compensation for land they say was taken from them by the Surface Transportation Board's decision. They maintain that the value of their property has been degraded. John Leshy, Emeritus Professor at UC Hastings College of the law, is author of the book, “Our Common Ground: A History of American's Public Lands.” From their beginning, railroads have played a central role in the interplay of public and private property...

Railbanking authorized; master plan introduced

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2022 6:30

October 26, 2022 — The Surface Transportation Board, the federal entity that regulates railroads, issued another ruling on the Great Redwood Trail this week, deciding that the agency can convert 176 miles of line to a trail. The Great Redwood Trail Agency will be allowed to railbank the track, which means filling it in with aggregate or dirt so that the railroad ties serve as a frame for the trail. The track runs from Commercial Street in Willits, where the Skunk Train depot is, to just outside Eureka. Robert Pinoli, the President and CEO of Mendocino Railway, the Skunk Train's parent company, did not know what the Agency's plans regarding the depot are. Representatives for the Agency and the State Coastal Conservancy, which is now in charge of the trail, have not addressed our question about the depot. Last week, the Surface Transportation Board rejected Mendocino Railway's bid to purchase thirteen miles of track from the depot to Longvale. A few hours after the Surface Transportation Board's Monday- afternoon approval to railbank the line, Senator Mike McGuire held a virtual Town Hall to unveil the first step of the trail's “master plan,” a process he expects will take two to three years before building the trail can begin. Karyn Gear, of the State Coastal Conservancy, is the Executive Director of the Great Redwood Trail Agency. The Conservancy has been involved in conservation projects on the shoreline as well as inland rivers bearing anadromous fish. Gear spoke about her organization's role in the planning process. “The Conservancy was asked by Senator McGuire and the Legislature to take a leadership role in doing the master planning for this project, and also to help be the interim staff for the Great Redwood Trail Agency,” she began. “The Legislature appropriated ten million dollars to the Conservancy to do just that, to help move this project forward. So the first thing we did, after we started looking for additional staff with expertise to work on this, was to start to develop a request for proposals to look for consulting firms to help with the master planning process.” The Conservancy settled on Alta Planning and Design, which has offices all over the state. McGuire insisted that there is plenty of money for the project, announcing that, “We have the funding sources for all of the trail master plan, and we have money in the bank for construction. We were able to secure ten and a half million dollars in state funds to pay for the staffing and master plan of the Great Redwood Trail. This is going to take us through the next several years of hard work and planning the trail. And a half billion dollars, five hundred million dollars, has been secured for the State Coastal Conservancy for projects that will help us fight our climate crisis and build trails of statewide significance. That includes the Great Redwood Trail.” McGuire and members of the Trail Agency hope that private landowners alongside the trail will take advantage of opportunities to offer hospitality services and amenities to trail users. Wild camping will not be allowed, but the senator enthused about one site that he said has already committed to providing a campground. “Eventually, what you're going to see are authorized camping spots throughout the trail,” he said. “In fact, just last year…the state, along with the Wildland Conservation Board, just purchased the old Lone Pine Ranch,” a remote forested property on the eastern bank of the Eel River, on the border of Mendocino and Trinity counties. It was formerly owned by Dean Witter, who bought it in the 1940's. It stayed in his family until his heirs decided to sell it to conservation groups. The Conservation Fund's website says that, “For many years, our partners at The Wildlands Conservancy owned a 3,000-acre portion of the Lone Pine Ranch. But in 2019, they sought our help to protect the remaining 26,000 acres…The support for this project has been tremendous with the help of Governor Newsom, Secretary of Natural Resources Crowfoot, the Center for Biological Diversity, California Wildlife Conservation Board, and the California State Coastal Conservancy.” McGuire described the property as “some of the most spectacular land that you've ever seen. It's 30,000 acres. It will have 12 miles of riverfront trail. That's going to be our first authorized campground. You're going to have restrooms there, be able to stock up on provisions and water. This is a game changer for the trail.” Deven Young, with Alta Planning and Design, which is preparing the master plan, said that the design could include enhanced access for CalFire vehicles, though McGuire pointed out that trail users are not among the main culprits, when it comes to human-caused fires. And McGuire referred to a ranger service that he hopes to deploy along the trail to pick up trash and assist travelers. Young spoke about ideas to create solar-powered hotspots that would enable hikers to call in emergency responders if someone gets hurt. “A lot of it comes down to wayfinding in and around the corridor itself,” he said. “It's remote. So demarcating and outlining and creating points along the corridor is really critical. As part of that wayfinding, we've actually found remote, really rugged trails have a lot of success using things like bluetooth beacons” with tiny solar panels along the trail, which allow hikers to have cell phone access and call for help. Timelines and exact figures are not available yet. And it will take a separate ruling from the Surface Transportation Board to allow railbanking south of Willits to Ukiah, and on to Cloverdale. Carol Hart, Chairwoman of the Great Redwood Trail Agency, is pushing to make it happen within a lifetime. “And I really hope, for our eighty-year-old plus people who have tuned in, that they are going to get out on this trail,” she enthused. “They are going to get to see the phenomenal Eel River Canyon, and the Founders Trail, and enjoy what this trail will have to offer.”

Skunk Train's bid to purchase line rejected

Chicago's Afternoon News with Steve Bertrand

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2022 6:30

October 21, 2022 — The Great Redwood Trail overcame a major hurdle late yesterday afternoon, when a federal regulator turned down the Skunk Train's offer to buy 13 miles of track north of Willits. The Great Redwood Trail Agency, which owns the track, had asked the Surface Transportation Board, which regulates railroads, to allow it to abandon the track so it could start the process of converting it into a trail. The Board approved the abandonment, effective on June 19, unless it received a formal notice from an entity intending to buy part or all of the line. The Skunk Train, also known as Mendocino Railway, did so. Last Saturday,it filed its bid, known as an Offer of Financial Assistance, which the Board rejected within the five-day legal timeframe. The Board also lifted the hold on its authorization to abandon the line, which means that as of Tuesday, October 25, the entire 176 miles of track from Willits to just outside Eureka is officially an abandoned railway. There is no appeals process, and the Board will take up further issues around converting the railway into a trail in the next few days. The Great Redwood Trail Agency is working closely with Senator Mike McGuire, the California Coastal Commission, and environmental groups including Friends of the Eel River, to build a 320-mile trail alongside or on top of the railroad line from Marin to the Humboldt Bay. The Agency also holds the deed to the Willits yard, or depot on Commercial Street, which is a critical part of the Skunk Train's infrastructure. Last month, Robert Pinoli, the President and CEO of Mendocino Railway, told a judge he feared that if the line were abandoned, his company would no longer be able to use the yard. Pinoli was the only witness in a three-and-a-half day eminent domain trial, where Mendocino Railway is suing a landowner just outside of Willits, claiming that short lines like the Skunk Train are a vital element of the nation's infrastructure. As such, Pinoli argued, the Skunk should be authorized to take the property because its use of it would serve the most public benefit. The eminent domain trial seemed to conclude about a week before the Great Redwood Trail Agency signed the deed to the Willits yard, but it's since been reopened. It will start up again on November third. The process of converting the railway into a trail appeared to be threatened over the summer, when an anonymous “Coal Train” interest based in Wyoming declared its intent to purchase all 176 miles of the track and use it to carry coal from the midwest and ship it overseas from the port in Humboldt Bay. That plan was scuttled when badly redacted bank statements showed that the company was flat broke. The Skunk Train's challenge remained, though. On Saturday, it made good on its stated intent to buy the track from Willits to Longvale. In a 271-page Offer of Financial Assistance, the company argued that the Great Redwood Trail Agency had grossly overestimated the maintenance and rehabilitation costs of the line; that the Skunk Train had a potential client for its freight shipping services; and that it has the financial wherewithal to purchase the track for about five and a half million dollars. The company estimated that rebuilding the track would cost an additional seven to nine million dollars. The Great Redwood Trail Agency's attorney, Charles Montange, argued that “In order to show financial responsibility, MR (Mendocino Railway) must show available assets sufficient to cover purchase price and rehabilitation and other costs of sustaining the initial two years of operation.” The Agency calculated that the purchase price, rehabilitation costs, and the two years operation and maintenance would come out to a little over $39 million. The entire northern portion of the line is so unsafe that in 1998, the Federal Railroad Administration embargoed it, meaning that it is illegal to use the line. And a tunnel on the Mendocino Railway line between Willits and Fort Bragg has collapsed multiple times. There is no connection between the Mendocino Railway short line and the national rail network. Pinoli testified last month that to his knowledge, the last time Mendocino Railway interchanged a freight train with another train was the day before Thanksgiving of 1998. He did not know the last time a freight train left Mendocino County. Mendocino Railway did not include its assets or the name of its potential shipping client in the public filing of its Offer of Financial Assistance. The Surface Transportation Board did have access to that information, and it found that the Railway “failed to demonstrate…that it has, or within a reasonable amount of time will have, the funds necessary to not only acquire the 13-mile rail segment, but to rehabilitate, maintain, and operate it as well.” The Great Redwood Trail Agency hired Marie Jones, a Fort Bragg consultant, to conduct a market analysis of Mendocino Railway from Longvale to Willits. She wrote that, “As an abandoned community, (Longvale) will not provide a market for the rail-based transport of any finished goods, manufactured goods, or commuting traffic, and on its face, is not a tourist destination for excursion train use. Aggregates, gravel and sand are the only realistic potential freight from this area.” She calculated that permitted operations in the area allow for a maximum of 79,100 tons of gravel extraction per year. With competitive transportation costs in the Willits market, she concluded, “There is no space within the market for non-competitive transportation pricing.” Jones is dubious that any potential shipper would pay the higher rates she believes Mendocino Railway would have to charge to be profitable, especially since trucking is so much cheaper. According to Jones, for the train to compete with trucks, it should charge $211 per railcar. But Jones concluded that “the total capitalized cost for acquisition, construction, and operating costs for the Longvale to Willits rail line would be $3,767/railcar, which is an order of magnitude higher than the average trucking cost of $211 for 80 tons of aggregate delivery.” Montange summed up Jones' findings: “The only shipper that could possibly be served on the Longvale to Willits segment is Wylatti dba Geo Aggregates, which has previously been identified by MR (Mendocino Railway) as the only shipper in the Longvale vicinity, and which is also present in Fort Bragg. GRTA (the Great Redwood Trail Agency) retained Marie Jones to examine rail need and feasibility for all the shippers identified by MR, and the transportation market generally from Longvale to Fort Bragg. Suffice it to say that Ms. Jones shows in her resulting report (attached to Jones Verified Statement, exhibit 4) not only that Wylatti is being served by trucks but also that that trucks are cheaper than rail to satisfy all current or expected transportation needs. If trucks are cheaper, then freight rail is not feasible or needed.” The Board agreed that Mendocino Railway “has not demonstrated financial responsibility.” Meanwhile, the Great Redwood Trail Agency has released its “Feasibility, Governance, and Railbanking Report,” which McGuire refers to as the “Master Plan.” He anticipates it will take two to three years to get through the details of construction, fire safety, and community engagement before trail building begins. There will be a virtual town hall about the master plan on Monday night at 6:30 p.m.

Rep. Krishnamoorthi on why potential railroad merger is bad for the area and what could be done to make it better

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL 8th-Schaumburg) joins Lisa Dent on Chicago’s Afternoon News to explain why he’s calling on the Surface Transportation Board to carefully consider the details of the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern. Rep. Krishnamoorthi explains his understanding that the merger will result in serious delays for first responders […]

Rail Market Update - Week ending August 26, 2022

FTR State of Freight

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 18:53

In this Rail Market Update: Volumes steady as we head into the late summer. All eyes on port and rail labor as negotiations continue. Reciprocal switching decision expected this week from the Surface Transportation Board.The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR's Vice President of Rail & Intermodal, Todd Tranausky. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation. Download the PDF: https://freight.ftrintel.com/podcast/ru159Support the show

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AOA August 5, 2022

Adams on Agriculture

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2022 51:40

Thursday's AOA began with a discussion about the current status of AB5, the California law eliminating independent owner operators in that state with Colin Campbell, reporter for Supply Chain Dive and Transport Dive. Then Meagan Kaiser, Vice Chair of the United Soybean Board, provided an update on the investments USB will be making in 2023 to drive bean usage. Arlan Suderman joined the show in segment three to discuss recession risk, weather outlook, and what's ahead for the grain markets. The show ended with Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition addressed the potential reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board

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AOA - August 4, 2022

Adams on Agriculture

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 52:52

Thursday's AOA began with a discussion about the current status of AB5, the California law eliminating independent owner operators in that state with Colin Campbell, reporter for Supply Chain Dive and Transport Dive. Then Meagan Kaiser, Vice Chair of the United Soybean Board, provided an update on the investments USB will be making in 2023 to drive bean usage. Arlan Suderman joined the show in segment three to discuss recession risk, weather outlook, and what's ahead for the grain markets. The show ended with Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition addressed the potential reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board

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Where Are They Now? Wick Moorman, 2011 Railroader Of The Year

Rail Group On Air

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 31:48

Railway Age's 2011 Railroader of the Year Charles W. “Wick” Moorman IV retired as chairman, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern in 2015, then spent a year as president of Amtrak. Since then, he's been active in historic preservation, among other ventures, taking the lead, with colleagues Bennett Levin and Henry Posner, in the second restoration of Pennsylvania Railroad K4 Pacific steam locomotive 1361 and work with reorganizing the Railroaders Memorial Museum of Altoona. He's also involved in resurrecting Pennsylvania's East Broad Top as a tourist attraction and driver of regional economic activity. In this wide-ranging interview with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono, Wick talks about his historic preservation initiatives and tenure as Amtrak president—and offers his very candid, eye-opening observations on the current state of the U.S. rail industry: Precision Scheduled Railroading, customer service, capital investment, the Surface Transportation Board and regulation, and Amtrak's relationship with its host freight railroads. This is one podcast well-worth a listen!

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Rail Market Update - Week ending June 24, 2022

FTR State of Freight

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 23:25

In this Rail Market Update, Todd reviews some pending cases at the Surface Transportation Board.The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR's Vice President of Rail & Intermodal, Todd Tranausky. Support the show

vice president economic transportation rail market updates indicators ftr week ending intermodal surface transportation board

There's no train in that coffin

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2022 6:28

June 3, 2022 — Senator Mike McGuire may have taken his victory lap a little too soon at a town hall about the Great Redwood Trail on Wednesday night. “Tonight we are able to announce — and this is late breaking,” he declared; “We have finally put a nail in the coffin of Big Coal. We have beat back Big Coal and the toxic coal train.” The nail may be in the coffin, but there's no train in it yet. McGuire was exulting about what he thought was the extinguished threat of an anonymous coal interest, registered in Wyoming, that was planning to buy the railroad from Willits to Eureka and use it to ship coal to Asia out of the Humboldt Bay. That would put an end to years of effort to turn the railroad into a recreational trail all the way from one Bay Area to the next, from Marin, through the Eel River canyon to Eureka. Sections of the trail have already been built in some communities alongside the tracks. But McGuire and trail advocates were looking forward to railbanking, or filling up the tracks with dirt and gravel, so the trail could be on top of the ready-made line. In order to do that, the federal Surface Board of Transportation would have to declare the tracks abandoned, and grant McGuire and his allies permission to railbank. Anyone who wanted to prevent that from happening was supposed to file their intent to buy the tracks with the Surface Transportation Board by May 31. But the next day, possibly while McGuire was thanking supporters for beating back Big Coal, the North Coast Railroad Company announced its intention to buy the entire 176 miles of track from Willits to Eureka, including appurtenant branch lines. Congressman Jared Huffman issued a statement Thursday, saying “their late application should disqualify them for further consideration. If not, the coalition of community opposition and their lack of transparency certainly will.” The only name associated with the Wyoming-based LLC is Robert A. Wimbish, the attorney, who apologized for his tardiness by explaining that it was “due to unforeseen vacation travel delays.” At a hearing last month, Huffman asked the Surface Board of Transportation Chair, Martin Oberman, where he stood on demanding transparency. “Would the Board require that entity to engage with the community and the public in an open and transparent way,” he began; “in other words, if they're secretive about who they are, about where their funding comes from, is that a factor that you would consider?” Oberman replied, “that's not a factor that's come before us. But I generally believe in full disclosure, and when we get those kinds of applications, we have the ability to insist on a more fulsome application of the facts, which would include revealing the basic financial structure of the entity and so forth. So the general answer to your question is yes, but it's very much case-specific.” But North Coast Railroad isn't the only company trying to buy part of the track. McGuire is also worried about another application, by Mendocino Railway, the parent company to the Skunk Train. Mendocino Railway wants to take over 13 miles of track from mile marker 139.5 to 152.5, from Willits to just past Highway 162, in order to ship gravel from Outlet Creek to Willits or Fort Bragg. However, there is a tunnel on that stretch of the track that long been out of operation due to a landslide. “So right now, if there was a rail company operating on this line, they couldn't even get to the coast because of this massive landslide that's blocking the track,” McGuire said. He added that he does “have some concerns with this application…number one, it's going to create a huge hole right in the heart of the Great Redwood Trail.” In addition, he estimated that, while the cost of railbanking could be $12,000 to $15,000 a mile, repairing the damaged track and the tunnel would cost tens of millions of dollars. Oberman told Huffman the Surface Board of Transportation doesn't concern itself too much with financial details. “You know, we generally are mandated by statute to make it easy for rail lines to come into existence,” he said. “That's one of our jobs. “There's a spectrum on how much we look at financial viability. Generally speaking, we take the view that the market will determine whether a rail line is viable.” Two other train-track oriented interests filed their intent to buy sections of the track, as well. The Timber Heritage Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the timber history of Humboldt County, wants to buy 18.5 miles from Eureka to Samoa, to offer excursion rides on restored timber crew cars. Pete Johnston, the Association's president, assured the Surface Board of Transportation that “Designation of this portion of the right of way is not in conflict with the larger Great Redwood Trail Agency's trail mission;” and he is willing to negotiate with the Agency “on any dual access or potential conflicts emerging to preserve corridor usage for both parties.” And Rail Runners Humboldt Bay in Arcata operates what it calls “a recreation concession for passengers to experience a pedal-powered rail vehicle for an excursion along Humboldt Bay.” In 2019, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, the mayor of Eureka, and the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District, all wrote letters in support of the concession. The owners demonstrated their financial viability by taking out a line of credit on their home and putting up part of a retirement account to buy 5.5 miles of line in Eureka and Samoa. In his remarks to Surface Transportation Board Chair Oberman, Huffman characterized the coal train as, “very unlikely to happen, certainly is at odds with the climate policies expressed by the Administration and Secretary Buttigieg. So I just hope these factors will be on your mind as you discharge your responsibility.”

Coal Trains Inch Forward with Surface Transportation Board Decision

EcoNews Report

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2022 28:46

Two weeks ago, the federal Surface Transportation Board made some important decisions about the future of trails in our region. Tune in to hear about the latest developments including what's in store for the Annie and Mary Trail and what comes next in determining the future for the Great Redwood Trail. Will it be a spectacular 300-mile trail connecting communities from San Francisco to Humboldt Bay, or will rail entities succeed in taking the right-of-way from the public and using it to poison our future?Learn more at nocoalhumboldt.orgSupport the show

52. Advocating for the Industry: American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers with Rob Benedict

The Chemical Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 25:19

How does the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers advocate for the chemical industry? Victoria Meyer talks with Rob Benedict, the Senior Director of Petrochemicals, Transportation, and Infrastructure for American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). Rob shares the key initiatives and focus for AFPM. Rob discusses its position on creating greater competition in railroads and transportation, to be more competitive and effective for the chemical industry, including its recent engagement with the Surface Transportation Board. The role of AFPM in supporting industry sustainability, including advanced recycling. And, its engagement with other industry groups to provide an effective platform and advocacy for the chemical industry. If you want to learn what's next, join in the conversation.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! http://www.thechemicalshow.com/

love infrastructure senior director transportation advocating petrochemicals rob benedict surface transportation board american fuel afpm petrochemical manufacturers

The Game Has Changed with Michael Paul Lindsey

Moving America

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 39:45

Michael Paul Lindsey recently penned a letter to the Surface Transportation Board about his views on the state of the railroad industry. The letter was made a matter of record in the recent STB Hearing and was published by Railway Age. The post has been shared repeatedly on social media. Michael was kind enough to sit down with us and discuss the letter and his view of the state of the industry. Read the letter here:https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/the-game-has-changed/Connect with Moving America:InstagramFacebookWebsiteMerchandise:Moving America StoreSubscribe:Get the latest video podcast on YouTube

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Rail delays cost grain industry more than $100M this year

Feedstuffs in Focus

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 12:20

Rail service failures in recent months have led to widespread delays of train delivery at major grain export destinations. Failures and delays that have cost the grain industry more than $100 million through the first quarter of 2022, according to the National Grain and Feed Association.NGFA testified this week before the Surface Transportation Board about those failures and costs to the industry, calling on the Board to implement financial incentives for the railroads to perform more efficiently – similar to what the railroads do to keep shippers loading and unloading rail cars as efficiently as possible. The Association also testified on a wide set of policy issues, from reciprocity on switching rules, requiring additional data reporting, and developing additional guidance to railroads on their statutory obligations on service.In this episode we talk with NGFA Chief Economist Max Fisher about the current situation with the railroads, and what NGFA asked the Board to do to alleviate the burden on grain shippers and other agricultural customers.RELATED: If you want to learn more about the problems facing U.S. transportation and logistics, including rail, truck and ocean freight shipments, visit Feedstuffs 365 and watch our recent interview with Ken Eriksen of S&P Global.

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STB hearing - NGFA

ZimmComm Golden Mic Audio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 4:23

National Grain and Feed Association President and CEO Mike Seyfert testifies at Surface Transportation Board rail disruptions hearing

hearing surface transportation board

STB hearing - Growth Energy

ZimmComm Golden Mic Audio

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 3:23

Growth Energy Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Chris Bliley testified before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board

hearing growth energy surface transportation board

Transport Topics (April 28, 2022)

pete buttigieg spokenlayer secretary pete buttigieg transport topics surface transportation board

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 2:13

Secretary Pete Buttigieg became the first transportation secretary in more than two decades to testify in front of the Surface Transportation Board, as he made an appearance to discuss supply chain delays, particularly as they pertain to rail. Buttigieg testified April 26 during the first of two days of the inquiry. Issues on the table included a shortage of qualified workers, impacts of the rail delays on the agriculture industry and how rail issues are contributing to supply chain challenges at the nation's ports.

Transport Topics (April 28, 2022)

pete buttigieg secretary pete buttigieg transport topics surface transportation board

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 2:13

Secretary Pete Buttigieg became the first transportation secretary in more than two decades to testify in front of the Surface Transportation Board, as he made an appearance to discuss supply chain delays, particularly as they pertain to rail. Buttigieg testified April 26 during the first of two days of the inquiry. Issues on the table included a shortage of qualified workers, impacts of the rail delays on the agriculture industry and how rail issues are contributing to supply chain challenges at the nation's ports.

Proposing Solutions to Rail Service Problems

Listen with NGFA

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 19:04

NGFA Chief Economist Max Fisher provides an overview of rail service issues and outlines the NGFA's requests to the Surface Transportation Board.

service rail proposing surface transportation board

DriveTime: April 26, 2022

Agri-Pulse DriveTime

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 5:00

The Senate Ag Committee convened a hearing on cattle industry marketing practices and the Surface Transportation Board had rail shippers under the microscope on Tuesday. Hear more in today's DriveTime.

drivetime senate ag committee surface transportation board

Big Week for Cattle Market Transparency Bill and Surface Transportation

DC Signal to Noise with Jim Wiesemeyer

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2022 31:33 Transcription Available

Chip Flory and Jim Wiesemeyer discuss the issues and policy initiatives affecting U.S. agriculture including the Senate hearing on the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act scheduled for April 26th. Other topics are student loan debt forgiveness, the evolving situation in Ukraine, lockdowns in China, food price forecasts by USDA, Surface Transportation Board reviewing railroad bottlenecks, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

china ukraine senate transparency transportation surface usda big week transparency act cattle market surface transportation board chip flory cattle price discovery jim wiesemeyer

CD247: BIF: The Growth of US Railroads

Congressional Dish

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 105:50

The infrastructure law provides the most significant investment in passenger rail in U.S. history, but substantial hurdles - including a powerful cartel - stand firmly in the way of a real national network. In this episode, learn the ways the infrastructure law paves the way for a better future for passenger rail along with the significant obstacles that it failed to address. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536. Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish YouTube Video What is the World Trade System? Contributors to Supply Chain Issues Matthew Jinoo Buck. February 4, 2022. “How America's Supply Chains Got Railroaded.” The American Prospect. “Cartel.” Merriam-Webster.com. 2022. “Energy Group Joins Shippers Alleging Price Fixing in Rail Transport.” January 6, 2020. The Houston Chronicle. Testimony of Dennis R. Pierce. Passenger and Freight Rail: The Current Status of the Rail Network and the Track Ahead. October 21, 2020. 116th Cong. U.S. Internal Revenue Service. December 31, 2019. “IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2020.” Dangers of Monster Trains and Rail Profiteering Aaron Gordon. Mar 22, 2021. “‘It's Going to End Up Like Boeing': How Freight Rail Is Courting Catastrophe.” Vice. U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Dec 29, 2020. “Accident Report: Collision of Union Pacific Railroad Train MGRCY04 with a Stationary Train, Granite Canyon, Wyoming, October 4, 2018” [NTSB/RAR-20/05 / PB2020-101016.] Marybeth Luczak. Nov 30, 2020. “Transport Canada Updates Rail Employee Fatigue Rules.” Railway Age. U.S. Government Accountability Office. May 30, 2019. “Rail Safety: Freight Trains Are Getting Longer, and Additional Information Is Needed to Assess Their Impact” [GAO-19-443.] Christina M. Rudin-Brown, Sarah Harris, and Ari Rosberg. May 2019. “How shift scheduling practices contribute to fatigue amongst freight rail operating employees: Findings from Canadian accident investigations.” Accident Analysis and Prevention. Jessica Murphy. Jan 19, 2018. “Lac-Megantic: The runaway train that destroyed a town.” BBC. Eric M. Johnson. Dec 6, 2017. “Growing length of U.S. freight trains in federal crosshairs after crashes: GAO.” Reuters. Cumberland Times-News. Aug 12, 2017. “Last of Hyndman's evacuated residents return home.” The Tribune Democrat. Jeffrey Alderton. Aug 5, 2017. “Propane fire out at Hyndman train crash site, residents await news of when they can return.” The Tribune Democrat. Jeffrey Alderton. Aug 3, 2017. “Train derailment destroys Bedford County home, forces evacuation.” The Tribune Democrat. New Jersey Department of Health. Revised June 2011. “Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Sodium Chlorate.” Stephen Joiner. Feb 11, 2010 “Is Bigger Better? 'Monster' Trains vs Freight Trains.” Popular Mechanics. Lobbying and Corruption “CSX Corp: Recipients.” 2020. Open Secrets. CSX Corporation Lobbying Report. 2020. Senate.gov. “Union Pacific Corp: Summary.” 2020. Open Secrets. “Union Pacific Corp: Members Invested.” 2018. Open Secrets. Union Pacific Corporation Lobbying Report. 2020. Senate.gov. What you really pay for TV Gavin Bridge. Oct 27, 2020. “The True Cost to Consumers of Pay TV's Top Channels.” Variety. Laws H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Sponsor: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) Status: Became Public Law No. 117-58 Law Outline DIVISION A: SURFACE TRANSPORTATION TITLE I - FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS Subtitle A - Authorizations and Programs Sec. 11101: Authorization of appropriations Authorizes appropriations for Federal-Aid for highways at between $52 billion and $56 billion per year through fiscal year 2026 (over $273 billion total). Authorizes $300 million for "charging and fueling infrastructure grants" for 2022, which increases by $100 million per year (maxing out at $700 million in 2026) Authorizes between $25 million and $30 million per year for "community resilience and evacuation route grants" on top of equal amounts for "at risk coastal infrastructure grants" Authorizes a total of $6.53 billion (from two funds) for the bridge investment program Sec. 11102: Obligation ceiling Caps the annual total funding from all laws (with many exceptions) that can be spent on Federal highway programs. Total through 2026: $300.3 billion Sec. 11109: Surface transportation block grant program: Allows money from the surface transportation block grant program to be used for "planning and construction" of projects that "facilitate intermodel connections between emerging transportation technologies", specifically naming the hyperloop Sec. 11508: Requirements for Transportation Projects Carried Out Through Public Private Partnerships For projects that cost $100 million or more, before entering into a contract with a private company, the government partner has to conduct a "value for money analysis" of the partnership. Three years after a project is opened to traffic, the government partner has to review the compliance of the private company and either certify their compliance or report to the Secretary of Transportation the details of the violation. The certifications or violation notifications must be publicly available "in a form that does not disclose any proprietary or confidential business information." DIVISION B - SURFACE TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT ACT OF 2021 TITLE I - MULTIMODAL AND FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION Subtitle A - Multimodal Freight Policy Sec. 21101: Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy Restructures/eliminates offices at the Department of Transportation to create an Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy The person in charge will be appointed by the President and has to be confirmed by the Senate Authorizes "such sums as are necessary" Subtitle B - Multimodal Investment Sec. 21201: National infrastructure project assistance Authorizes $2 billion per year until 2026 ($10 billion total) on projects that cost at least $100 million that include highways, bridges, freight rail, passenger rail, and public transportation projects. The Federal government will pay a maximum of 80% of the project costs. Sec. 21202: Local and regional project assistance Authorizes $1.5 billion per year until 2026 ($7.5 billion) (which will expire after 3 years) for grants for local transportation projects in amounts between $1 million and $25 million for projects that include highway, bridge, public transportation, passenger and freight rail, port infrastructure, surface transportation at airports, and more. Sec. 21203: National culvert removal, replacement, and restoration grant program Authorizes $800 million per year through 2026 ($4 billion) for grants for projects that replace, remove, or repair culverts (water channels) that improve or restore passages for fish. Subtitle C - Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Reforms TITLE II - RAIL Subtitle A - Authorization of Appropriations Sec. 22101: Grants to Amtrak Authorizes appropriations for Amtrak in the Northeast Corridor at between $1.1 billion and $1.57 billion per year through 2026 ($6.57 billion total). Authorizes appropriations for Amtrak in the National Network at between $2.2 billion and $3 billion per year through 2026 ($12.65 billion total). Sec. 22103: Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements grants Authorizes $1 billion per year through 2026 ($5 billion total) for rail infrastructure safety improvement grants Sec. 22104: Railroad crossing elimination program Authorizes $500 million per year through 2016 ($2.5 billion total) for the elimination of railroad crossings Sec. 22106: Federal-State partnership for intercity passenger rail grants Authorizes $1.5 billion per year through 2026 ($7.5 billion total) for grants to states to expand intercity passenger rail grants Subtitle B - Amtrak Reforms Sec. 22201: Amtrak findings, mission, and goals Changes the goal of cooperation between Amtrak, governments, & other rail carriers from "to achieve a performance level sufficient to justify expending public money" to "in order to meet the intercity passenger rail needs of the United States" and expands the service areas beyond "urban" locations. Changes the goals of Amtrak to include... "Improving its contracts with rail carriers over whose tracks Amtrak operates." "Offering competitive fares" "Increasing revenue from the transportation of mail and express" "Encourages" Amtrak to make agreement with private companies that will generate additional revenue Sec. 22203: Station agents Requires that at least one Amtrak ticket agent works at each station, unless there is a commuter rail agent who has the authority to sell Amtrak tickets Sec. 22208: Passenger Experience Enhancement Removes the requirement that Amtrak's food and beverage service financially break even in order to be offered on its trains Creates a working group to make recommendations about how to improve the onboard food and beverage service The report must be complete within one year of the working group's formation After the report is complete, Amtrak must create a plan to implementing the working group's recommendations and/or tell Congress in writing why they will not implement the recommendations The plan can not include Amtrak employee layoffs Sec . 22209: Amtrak smoking policy Requires Amtrak to prohibit smoking - including electronic cigarettes - on all Amtrak trains Sec. 22210: Protecting Amtrak routes through rural communities Prohibits Amtrak from cutting or reducing service to a rail route if they receive adequate Federal funding for that route Sec. 22213: Creating Quality Jobs Amtrak will not be allowed to privatize the jobs previously performed by laid off union workers. Sec. 22214: Amtrak Daily Long Distance Study Authorizes $15 million for an Amtrak study on bringing back long distance rail routes that were discontinued. Subtitle C - Intercity Passenger Rail Policy Sec. 22304: Restoration and Enhancement Grants Extends the amount of time the government will pay the operating costs of Amtrak or "any rail carrier" partnered with Amtrak or a government agency that provides passenger rail service from 3 years to 6 years, and pays higher percentages of the the costs. Sec. 22305: Railroad crossing elimination program Creates a program to eliminate highway-rail crossings where vehicles are frequently stopped by trains Authorizes the construction on tunnels and bridges Requires the government agency in charge of the project to "obtain the necessary approvals from any impacted rail carriers or real property owners before proceeding with the construction of a project" Each grant will be for at least $1 million each The Federal government will pay no more than 80% of the project's cost Sec. 22306: Interstate rail compacts Authorizes up to 10 grants per year valued at a maximum of $1 million each to plan and promote new Amtrak routes The grant recipient will have to match the grant by at least 50% of the eligible expenses Sec. 22308: Corridor identification and development program The Secretary of Transportation will create a program for public entities to plan for expanded intercity passenger rail corridors (which are routes that are less than 750 miles), operated by Amtrak or private companies. When developing plans for corridors, the Secretary has to "consult" with "host railroads for the proposed corridor" Subtitle D - Rail Safety Sec. 22404: Blocked Crossing Portal The Administration of the Federal Railroad Administration would establish a "3 year blocked crossing portal" which would collect information about blocked crossing by trains from the public and first responders and provide every person submitting the complaint the contact information of the "relevant railroad" and would "encourage" them to complain to them too. Information collected would NOT be allowed to be used for any regulatory or enforcement purposes Reports to Congress will be created using the information collected Sec. 22406: Emergency Lighting The Secretary of Transportation will have to issue a rule requiring that all carriers that transport human passengers have an emergency lighting system that turns on when there is a power failure. Sec. 22408: Completion of Hours of Service and Fatigue Studies Requires the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration to start pilot programs that were supposed to be conducted no later than 2010, which will test railroad employee scheduling rules designed to reduce employee fatigue. They will test... Assigning employees to shifts with 10 hours advance notice For employees subject to being on-call, having some shifts when those employees are not subject to being on-call. If the pilot programs have not begun by around March of 2023, a report will have to be submitted to Congress explaining the challenges, including "efforts to recruit participant railroads" Sec. 22409: Positive Train Control Study The Comptroller General will conduct a study to determine the annual operation and maintenance costs for positive train control. Sec. 22418: Civil Penalty Enforcement Authority Requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide notice and an opportunity for a hearing to "persons" who violate regulations requiring railroads to report information about railroad crossings. Eliminates the minimum $500 fine for violating the regulations Allows the Attorney General to take the railroad to court to collect the penalty but prohibits the amount of the civil penalty from being reviewed by the courts. Sec. 22423: High-Speed Train Noise Emissions Allows, but does not require, the Secretary of Transportation to create regulations governing the noise levels of trains that exceed 160 mph. Sec. 22425: Requirements for railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States Effective 3 years after the regulations are complete (maximum 5 years after this becomes law), freight cars will be prohibited from operating within the United States if it has sensitive technology originating from or if more than 15% of it is manufactured in... "A country of concern" (which is defined as a country identified by the Commerce Department "as a nonmarket economy country"). Countries on the nonmarket economy list include... Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus China Georgia Kyrgyz Republic Moldova Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Vietnam A country identified by the United States Trade Representative on its priority watch list, which in 2020 included... China Indonesia India Algeria Saudi Arabia Russia Ukraine Argentina Chile Venezuela State owned enterprises The Secretary of Transportation can assess fines between $100,000 and $250,000 per freight car. A company that has been found in violation 3 times can be kicked out of the United States transportation system until they are in compliance and have paid all their fines in full. These rules will apply regardless of what was agreed to in the USMCA trade agreement. Sec. 22427: Controlled substances testing for mechanical employees 180 days after this becomes law, all railroad mechanics will be subject to drug testing, which can be conducted at random. Bills H.R.1748 - Safe Freight Act of 2019 Sponsor: Rep. Don Young (R-AK) Status: Referred to Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials 03/14/2019 Hearings Leveraging IIJA: Plans for Expanding Intercity Passenger Rail House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials December 9, 2021 During the hearing, witnesses discussed plans for expanding intercity passenger rail in their states, regions, and networks, and how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was recently signed into law, will support these efforts. Witnesses: Stephen Gardner, President, Amtrak David Kim, Secretary, California State Transportation Agency Kevin Corbett, President and CEO of New Jersey Transit, Co-Chair, Northeast Corridor Commission, On behalf of Northeast Corridor Commission Julie White, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Commission Chair, Southeast Corridor Commission, On behalf of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Southeast Corridor Commission Ms. Donna DeMartino, Managing Director, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency Knox Ross, Mississippi Commission and Chair of the Southern Rail Commission Clips 8:52 - 9:12 Rep. Rick Crawford: Finally, any potential expansion of the Amtrak system must include the full input of the freight railroads on capacity and track sharing issues. The ongoing supply chain crisis only further emphasizes the value of freight railroads and efficiently moving goods across the nation. The important work the freight railroads cannot be obstructed. 16:49 - 17:10 Rep. Peter DeFazio The law is pretty clear: preference over freight transportation except in an emergency. Intercity and commuter rail passenger transportation provided for Amtrak has preference over freight transportation and using a rail line junction crossing unless the board orders otherwise under this subsection. Well, obviously that has not been observed. 22:05 - 22:24 Stephen Gardner: With the $66 billion provided to the Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak we and our partners can finally have the chance to renew, improve or replace antiquated assets like the century old bridges and tunnels in the Northeast, inaccessible stations around the nation, and our vintage trains. 23:44 - 24:11 Stephen Gardner: Additionally, we'll continue to work collaboratively with our partners where they see value in working with other parties to deliver parts of their service and with new railroad entities that aim to develop or deliver their own service. We simply ask that key railroad laws like the Railway Labor Act and railway retirement apply to new entrants, that the federal government gets equity and accountability for investments it makes in private systems, and that any new services create connections with Amtrak's national network 1:25:00 - 1:25:37 Stephen Gardner: We've been working very closely with a variety of host railroads on opportunities to expand, notably Burlington Northern Santa Fe and our work to expand the Heartland Flyer service between Texas and Oklahoma and potentially extend that North to Wichita, Newton, in Colorado along the front range also with BNSF, to look at opportunities there. With Canadian Pacific we've been having really good conversations about launching a new service between the Twin Cities, Milwaukee and Chicago. Similarly, I think there's opportunities for that Baton Rouge to New Orleans service that Mr. Ross mentioned. 1:54:24 - 1:55:10 Rep. Chuy Garcia: You've each had different experiences with freight railroads as the host railroad for your respective services. What can Congress do to help you as you discuss expanding and improving passenger rail service with your freight railroad? You'll have about 15 seconds each. Knox Ross: Congressman, thank you. I think it's enforcing the will of Congress and the law that set up Amtrak in the beginning is, as the Chairman talked about, in the beginning, that people have a preference over freight. Now we understand that we all have to work together to do that. But we think there are many ways that Amtrak and other other hosts can work together with the fright to get this done, but the law has to be enforced. 1:55:14 - 1:55:30 Julie White: I would say that the money in the IIJA is going to be really important as we work, for example, on the S Line it is an FRA grant that enables us to acquire that line from CSX and enables us to grow freight rail on it at the same time as passenger. 1:58:05 - 1:58:23 Rep. Tim Burchett: Also understand that Amtrak is planning to either expand or build new rail corridors in 26 states across the country over the next 15 years and I was wondering: what makes you think Amtrak will turn a profit in any of those communities? 1:58:43 - 1:59:29 Stephen Gardner: But I would be clear here that our expectation is that these corridors do require support from states and the federal government, that they produce real value and support a lot of important transportation needs. But we measure those not necessarily by the profit of the farebox, so to speak, even though Amtrak has the highest farebox recovery of any system in the United States by far in terms of rail systems, we believe that Amtrak mission is to create mobility, mobility that creates value. We do that with as little public funding as we can, but the current services do require support investment and I think that's fair. All transportation modes require investment. 2:00:12 - 2:00:24 Rep. Tim Burchett: Since you mentioned that you needed more funding down the line, don't you think it'd be better to make your current service corridors more profit -- or just profitable before you build new ones in other parts of the country? When Unlimited Potential Meets Limited Resources: The Benefits and Challenges of High-Speed Rail and Emerging Rail Technologies House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials May 6, 2021 This hearing featured twelve witnesses from a range of perspectives, exploring the opportunities and limitations associated with high-speed rail and emerging technologies, including regulatory oversight, technology readiness, project costs, and available federal resources. Witnesses: John Porcari, Former Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Transportation Rachel Smith, President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Phillip Washington, CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Danielle Eckert, International Representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Carbett "Trey" Duhon III, Judge in Waller County, TX Andy Kunz, President and CEO of the US High Speed Rail Association Carlos Aguilar, President and CEO of Texas Central High Speed Rail William Flynn, CEO of Amtrak Josh Giegel, CEO and Co-Founder of Virgin Hyperloop Andres de Leon, CEO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Michal Reininger, CEO of Brightline Trains Wayne Rogers, Chairman and CEO of Northeast Maglev Clips 8:37 - 8:48 Rep. Rick Crawford: Rail is also considered one of the most fuel efficient ways to move freight. On average freight rail can move one ton of freight over 470 miles on one gallon of fuel. 18:05 - 18:46 Rep. Peter DeFazio: You know we have put aggregate with the essentially post World War Two, mostly the Eisenhower program, $2 trillion -- trillion -- into highways, invested by the federal government, a lot of money. But post World War Two $777 billion into aviation, airports, runways, air traffic control etc. And, and we have put about $90 billion total into rail. 22:45 - 23:25 John Porcari: As I evaluated ways to increase capacity in the Baltimore-New York City corridor, these were my choices: I could add air capacity between BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and New York with 90% federal funding for runway and taxiway improvements, I could add highway capacity on I-95 to New York with 80% federal funding, or add passenger rail capacity with zero federal funding for that 215 mile segment. A passenger rail trip makes far more sense than driving or flying, yet passenger rail capacity was the least likely alternative to be selected. So if you wonder why we have the unbalanced transportation system we have today, follow the money. 23:26 - 23:54 John Porcari: It's an extraordinary statement of state priorities that the California High Speed Rail Authority's 2020 Business Plan anticipates 85% of its funding from state sources and only 15% federal funding for this project of national and regional significance. This is a remarkable state financial commitment and a clear declaration of the state's project priorities. Yet there's no ongoing sustained federal financial partner for this multi year program of projects. 23:54 - 24:28 John Porcari: To match the people carrying capacity of phase one of the high speed rail system, California would need to invest $122 to $199 billion towards building almost 4200 highway lane miles, the equivalent of a new six lane highway and the construction of 91 new airport gates and two new runways. The San Francisco-Los Angeles air loop is already the ninth busiest in the world, and the busiest air route in America. Doesn't it make sense to prioritize this finite and expensive airport capacity for trans continental and international flights? 24:28 - 24:40 John Porcari: For California the 120 to 209 billion of required highway and airport capacity as an alternative to high speed rail is double the 69 to 99 billion cost estimate for phase one of the high speed rail system. 25:05 - 25:18 John Porcari: Providing real transportation choices at the local and state level requires the establishment of a Passenger Rail Trust Fund on par with our Highway Trust Fund and Airport and Airway Trust Fund. 48:00 - 48:23 Trey Duhon: Texas Central promised this project was privately financed, and everything they've done today, including the EIS was based on that. So we say let it live or die in the free market and invest our tax dollars in more equitable transportation solutions. We should not have to pay for another train to nowhere while having our communities destroyed by the very tax dollars that we work hard to contribute. 49:48 - 50:42 Andy Kunz: High Speed Rail can unlock numerous ridership opportunities. Essential workers like teachers, police and firemen in the high price Silicon Valley could find affordable housing options with a short train ride to Merced or Fresno in California's Central Valley. Residents of Eugene, Oregon could access jobs in Portland's tech sector or booming recreational industry with a 35 minute commute. A Houston salesperson could prepare for an important client meeting in Dallas with dedicated Wi Fi and ample workspace while gliding past the notorious congestion on I-45. A college student in Atlanta could make it home for Thanksgiving in Charlotte while picking up grandma along the way in Greenville, South Carolina. International tourists visiting Disney World in Orlando could extend their vacation with a day trip to the Gulf beaches of the Greater Tampa Bay area. 51:41 - 54:58 Andy Kunz: High Speed Rail has an unmatched track record of safety. Japan, with the world's first high speed rail network, has carried millions of people over 50 years without a single fatality, in comparison as many as 40,000 Americans are killed every year in auto accidents on our highways. 52:22 - 52:45 Andy Kunz: China has invested over a trillion dollars in high speed rail, allowing them to build a world class 22,000 mile network in 14 years. Not taking a pause, China plans to construct another 21,000 miles of track over the next nine years. Modern infrastructure like this fuels China's explosive economic growth, making it challenging for us to compete with them in the 21st century. 52:46 - 53:10 Andy Kunz: On the other side of the globe, the United Kingdom is currently doubling their rail network with $120 billion investment. France has invested over $160 billion in constructing their system. Spain's 2000 mile High Speed Rail Network is the largest in Europe, costing more than 175 billion. These are considerable investments by nations that are similar in size to Texas. 1:08:00 - 1:09:00 Rep. Peter DeFazio: Are you aware of any high speed rail project in the world that isn't government subsidized? I know, Virgin in, you know, in Great Britain says, well, we make money. Yeah, you make money. You don't have to maintain the rail, the government does that, all you do is put a train set on it and run it. John Porcari: Yeah, that's a really important point, Mr. Chairman, virtually every one that I'm aware of in the world has had a very big public investment in the infrastructure itself, the operation by a private operator can be very profitable. I would point out that that is no different, conceptually from our airways system, for example, where federal taxpayer investments make possible the operations of our airlines, which in turn are profitable and no different than our very profitable trucking industry in the US, which is enabled by the public infrastructure investment of the highway system itself. 1:09:46 - 1:10:37 Philip Washington: The potential is very, very good to make that connection with the private railroad. And actually that is the plan. And we are working with that, that private railroad right now to do that. And that connection with the help of some twin bore tunnel will allow train speeds to be at anywhere from 180 to 200 miles an hour, getting from that high desert corridor to Los Angeles. And so it's a it's a huge, huge effort. It links up with high speed rail from the north as well, with the link up coming into Union Station as well. So I think the potential to link up both of these are very, very great. And we're working with both entities. 1:11:31 - 1:12:13 Philip Washington: Well one of our ideas very quickly is right now we have as you know, Mr. Chairman, assembly plants, assembly plants all over the country what we are proposing is a soup to nuts, all included manufacturing outfit in this country that manufactures trains from the ground up, forging steel, all of those things. So we have proposed an industrial park with suppliers on site as well to actually build again from the ground up, rail car passenger rail car vehicles and locomotives. It is the return of manufacturing to this country as we see it. 1:21:16 - 1:21:50 John Porcari: We have 111 year old tunnel in New York, we have a B&P tunnel in Baltimore, that Civil War era. Those are not the biggest obstacles. It is more a question of will. What we want to do as a country in infrastructure, we do, and we've never made rail, really the priority that that I think it needs to be. And we've never provided meaningful choices for the states to select rail and build a multi year rail program because we don't have the funding part of it. 1:21:55 - 1:22:19 John Porcari: Our passenger rail system in the US is moving from a survival mode to a growth mode. And I think that's a very healthy thing for the country. Whether you're talking about our cross country service, one of the coastal corridors or the Midwest service, all of that is really important. In just the same way we built the interstates, city pairs aggregating into a national system, we can really do that with the passenger rail system if we have the will. 1:27:13 - 1:27:41 Rep. Michelle Steel: My constituents are already taxed enough, with California state and local taxes and skyrocketing gas prices making it unaffordable to live. I just came back from Texas, their gas price was $2 something and we are paying over $4 in California. We must preserve our local economy by lowering taxes not raising them. And we must not continue throwing tax dollars into a high speed money pit. 1:30:53 - 1:31:11 Trey Duhon: The folks in Waller county the folks that I know, a family of four is not going to pay $1,000 To ride a train between Houston and Dallas, when they can get there on a $50 tank of gas an hour and a half later. It's just not going to happen. So it's not a mass transit solution, at least not for this corridor. 1:48:56 - 1:49:25 Andy Kunz: The other big thing that hasn't been mentioned is the the cost of people's time and waste sitting stuck in traffic or stuck in airports. It's estimated to be several 100 billion dollars a year. And then as a business person, time is money. So if all your people are taking all day to get anywhere your entire company is less competitive, especially against nations that actually have these efficient systems, and then they can out compete us 2:03:52 - 2:04:13 Seth Moulton: And I would just add, you know, we build high speed rail, no one's gonna force you to take it. You have that freedom of choice that Americans don't have today and yet travelers all around the world have. I don't understand why travelers in China should have so much more freedom than we do today. In America, high speed railway would rapidly rectify that 3:01:09 - 3:01:27 Josh Giegel: In 2014 I co-founded this company in a garage when Hyperloop was just an idea on a whiteboard. By late 2016 We began construction of our first full system test set, dev loop, north of Las Vegas. To date we've completed over 500 tests of our system. 3:01:38 - 3:01:48 Josh Giegel: Today we have approximately 300 employees and are the leading Hyperloop company in the world and the only company, the only company to have had passengers travel safely in a Hyperloop. 3:01:48 - 3:02:33 Josh Giegel: Hyperloop is a high speed surface transportation system. Travel occurs within a low pressure enclosure equivalent to 200,000 feet above sea level, in a vehicle pressurized to normal atmospheric conditions, much like a commercial aircraft. This, along with our proprietary magnetic levitation engine, allows us to reach and maintain airline speeds with significantly less energy than other modes of transportation. Not only is Hyperloop fast, it's a high capacity mass transit system capable of comfortably moving people and goods at 670 miles per hour with 50,000 passengers per hour per direction, on demand and direct to your destination, meaning no stops along the way. 3:02:54 - 3:02:58 Josh Giegel: We achieve all this on a fully electric system with no direct emissions. 3:11:34 - 3:11:53 Mike Reininger: Since our 2018 launch in Florida, we operate the only private high speed system in the US, showcasing the potential of American high speed passenger rail. We carried more than a million passengers in our first full year and learned a lot that is worth sharing from the investment of over $4 billion over the last 10 years. 3:12:45 - 3:12:57 Mike Reininger: We use existing road alignments and infrastructure corridors to leverage previous investments, reduce environmental impacts, lower costs, and speed execution as a basis for profitability. 3:13:00 - 3:13:28 Mike Reininger: In 2022, we will complete the extension into the Orlando International Airport, making our total route 235 miles, linking four of the largest cities in America's third largest state. 400 million annual trips occur between these cities today, 95% of them by car. By upgrading a freight railway first built in the 1890s and building along an Express Highway, we leveraged 130 years of previous investment to support our 21st century service. 3:13:31 - 3:13:51 Mike Reininger: Brightline West will connect Las Vegas to Los Angeles, where today 50 million annual trips and over 100 daily flights occur. Traveling on trains capable of speeds of 200 miles an hour using the I-15 corridor, but cutting the drive time in half, Brightline West's better option expects to serve 11 million annual riders. 3:14:56 - 3:15:08 Mike Reininger: Consider allowing private entities to become eligible parties for FRA grant programs by partnering with currently eligible applicants as a simple way to stretch direct government investment. 3:29:39 - 3:29:54 Rep. Rick Crawford: Amtrak announced plans to expand its routes including to several small cities where there doesn't appear to be enough demand or population to warrant those new lines. Can you guarantee that those new routes will be self sustaining and turn a profit or will they lose money? 3:38:42 - 3:38:55 Bill Flynn: 125 miles an hour on existing track infrastructure is high speed. The newest Acelas we ordered will have a top speed of 186 miles an hour. 3:36:46 - 3:37:05 Rep. Seth Moulton: What is the top speed of the Acela service? Bill Flynn: The Acela service in the southern network, Washington to New York, top speeds 135 miles an hour, and then in New York to Boston top speed of 150 miles an hour across different segments of the track. 4:11:57 - 4:12:30 Bill Flynn: When we think about NEPA and the other permitting processes that take place, and then ultimately into construction, on many major projects, we're talking a decade or more. So without the visibility and predictability and the certainty of funding, these projects are all affected, they ultimately become more high cost, and they take longer than they should. So if I were to recommend one policy action, creating a trust fund, or trust fund like structure, for intercity passenger rail would be key. Full Steam Ahead for Rail: Why Rail is More Relevant Than Ever for Economic and Environmental Progress House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials March 10, 2021 The hearing explored the importance of rail to the U.S. economy and as a tool to mitigate climate change. Witnesses: Shannon Valentine, Secretary of Transportation, The Commonwealth of Virginia Caren Kraska, President/Chairman, Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Greg Regan, President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO Tom Williams, Group Vice President for Consumer Products, BNSF Railway Clips 18:17 - 18:50 Shannon Valentine: One of the worst rail bottlenecks, mentioned by Chairman DeFazio, along the east coast is at the Potomac River between Virginia and DC and it's called the long bridge which is owned by CSX. The bridge carries on passenger, commuter, and freight rail, nearly 80 trains a day and is at 98% capacity during peak periods. Due to these constraints, Virginia has been unable to expand passenger rail service, even though demand prior to the pandemic was reaching record highs. 18:50 - 19:42 Shannon Valentine: Virginia has been engaged in corridor planning studies, one of which was the I-95 corridor, which as you all know, is heavily congested. Even today as we emerge from this pandemic, traffic has returned to 90% of pre-pandemic levels. Through this study, we learned that adding just one lane in each direction for 50 miles would cost $12.5 billion. While the cost was staggering, the most sobering part of the analysis was that by the time that construction was complete, in 10 years, the corridor would be just as congested as it is today. That finding is what led Virginia to a mode that could provide the capacity at a third of the cost. 20:34 - 20:43 Shannon Valentine: According to APTA rail travel emits up to 83% fewer greenhouse gases than driving and up to 73% fewer than flying. 20:58 - 21:22 Shannon Valentine: Benefits can also be measured by increased access to jobs and improving the quality of life. The new service plan includes late night and weekend service because many essential jobs are not nine to five Monday through Friday. That is why we work to add trains leaving Washington in the late evening and on weekends, matching train schedules to the reality of our economy. 52:23 - 53:06* Rep. Peter DeFazio: I am concerned particularly when we have some railroads running trains as long as three miles. And they want to go to a single crew for a three mile long train. I asked the the former head of the FRA under Trump if the train broke down in Albany, Oregon and it's blocking every crossing through the city means no police, no fire, no ambulance, how long it's going to take the engineer to walk three miles from the front of the train to, say, the second car from the rear which is having a brake problem. And he said, Well, I don't know an hour. So you know there's some real concerns here that we have to pursue. 1:23:25 - 1:24:15 Shannon Valentine: When we first launched the intercity passenger rail, Virginia sponsored passenger rail, back in 2009, it really started with a pilot with $17 million for three years from Lynchburg, Virginia into DC into the new Northeast Corridor. And, and I had to make sure that we had 51,000 riders and we didn't know if we were going to be able to sustain it. And in that first year, we had 125,000 passengers. It always exceeded expectations for ridership and profitability. And today, that rail service which we now extend over to Roanoke, and we're working to get it to Blacksburg Christiansburg is really one of our most profitable rail services. In fact, probably in the country. It doesn't even need a subsidy because they're able to generate that kind of ridership. 2:10:21 - 2:12:11 Shannon Valentine: Our project, in my mind, is really the first step in creating a southeast high speed corridor, we have to build the bridge. In order to expand access, we need to be able to begin separating passenger and freight. And even before that is able to occur, building signings and creating the ability to move. We took a lot of lessons from a study called the DC to RDA again, it's the first part of that high speed southeast corridor. For us, it was recommended that we take an incremental approach rather than having a large 100 billion dollar project we're doing in increments. And so this is a $3.7 billion which is still going to help us over 10 years create hourly service between Richmond and DC. It was recommended that we use existing infrastructure and right of way so in our negotiations with CSX, we are acquiring 386 miles of right of way and 223 miles of track. We are also purchasing as part of this an S line. It's abandoned. It goes down into Ridgeway, North Carolina from Petersburg, Virginia, just south of Richmond. Because it's abandoned, we have a lot of opportunity for development for future phases or even higher speed rail. And we actually included part of Buckingham branch, it's an East West freight corridor that we would like to upgrade and protect for, for East West connection. All of these were incremental steps using existing right of way and tracks and achieving higher speeds where it was achievable. Examining the Surface Transportation Board's Role in Ensuring a Robust Passenger Rail System House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials November 18, 2020 Witnesses: Ann D. Begeman, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board Martin J. Oberman, Vice Chairman, Surface Transportation Board Romayne C. Brown, Chair of the Board of Directors, Metra Stephen Gardner, Senior Executive Vice President, Amtrak Ian Jefferies, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of American Railroads Randal O'Toole, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute Paul Skoutelas, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Public Transportation Association Clips 27:31 - 27:59 Daniel Lipinski: Unlike Amtrak, Metra and other commuter railroads do not have a statutory federal preference prioritizing commuter trains over freight trains. Additionally, commuter railroads generally do not have standing to bring cases before the STB. Therefore, commuter railroads have very limited leverage when it comes to trying to expand their service on freight rail lines and ensuring that freight railroads Do not delay commuter trains. 35:42 - 36:27 Rep. Peter DeFazio: In fact, Congress included provisions to fix Amtrak on time performance in 2008. That is when PRIA added a provisions directing the FRA and Amtrak to work to develop on time performance metric standards to be used as a basis for an STB investigation. Unfortunately, those benefits haven't been realized. It's been 12 years since PRIA was passed. If our eyes metric and standards for on time performance were published this last Monday 12 years later, for the second time, and after this long and unacceptable delay, I look forward to seeing an improvement on Amtrak's performance both in in my state and nationwide. 38:01 - 38:32 Rep. Peter DeFazio: Worldwide, I'm not aware of any railroads, passenger railroads, that make money, although Virgin claims they do in England because they don't have to maintain the tracks. Pretty easy to make money if all you have to do is put a train set on it, run it back and forth. That's not the major expense. So, you know, to say that we shouldn't be subsidizing commuter or we shouldn't be subsidizing Amtrak is, you know, is just saying you don't want to run trains. Because everywhere else in the world they're subsidized. 43:45 - 44:30 Ann Begeman: Most intercity passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak, which is statutorily excluded from many of the board's regulatory requirements applicable to freight carriers. However, with the enactment of the Passenger Rail Investment Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIA) which both Chairman Lipinski and Chairman De Fazio has have mentioned in their opening comments, as well as the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015. FAST Act, the board assumed additional Amtrak oversight responsibilities, including the authority to conduct investigations under certain circumstances, and when appropriate, to award relief and identify reasonable measures to improve performance on passenger rail routes. 1:02:24 - 1:03:07 Stephen Gardner: Congress created Amtrak in 1970 to take on a job that today's freight railroads no longer wanted. In exchange for contracts assumption of these private railroads common carrier obligation for passengers and the associated operating losses for passenger service, the freights agreed to allow Amtrak to operate wherever and whenever it wanted over their lines, to provide Amtrak trains with dispatching preference over freight, and to empower what is now the STB to ensure Amtrak's access to the rail network. It's been nearly 50 years since the freight railroads and agreed eagerly to this bargain. And yet today, many of our hosts railroads fall short and fulfilling some of these key obligations 1:03:28 - 1:04:38 Stephen Gardner: Since our founding, Congress has had to clarify and amend the law to try and ensure host compliance. For example, by 1973, the freights had begun delaying Amtrak train so severely that Congress enshrined this promise of Amtrak preference into federal law, and in 2008, delays had gotten so bad that Congress created a new process to set Amtrak on time performance and provided the STB with the authority to investigate poor OTP. But for several reasons, these efforts haven't remedied the problems. For Amtrak and your constituents that has meant millions of delayed passengers and years of impediment as we try to add trains or start new routes to keep up with changing markets and demand. As the AAR are made clear and its litigation opposing the PRIA metrics and standards rule, many hosts see supporting our operation not as their obligation to the public, but as competition for the use of their infrastructure. But Amtrak wasn't created to relieve host railroads of their requirements to support passenger trains. It was created to help them reduce financial losses and ensure that passenger trains could still serve the country 1:04:38 - 1:05:15 Stephen Gardner: We need this committee's help to restore your original deal with the freights. For example you can provide us as you have in the moving forward Act, a way to enforce our existing rights of preference. You can make real Amtrak statutory ability to start new routes and add additional trains without arbitrary barriers. You can create an office of passenger rail within the STB and require them to use their investigative powers to pursue significant instances of for OTP. You can require more efficient STB processes to grant Amtrak access to hosts and fairly set any compensation and capital investment requirements. 1:06:19 - 1:07:57 Stephen Gardner: A rarely heralded fact is that the U.S. has the largest rail network in the world. And yet we use so little of it for intercity passenger rail service. A fundamental reason for this is our inability to gain quick, reasonable access to the network and receive reliable service that we are owed under law. This has effectively blocked our growth and left much of our nation underserved. City pairs like Los Angeles and Phoenix, or Atlanta to Nashville could clearly benefit from Amtrak service. Existing rail lines already connect them. Shouldn't Amtrak be serving these and many other similar corridors nationwide? 1:12:34 - 1:12:57 Randall O'Toole: Last year, the average American traveled more than 15,000 miles by automobile, more than 2000 Miles, road several 100 miles on buses, walked more than 100 Miles, rode 100 miles by urban rail, transit and bicycled 26 miles. Meanwhile, Amtrak carried the average American just 19 Miles. 1:13:35 - 1:13:55 Randall O'Toole: In 1970, the railroads' main problem was not money losing passenger trains, but over regulation by the federal and state governments. Regulation or not, passenger trains are unable to compete against airlines and automobiles. A 1958 Interstate Commerce Commission report concluded that there was no way to make passenger trains profitable. 1:14:52 - 1:15:20 Randall O'Toole: The 1970 collapse of Penn Central shook the industry. Congress should have responded by eliminating the over regulation that was stifling the railroads. Instead, it created Amtrak with the expectation that it would be a for profit corporation and that taking passenger trains off the railroads hands would save them from bankruptcy 50 years and more than $50 billion in operating subsidies later, we know that Amtrak isn't and never will be profitable. 1:15:40 - 1:16:10 Randall O'Toole: When Amtrak was created, average rail fares per passenger mile were two thirds of average airfares. Thanks to airline deregulation since then, inflation adjusted air fares have fallen by 60%. Even as Amtrak fares per passenger mile have doubled. Average Amtrak fares exceeded airfares by 1990 despite huge operating subsidies, or perhaps as has well predicted, because those subsidies encouraged inefficiencies. 1:16:50 - 1:17:15 Randall O'Toole: Today thanks to more efficient operations, rail routes that once saw only a handful of trains per day support 60, 70 or 80 or more freight trains a day. This sometimes leaves little room for Amtrak. Displacing a money making freight train with a money losing passenger train is especially unfair considering that so few people use a passenger trains, while so many rely on freight. 1:17:15 - 1:17:25 Randall O'Toole: Passenger trains are pretty, but they're an obsolete form of transportation. Efforts to give passenger trains preference over freight we'll harm more people than it will help. 2:42:40 - 2:43:50 Stephen Gardner: We think that the poor on time performance that many of our routes have is a significant impediment to ridership and revenue growth. It's quite apparent, many of our passengers, particularly on our long distance network, that serves Dunsmuir, for instance, you know their routes frequently experience significant delays, the number one cause of those delays are freight train interference. This is delays encountered, that Amtrak encounters when freight trains are run in front of us or otherwise dispatching decisions are made that prioritize the freight trains in front of Amtrak. And the reduction in reliability is clearly a problem for passengers with many hour delays. Often our whole long distance network is operating at 50% or less on time performance if you look at over the many past years. Even right now, through this period of COVID, where freight traffic has been down and we're only at 60% over the last 12 months on time performance for the entire long distance network. 2:52:44 - 2:53:23 Stephen Gardner: The difference between the US system and most of the international examples is that the infrastructure is publicly owned, publicly owned and developed in all of these nations, the nations that Mr. O'Toole mentioned, there is a rail infrastructure entity and they're developing it for both passenger and freight in some of those locations are optimized for passenger service primarily, that's for sure the case. China is a great example of a nation that's investing for both as a massive freight system and an incredible amount of investment for passenger rail. And again, they see high speed as a means of dealing with their very significant population and efficient way. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

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Lawsuit over rape report targets two Utah schools and staff shortages hit shelter services

KCPW | Salt Lake City News and Information | 88.3 FM

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 50:58

A college student sues two universities in Utah, alleging they offered no assistance after she was raped by a football player. Staffing shortages delay the opening of winter overflow shelter space meant to keep people off the frigid streets. And the federal Surface Transportation Board grants final approval for a Uinta Basin oil railway. At […]

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Lawsuit over rape report targets two Utah schools and staff shortages hit shelter services

Behind The Headlines – KCPW

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 50:58

A college student sues two universities in Utah, alleging they offered no assistance after she was raped by a football player. Staffing shortages delay the opening of winter overflow shelter space meant to keep people off the frigid streets. And the federal Surface Transportation Board grants final approval for a Uinta Basin oil railway. At […]

utah schools lawsuit targets rape staffing shortages staff shortages surface transportation board shelter services

The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath 9.25.21

WCPT 820 AM

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2021 160:44

On the first episode of The Big Picture Edwin talks with Saru Jarayman President of One Fair Wage. Alderman of Chicago's 36th ward Gilbert Villegas. Marty Oberman, Chairman of The Surface Transportation Board. and Alderman of Chicago's 32nd ward Scott Waguespack.

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Transport Topics (Sept. 10, 2021)

cp cn canadian national stb canadian pacific railway kcs transport topics surface transportation board

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 2:46

Canadian Pacific Railway has edged ahead of rival Canadian National in the back-and-forth battle to acquire Kansas City Southern, as a key vote from KCS shareholders and an earlier ruling from the Surface Transportation Board point toward resolution of a duel that has been brewing for the better part of six months. The KCS board of directors on Sept. 4 stated unanimously that it believes the latest CP offer could reasonably be expected to meet a standard it has set for acceptance of an offer. While the $33.6 billion bid CN made in April also met the standard, the STB on Aug. 31 voted against CN's request to approve an independent voting trust to permit it to operate KCS while regulators reviewed the transaction. That rejection was viewed by observers as a signal that the STB ultimately would not approve the deal.

Transport Topics (Aug. 16, 2021)

cn canadian national stb canadian pacific kcs transport topics surface transportation board

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 2:44

Kansas City Southern Railroad has rejected the latest bid of $31 billion from Canadian Pacific in an attempt to keep its planned merger with Canadian National on track. Kansas City Southern said Aug. 12 that its board unanimously decided to continue backing CN's higher offer of $33.6 billion. KCS shareholders are scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to accept CN's offer, but the U.S. railroad said it may delay that vote if the U.S. Surface Transportation Board doesn't issue its decision on a key part of CN's acquisition plan before tomorrow. CN proposes to use a voting trust that would acquire KCS and hold the railroad during STB's review of the overall deal.

The CN - KCS Merger, With JJ Ruest And Pat Ottensmeyer

Rail Group On Air

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 57:42

CN President and CEO JJ Ruest and Kansas City Southern President and CEO Pat Ottensmeyer discuss the two railroads' pending merger in detail with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. How confident are the two chief executives that the Surface Transportation Board will approve their jointly filed voting trust application? What will the capital investment and operating impacts be for KCS while the company is in trust? If the voting trust is not approved, what happens next? Would CN and KCS proceed with a merger application without one? KCS's New Orleans-Baton Rouge line is the only stated overlap, which Ruest says will be divested if the merger is approved, and which was an anticipated condition of merging. Are CN and KCS anticipating any other conditions? And what, and where, are the most significant growth and service improvement opportunities for the combined railroad? Podcast sponsored by The Greenbrier Companies, Virtual Sample Railcar™.

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Transport Topics (June 4, 2021)

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2021 2:18

As leaders from Canadian National and Kansas City Southern promote their proposed multibillion-dollar merger, some of their customers are voicing concerns. The American Chemistry Council, a trade association, has expressed concerns to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board that the deal could limit competition in an industry that operates with only a handful of larger carriers. Any regulatory decision on the proposal probably won't come soon. Analysts have said it likely will take at least a year before CN and KCS even present their case for a merger before the Surface Transportation Board.

Afternoon Ag News, May 25, 2021: Controversy over Canadian rail deal

Growing Harvest Ag Network

Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 2:30

Canadian National Railway went against its own conservative history when it made a play to over-bid Canadian Pacific Rail’s purchase of Kansas City Southern. Now Canada’s largest rail operator has been told by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board that their deal will be judged under stricter rules than the Board’s guidelines for smaller operator CP’s KCS merger-plan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Merger Talk, With MidRail LLC Chairman Gil Lamphere

Rail Group On Air

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 65:53

MidRail LLC Chairman Gil Lamphere offers his views on the competition between Canadian Pacific and CN to acquire Kansas City Southern, discussing the details of voting trusts and the role of the Surface Transportation Board, and other railroad merger-related issues, with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. Lamphere has nearly 40 years of experience as a principal investor and financier in rail industry and other private equity transactions. He has headed four private equity firms and has extensive operational experience as a chairman and/or board member for a wide range of publicly traded and private companies. Lamphere is the former Chairman of the Illinois Central Railway, Co-Founder of MidSouth Rail Corporation and a former board member of CN, CSX and Florida East Coast Railway. He led teams and boards that bought, managed and changed operations at those railroads, and at Southern Pacific, with alumni leading CP, creating gains for investors in excess of $2 billion.

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Transport Topics (May 17, 2021)

canada mexico cp cn canadian national canadian pacific kcs canadian national railway transport topics surface transportation board

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 2:14

Canadian National Railway appears to be the front-runner to acquire Kansas City Southern Railroad after the KCS board of directors said CN has presented a “superior proposal” to an earlier offer from Canadian Pacific to purchase the U.S.-based railway. The CN proposal totals $33.6 billion and includes assumption of nearly $3.8 billion in KCS debt. Canadian National also is offering to pay a $700 million breakup fee for which KCS would be liable for terminating its March 24 deal with Canadian Pacific. Canadian Pacific's agreement was worth nearly $29 billion, including debt. Kansas City Southern's board said it will break the deal with CP and enter into a new agreement with CN, but CP still has a few days to respond. Canadian Pacific has long insisted that its offer — even at a lower price — is superior since it stands a better chance of winning approval from regulators in Canada and Mexico, as well as the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

Transport Topics (May 17, 2021)

canada mexico cp cn canadian national spokenlayer canadian pacific kcs canadian national railway surface transportation board transport topics

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 2:14

Canadian National Railway appears to be the front-runner to acquire Kansas City Southern Railroad after the KCS board of directors said CN has presented a “superior proposal” to an earlier offer from Canadian Pacific to purchase the U.S.-based railway. The CN proposal totals $33.6 billion and includes assumption of nearly $3.8 billion in KCS debt. Canadian National also is offering to pay a $700 million breakup fee for which KCS would be liable for terminating its March 24 deal with Canadian Pacific. Canadian Pacific’s agreement was worth nearly $29 billion, including debt. Kansas City Southern’s board said it will break the deal with CP and enter into a new agreement with CN, but CP still has a few days to respond. Canadian Pacific has long insisted that its offer — even at a lower price — is superior since it stands a better chance of winning approval from regulators in Canada and Mexico, as well as the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

Colorado Sun Daily Sun-Up: Processing tragedy; a heroic school bus driver

The Daily Sun-Up

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 9:23

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up from the Colorado Sun. It’s Friday March 26th, and we’re lucky to start the day with you. Today - The effects of Monday’s tragedy on the mental health of our community. But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”: Today, we’re going back to March 26th, 1931 when an intense burst of wintry weather proved deadly for residents of Colorado. Two teachers in Kiowa County decided to close school early and a bus driver named Carl Miller set out with 22 students. The weather caused the bus to skid off the road into a ditch. A snowdrift built up behind the bus and by the time rescuers arrived 5 students had died. Bus driver Carl Miller’s body was found less than 4 miles from the bus. He had left to find help. Now our feature story. Following the massacre in Boulder on Monday, experts are encouraging people to check in on how they and those around them are processing the tragedy. Reporter Michael Booth shares some tips with Lucy Haggard from a local psychologist about self care in the aftermath of a crisis. To read more on how to manage stress and trauma, go to coloradosun.com. Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today: The man accused of killing ten people at a King Soopers store in Boulder had his first court appearance on Thursday. He faces at least ten counts of first degree murder, each of which comes with a mandatory life sentence without parole. But the suspect’s lawyers say they will assess his mental health status to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial. His next court appearance will likely be within three months. https://coloradosun.com/2021/03/25/ahmad-al-aliwi-alissa-first-court-hearing-boulder-shooting/ Colorado’s Surface Transportation Board has rejected a plan to revive traffic on the high mountain Tennessee Pass railroad line. Colorado Midland and Pacific had amended its proposal last week to remove crude, gas and hazardous materials, which left just passengers and commodities as allowed cargo. But board members noted in a meeting Thursday that the company’s request for an expedited approval would be inappropriate because the proposal is so controversial. The railway company can resubmit its proposal to the board for a more comprehensive review. https://coloradosun.com/2021/03/25/surface-transportation-board-kills-colorado-midland-pacific-tennessee-pass/ A mistrial has been called in the criminal case against two snowboarders accused of causing an avalanche above Interstate 70. Of the forty jury summonses sent out to local residents, a fraction showed up for jury selection on Thursday, and not enough remained to seat a six-person panel after some were dismissed for cause. A new trial date has been set for early June, though a lawyer for the snowboarders says he will likely file a motion to dismiss the reckless endangerment charges. https://coloradosun.com/2021/03/25/mistrial-colorado-case-against-backcountry-snowboarders-triggered-avalanche/ For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Colorado Sun Daily Sun-Up: Opponents urge federal board to reject revival of Tennessee Pass railroad, Josephine Roche

The Daily Sun-Up

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 8:05

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Friday January 22nd, and we’re lucky to start the day with you. Today - Residents of Chaffee, Lake and Eagle counties buried the Surface Transportation Board with opposition to a plan that proposes to revive the Tennessee Pass railroad. But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”: Today, we’re going back to January 22nd, 1935 when The US Senate voted unanimously to confirm Josephine Roche as the assistant secretary of the treasury. The skill and drive Roche brough to Washington DC echoed her decades of work in Colorado. This month, Residents of Chaffee, Lake and Eagle counties buried the Surface Transportation Board with opposition to the plan proposed by a Texas-based, short-line operator to begin running freight and possibly passengers on tracks that last saw trains in 1997. Environmental groups, county commissioners and a competitor on Colorado’s Eastern Plains have joined the chorus of opposition. They’re asking the federal transportation board to either reject or further scrutinize the deal. Colorado Sun reporter Jason Blevins is here today to tell us more. Jason, thanks so much for your time today, can you start off by giving us an overview here? What's going on with the Tennessee pass line? The estimated cost of rehabilitating the railroad for just freight is $278 million. Renovating the line for passenger traffic, with stations for loading and unloading, would add to that cost. Residents along the tracks are worried Colorado Midland & Pacific would pursue volume and high-dollar freight to offset the cost of rehabilitating the line. Many remember when long freight trains stopped in towns like Buena Vista in the 1980s and ’90s, blocking all three of the town’s railroad crossings at once. And environmental groups worry that a high volume would increase the chances for derailments or spills. But before trains roll over Tennessee Pass, there will be much more review and studies by a host of local, state and regional authorities, including the Forest Service and Colorado Department of Transportation. The transportation board is a first step in what will be a long process. Jeremy Nichols with the WildEarth Guardians environmental group sent a letter to the board arguing that reviving the rail line after 24 years was no different than building a new railroad and would have potentially significant impacts to the region’s communities, economies, environment, health, and quality of life. To learn more about this story, visit us at coloradosun.com Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today: Governor Jared Polis’s proposed stimulus bill, totaling one point three billion dollars, won’t come as fast as he’s wanted. The Colorado General Assembly is opting to save the plan for when the session resumes on February 16. Many of Polis’ special requests are expected to get their own pieces of legislation, instead of being approved as supplemental expenditures.- Congregate living facilities in Colorado, including prisons, nursing homes and shelters, will no longer use coronavirus tests from the company Curative. The state also plans to phase out Curative tests at drive-up testing sites in the coming weeks, following FDA warnings that the tests return too many false negatives. New research suggests Colorado’s public investments could be better directed to help people climb out of poverty and into a true middle-income lifestyle. The latestBell Policy reportindicates that when Colorado invests in education or judicial system programs meant to keep people out of prison, people’s ability to buy a home increases. For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 47 DC Help Desk: Working To Resolve Rail Issues

AgPro Podcast with Ashley Davenport

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2019 10:14

Richard Gupton, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at ARA, shares how the organization is working to resolve rail issues such as demurrage charge complaints with the Surface Transportation Board. Gupton says it’s important these complaints are handled in a streamlined and abbreviated process.

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Coral Torres

STEMS and Leaves

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 24:37

Coral Torres is without a doubt one of the coolest engineers I've ever met. She exudes confidence in herself and her work; all the while remaining truly humble. It was a pleasure to join her for an afternoon at the Surface Transportation Board offices and learn a bit about her niche in the industry. Coral's official title is 'Transportation Industry Analyst', which she explains in this episode. More broadly speaking, she analyzes data to interpret railroad performance in a regulator capacity (if that sounds a little out of your depth, Coral explains it much better than I do!). She also shares how her identity as a Hispanic woman has shaped her experiences in Engineering. The transition from undergraduate studies in Puerto Rico to a master's program in upstate New York was incredible and Coral describes some of the culture shock moments she experienced.Credits for this show's theme music and art work can be found @ stemsandleaves.com

Earth911 Podcast, April 5, 2019: Recycling Issues with ISRI Chief Lobbyist Billy Johnson

Earth911.com: Sustainability In Your Ear

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2019 41:09

Billy Johnson, the chief lobbyist for the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), joins Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe to talk through the major policy issues facing recycling in 2019. From the growth in ferrous metal exports despite China's ban on contaminated scrap imports to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board's impact on domestic recycling prices, we cover the growing sophistication of recycling companies as the United States shifts toward circular economies that preserve materials for reuse instead of sending them to landfills. We also talk about the job and entrepreneurial opportunities in recycling and the national, state, and municipal rules changing with the times.It's also a great introduction to ISRI on the eve of its annual convention in Los Angeles, where Earth911 will be participating in a residential recycling workshop on plastic pollution and collection strategies. Tune in to get on top of recycling politics and policy.Join the conversation and share your thoughts with the community in our Earthling Forum.

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Earth911 Podcast, April 5, 2019: Recycling Issues with ISRI Chief Lobbyist Billy Johnson

Earth911.com: Sustainability In Your Ear

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2019 41:09

Billy Johnson, the chief lobbyist for the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), joins Earth911's Mitch Ratcliffe to talk through the major policy issues facing recycling in 2019. From the growth in ferrous metal exports despite China's ban on contaminated scrap imports to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board's impact on domestic recycling prices, we cover the growing sophistication of recycling companies as the United States shifts toward circular economies that preserve materials for reuse instead of sending them to landfills. We also talk about the job and entrepreneurial opportunities in recycling and the national, state, and municipal rules changing with the times.It's also a great introduction to ISRI on the eve of its annual convention in Los Angeles, where Earth911 will be participating in a residential recycling workshop on plastic pollution and collection strategies. Tune in to get on top of recycling politics and policy.Join the conversation and share your thoughts with the community in our Earthling Forum.

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Trains News Wire Round-Up for the week of March 23, 2018

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2018 9:48

See the Trains Magazine staff give its take on the week's news. This week, Editor Jim Wrinn and Associate Editor Steve Sweeney discuss railroads' progress on positive train control, a Ann Begeman's nomination to chair the Surface Transportation Board, a flush of new rail traffic, and much more! Be sure to share your news tips with the staff at newswire@trainsmag.com!

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CSX Transportation listening session before STB Oct. 11, 2017 Part I

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2017 208:43

A CSX Transportation CEO E. Hunter Harrison presents before the Surface Transportation Board on Oct. 11. More information is available from the STB: https://www.stb.gov/stb/audiomee.nsf/71c35e25bd34f1f68525653300425877/8832013effcfab5e852581b7004ca125?OpenDocument and Trains Magazine: www.trainsmag.com

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CSX Transportation listening session before the STB Part II

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2017 151:37

A CSX Transportation CEO E. Hunter Harrison presents before the Surface Transportation Board on Oct. 11. More information is available from the STB: https://www.stb.gov/stb/audiomee.nsf/71c35e25bd34f1f68525653300425877/8832013effcfab5e852581b7004ca125?OpenDocument and Trains Magazine: www.trainsmag.com

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Trains News Wire Round-Up for July 28, 2017