Coming to Boca Raton: A safer and more coordinated rail crossing network
$5.6MM East Deerfield Rail Yard Project Complete
Mayor credits public-private partnerships for getting rail park established
Railroad members! If you want to be featured in this section, please email us the link. You can also tag us (@ASLRRA) in your social media posts. Interested in seeing your railroad showcased in your local newspaper? Contact Amy Krouse for assistance.
Though summer in an election year can affect the pace of work on Capitol Hill, ASLRRA’s government affairs team never slows down its efforts to advocate for and advance issues important to the Association’s members and the short line freight rail industry.
Most recently, ASLRRA led a coalition letter to leaders of the House and Senate urging Congress to preserve dependable, long-term funding for any programs that received advance appropriations in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Known as Division J programs, these include a multitude of safety, rail, bridge, port and other critical infrastructure funding opportunities like Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI), BUILD/RAISE, INFRA and the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).
The letter asks Congress to ensure any extension of the IIJA or continuing resolution maintains funding for all Division J programs and asks that guaranteed funding be included in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
In addition, the letter goes on to describe how infrastructure investments have a number of significant positive effects. For example, these investments strengthen the American economy and supply chain and save lives by improving transportation safety.
Other efforts include advocating for the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Stability Act of 2026. ASLRRA, two labor groups and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) expressing strong support of the bill. The HELP Committee will hold an executive session tomorrow to markup several bills including RRB Stability Act.
The RRB Stability Act provides consistent administrative funding to the RRB, enabling the agency to address technology modernization issues and improve efficiency and service for railroaders.
The RRB Stability Act would provide a consistent funding stream allocated from the RRB’s own trust fund, which is paid into by railroad employers and employees via payroll taxes. Currently, the Board must obtain Congressional approval to utilize funds for administrative costs. The approval comes through the appropriations process each year.
Beyond these efforts, ASLRRA staff continues work building support for the 45G short line infrastructure tax credit modernization bill, which now has 47 cosponsors in the Senate and 177 in the House. The Association also supports members working to connect with their elected officials. Contact the government affairs team with questions or for assistance.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group has issued a new SOFA Alert in response to a conductor injury.
On July 12, a conductor was seriously injured when a free-standing cut of cars rolled into the individual and pinned the individual between couplers.
Although the working group has not yet analyzed the case, the alert urges employees to remain vigilant during switching operations, especially while working in the foul of equipment.
ASLRRA’s Safety Alerts, Reports and Advisories page compiles recent safety-related notifications from the FRA and other federal agencies. There, page visitors can find this SOFA Alert and the FRA’s most recent Safety Bulletin 2006-03, issued last week.
ASLRRA signed on to comments led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in response to a proposed rule put forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The proposed rule is called the “Update of Procedures for Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and Assessing the Environmental Effects Abroad of EPA Actions.”
The comments support the proposed updates to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), specifically highlighting efforts to streamline and modernize the environmental review and permitting process. Included in the comments are explanations of the problems with the current NEPA process and reasons why the proposed reforms will have a positive effect. There are also additional recommendations for ways the EPA can better implement NEPA.
Other organizations signing the letter include the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Agricultural Retailers Association, the American Chemistry Council and more.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has named Elizabeth Mocek the agency’s director of public affairs. She will oversee the RRB’s public affairs program.
As director, Mocek will be in charge of RRB’s press releases and publications and supervise management of the agency’s website. She will also be the spokesperson in response to media inquiries.
Mocek joined the RRB in 2006. She became a specialist in the Office of Public Affairs in 2012 and most recently served as acting director of public affairs before being appointed to the permanent position. She succeeds Mike Freeman, who retired in 2024.
The ASLRRA Political Action Committee (PAC) is a voluntary, nonpartisan political action committee. It was created over forty years ago to enhance ASLRRA’s leadership on behalf of the short line community by helping to elect members of the U.S. Congress who support our industry.
Through its PAC, ASLRRA can enlist member support to better educate federal policymakers about the economic and social importance of freight rail, while working toward its mission of promoting the short line rail industry in the United States.
The ASLRRA PAC is essential for strengthening our voice by increasing our engagement in political activities and opening additional lines of communication with members of Congress. When combined with our federal lobbying activities and our grass tops outreach, the ASLRRA PAC is an excellent tool that our organization can utilize to mobilize our membership and support the short line freight rail industry.
ASLRRA PAC’s goals are:
ASLRRA would like to thank the following individuals who have contributed so far in 2026:
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) requires the ASLRRA PAC to obtain prior written approval from ASLRRA member firms before it can solicit and accept contributions from employees of that company. Granting this prior authorization simply gives the ASLRRA PAC permission to communicate to your employees about the PAC and the role it plays in advancing the short line rail industry’s interests. It does not obligate your company or employees to support or contribute to the ASLRRA PAC. Once you have enrolled, you will be able to help ASLRRA continue to strengthen your political voice in Washington, D.C.
To enroll or for more information, visit ASLRRA’s PAC website or contact Nicole Brewin at nbrewin@aslrra.org or Richard Sherman at rsherman@aslrra.org.
Know a company that would benefit from joining and participating in ASLRRA? Please contact Vice President, Membership Danialle Lovik via email or at (202) 585-3443.
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum maintains and preserves the Nevada Northern Railway National Historic Landmark in Ely Nevada. The 56-acre complex consists of 60 original buildings and structures with the oldest from 1906. They have four of the original steam locomotives, six of the original diesel locomotives, 100 passenger and freight cars and 168.9 miles of track. Nevada Northern Railway Museum’s long-term goal is to open the railroad to freight traffic once again. Primary Contact and President, Mark S. Bassett, can be reached at (775) 289-0103.
ASLRRA’s Fall Super Regional Meeting, held Oct. 5-7 in St. Louis, Missouri, will offer a wide range of education appealing to all railroad professions.
There will be 30 education sessions offered. Finance and administration professionals can access the full line up of education provided at the meeting – all included in the registration fee. SHRM PDC credits are available for Finance & Administration Seminar offerings.
Education sessions in the finance and administration category include:
ASLRRA’s Insurance Committee, Human Resources (HR) Committee and Finance Working Group will also meet in person during the meeting. Click here to view the full meeting agenda with session titles and descriptions.
The Fall Super Regional Meeting combines all the Association’s fall meetings into one top-notch event. Register today, and be sure to secure hotel lodging before the Sept. 10 cutoff date.
ASLRRA welcomes organizations interested in sponsoring this year’s inaugural event. Visit ASLRRA’s website to learn more or contact meetings@aslrra.org to ask questions and purchase a sponsorship.
Loram offers discount pricing on its Aurora Track Inspection Technology providing comprehensive tie inspections generating detailed reports allowing railroads to streamline capital maintenance programs and ensure they are in line with industry regulations with compliance reports.
Click here to learn more about ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program and view all available products and services, or contact ASLRRA’s Sabrina Waiss for more information about becoming a Preferred Provider.
Check out some of the most popular webinar recordings from 2026 so far:
ASLRRA’s On-Demand Webinars resource library offers more than 200 webinar recordings on a variety of topics, from industry-specific finance, human resources and legal issues to railroad safety, regulatory compliance, business development and more.
Click here to view upcoming webinars and log in to browse the library.
FRA Part 215 Locomotive and Car Compliance Training Seminar
Nov. 17-19, Indianapolis, Indiana
ASLRRA has partnered with The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to offer a Locomotive and Car Compliance Training Seminar for short line railroads. Intended for short line railroad chief mechanical officers, shop foremen and inspectors, this three-day training seminar will include 2-and-a-half days of classroom instruction and one half day of hands-on field training covering compliance requirements of locomotives and railcars. FRA subject matter experts will review CFR Parts 215, 229 and 232 from a mechanical employee’s perspective and discuss common defects found throughout the industry and recommended actions for compliance.
Click here to see additional upcoming seminars as well as event details and online registration and hotel booking links.
ASLRRA has sent a survey to the primary contacts at its Class II and III railroad members requesting information about their use of the hours-of-service (HOS) exemption waiver. Railroads that do not provide this information will not be eligible for the waiver.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) seeks details concerning a request by ASLRRA and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to renew the HOS exemption that has been in effect since Dec. 23, 2020. ASLRRA wants to be sure it submits a complete and accurate list of its member railroads covered by the FMCSA exemption. To do this, members are asked to complete a very brief survey on the subject. Responses are requested by July 31.
Those with questions about the survey or who have not received a survey link can contact Cameron Downs or Fred Oelsner.
To accompany its Categorical Exclusion (CE) Worksheet, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published an updated FRA Categorical Exclusion Companion Guide. The CE Worksheet helps the FRA determine whether a proposed action or project can be excluded from a detailed environmental review in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The CE Companion Guide was updated, effective this month, to align with the current administration’s policies. The CE Worksheet is currently active, with an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2028.
Categorical Exclusions are those that the FRA has determined do not normally have a significant effect on the human environment and generally do not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment.
Grant recipients must submit a CE Worksheet during the grant post-selection process. While the worksheet is not submitted with a grant application, the FRA highly recommends applicants draft a mock-up of the worksheet while preparing other documents. All federally funded projects must comply with NEPA requirements.
Last week, ASLRRA member Buckingham Branch Railroad hosted Nicole Brewin and Crystal Gitchell, along with ASLRRA summer interns Emeline Stewart and Levente Toth, for a tour of their Virginia facility. ASLRRA staff periodically visits its members to learn about short line operations and issues.
ASLRRA maintains an industry calendar featuring events that may be of interest to members. If you have an industry event you would like included on the calendar and possibly in Views & News, please send relevant event details and links to Mariel Takamura for consideration.
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) announced it has received its completed training trailer, which will be used in hazardous materials training events.
The trailer is equipped with railcar housings, valves and other fittings to enable SLSI instructors to provide hands-on training to attendees. The trailer is roadway based, allowing training to take place in parking lots, apparatus bays or other suitable locations convenient to the training host.
Specialized Response Solutions, a Republic Services Company (SRS) completed the project design and build to outfit the trailer with various props including DOT 117 and DOT 112 tank car protective housings and other high pressure and general service component displays. A Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant funded the project.
SLSI offers hazardous materials training at no cost to short line railroads and emergency responders. Email hmit@shortlinesafety.org to ask questions or schedule a training event.
In addition to the trailer, SLSI is using FRA funding to construct a safety train with modified railcars for hazmat training. SLSI has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the next part of its project, the modification of two existing refrigerated boxcars into indoor, climate-controlled training platforms with multiple props.
Click here to view the RFP. Submissions are due Aug. 17.
Work was recently completed on SLSI’s training trailer, a road-based trailer equipped with various props that will be used in SLSI’s hazardous materials training events to provide an up-close look at railcar components. SLSI staff traveled to Fort Worth, Texas this week to pick up the finished trailer. Pictured here are (L to R) Tom Murta and Sam Cotton of SLSI, Justin Scogins of Liberty Rail Services, Ryan Risdon of SLSI, Blake Maynard of Liberty Rail Services and Austin Gibson and Ryan Dissinger of Specialized Response Solutions (SRS). Liberty Rail Services supplied valves for the project, while SRS completed the project design and build.
Railway Age magazine is now accepting nominations for its Women in Rail Awards. This year marks the tenth anniversary of this recognition program.
Nominees can come from any area of the railroad industry, and individuals can nominate themselves. There is no limit to the number of entries a firm or person can submit. The nomination deadline is Oct. 1. Learn more at the link above or click here to go directly to the nomination form.
Twenty-five winners will be selected based on their leadership, vision, innovation and accomplishments. They will be featured in the magazine’s November issue and be honored in person at the Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures Women in Rail Conference in 2027.
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
