Experts from ASLRRA’s staff represent the short line industry, and particularly our members, testifying before a variety of Congressional and Regulatory bodies. We are engaged in topics such as rail technology trends, economic impact of rail, increases in truck size and weight, regulations and compliance issues, customer service, interchange challenges, safety and tax policies such as the short line tax credit. Below you will find recent written testimonies given by ASLRRA on behalf of our members.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 15, 2024 — ASLRRA and AAR have asked the Federal Railroad Administration to provide an additional 12 months for Class I, Class II and Class III railroads to comply with the EEBA final rule in light of the manufacturing limitations of the known suppliers of EEBAs and the complications associated with implementation of the final rule due to the variety of devices that may be selected by interchanging railroads, the training on each required, and the time to develop and implement design standards.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 15, 2024 — ASLRRA has asked the Federal Railroad Administration to provide a de minimis exception to the Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus standards for Class II and III railroads. The current rulemaking applies to any railroad that operates a freight train that transports a PIH material, including a residue of such a PIH material. This does not account for unintended transport of a car by a railroad that does not typically transport such cars — an unplanned event. Due to the interconnected nature of the rail network, railroads are able to reroute traffic onto other lines or other railroads because of a natural disaster or unanticipated infrastructure repair, and such an occurrence should not result in a penalty for failing to comply with the EEBA final rule when they would not otherwise be required to do so. ASLRRA had requested that short lines be exempt from this rulemaking, but the FRA declined to carve out Class II and III railroads.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 7, 2024 — ASLRRA President Chuck Baker testified at the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing titled “Department of Transportation Discretionary Grants: Stakeholder Perspectives.” Baker offered insight into how federal grant programs are performing for short line railroads, and particularly noted the positive impact of the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program on short lines and the communities they serve. Finally, Baker offered recommendations for ways to improve the grant process. As supplemental material, Baker presented support from shippers viewable here.
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 12, 2024 — The ASLRRA provided responses to a November 2023 request for information from the U.S. Department of Energy, Progression to Net-Zero Emission Propulsion Technologies for The Rail Sector. ASLRRA outlined the current realities that small business freight railroads face, including limited capital, and the short to medium term limitations in commercial availability of locomotives using battery powered electric (BEL) and hydrogen fuel. The comments included the many ways that short lines are currently addressing environmental impact, and the outlining the challenges ahead for short lines in progressing to net-zero emission propulsion.
