Steuben Council approves seeking rail grant
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ASLRRA has selected three inductees to the Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame. Richard J. Corman, R. Lawrence McCaffrey, and Michael V. Smith have each left indelible marks on the short line industry. Corman, who passed away in 2013, will be honored posthumously.
“The Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame honors the resilience and vision behind our industry’s great American success story. This year’s inductees, Rick Corman, Larry McCaffrey and Mike Smith are recognized for their business acumen, and their role in shaping an industry that has succeeded on ingenuity and persistence,” said Chuck Baker, President of ASLRRA.
Created in 2020, the Short Line Railroad Industry Hall of Fame recognizes short line railroad visionaries who through their dedication, commitment, and achievement best exemplify the qualities of innovation, entrepreneurialism, perseverance, and service that have advanced the short line railroad industry.
Richard J. “Rick” Corman – A Railroader With Grit, Generosity and Vision
Rick Corman was more than a railroad entrepreneur – he was a force of nature whose life story continues to inspire generations of railroad professionals. From the very beginning, Corman embodied the spirit of possibility, believing that with hard work, ingenuity and a little luck, anything was achievable.
Corman’s professional journey began in 1973, just after graduating high school. With a rented backhoe, a dump truck, and fierce determination, he founded R. J. Corman Construction Company. The passage of the Staggers Rail Act in 1980 was a turning point. Corman saw opportunity where others saw risk and he acquired his first short line, the Bardstown Line, in 1987. This move marked the birth of R. J. Corman Railroad Company, which currently owns 19 short line operations stretching over 1,400 miles.
Despite battling cancer for over a decade, Corman remained actively involved in his company, leading major projects and inspiring employees with his resilience and warmth. Corman passed away in 2013 at age 58, but his spirit lives on in every mile of track, every red locomotive or red truck and the nearly 1,400 employees across 70 locations who carry forward his legacy.
R. Lawrence “Larry” McCaffrey – The Author of Short Line Growth in the U.S. and Abroad
Larry McCaffrey quite literally wrote the book on how to create and manage a short line railroad, publishing Starting a Short Line in 1983 with his law partner, Peter Gilbertson. This was not the first of firsts for McCaffrey.
In the early years of his law practice, an Interstate Commerce Commission decision for one of McCaffrey’s clients created a policy of permitting acquisition of a rail line by a party that was not a railroad. This new policy opened the door to sales of rail lines by Class 1 carriers to non-carriers. From there the short line industry blossomed with new railroads, most small but some quite large, resulting in among other things the transformation of the American Short Line Railroad Association (ASLRA) into ASLRRA.
For much of his career, McCaffery focused on railroad privatizations. McCaffrey was a director and shareholder of ten separate railroads controlled by different ownership groups and worked in 16 different countries. While every country and state presented unique challenges due to local economy, labor force, and financial conditions, always core to success was delivering operating efficiency and high-quality service learned from the U.S. railroad restructuring of the 1980s.
Michael V. Smith – A Transformational Marketer for the Short Line Industry
Mike Smith, president of Finger Lakes Railway, is an expert at sharing the short line industry’s value story. Though Smith majored in political science, a job as an operating management trainee with Penn Central Transportation Company after graduation set him on a career path that has lasted over half a century.
In 1990 Smith and others found an opportunity to take over a nearly defunct 118-mile railroad in the Finger Lakes region of New York. With the dogged determination typical of those in the small-railroad industry, Smith and the FGLK team secured Finger Lakes’ transformation into a vital property. Smith shared that part of what helps Finger Lakes continue to flourish is FGLK management’s focus on customer service and the accumulated and applied marketing acumen the team has developed since start-up.
Though Smith was intent on guiding Finger Lakes’ growth, he recognized the importance and value of working with organizations like ASLRRA on policies that would be beneficial to the entire short line industry. Smith was a strong proponent of the original 45G short line infrastructure tax credit and advocated persistently for passage of the first tax credit bill.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has withdrawn a proposed rulemaking that would have increased registration fees for those who transport or offer to transport certain categories and quantities of hazardous materials (hazmat).
PHMSA originally proposed increases to annual fees by $125 to $375 for both small businesses and non-profit organizations and by $425 to $3,000 for other organizations. The rule also would have required electronic-only registration fee payments and made other changes to program requirements.
The proposed rule is being withdrawn because it would have incurred undue economic burdens on those in the hazmat transportation community. Feedback from stakeholders also indicated uncertainty regarding the increase. PHMSA further decided that a fee increase was not necessary to support the mission of the agency’s grants program or development and distribution of the Emergency Response Guidebook.
ASLRRA previously filed comments on the proposed rule with a coalition of hazmat shippers and manufacturers. The comments noted statutory issues with the proposed rule and called on PHMSA to table the docket until those issues were addressed.
PHMSA had said it would proceed to introduce separate proposed rulemakings to implement an electronic-only payment system and clarify fee program requirements. There were no comments submitted specifically addressing those changes.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved a temporary waiver allowing railroads to expand field testing of automated track inspection (ATI) technology.
The waiver is good for five years. It enables railroads to collect data on and demonstrate the benefits of using ATI technology to help safety inspectors identify defects or hazards that might be missed during inspections. This decision was made in response to a waiver petition filed by the Association of American Railroads in May.
Support in Congress continues to increase for 45G short line tax credit modernization. Both H.R. 516 and S. 1532, bills to modernize the Section 45G Railroad Track Maintenance Credit, have strong and growing bicameral and bipartisan support.
Six states have their full House delegation on the bill as cosponsors and ten states have both senators cosponsoring the bill. Four states, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi and North Dakota, have 100% of their entire Congressional delegations signed on as cosponsors.
In the House of Representatives, 130 cosponsors of H.R. 516 puts that bill among the top 2% of cosponsored tax bills, and one of only three House bills in the 119th Congress with at least 120 total cosponsors and at least 40 from each major political party.
Traction in committees of jurisdiction on tax and railroad matters is also rapidly growing. In the House of Representatives, more than half of each of the majority members of the House Ways & Means Committee, which would initiate a tax bill, and the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over transportation matters, are co-sponsors of H.R. 516. Moreover, leadership on both committees is supportive of the bill. The House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax Chairman Mike Kelly (R-Penn.) and Ranking Member Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) are the lead sponsors of the bill, and in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, both Chairman Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and Ranking Member Dina Titus (D-Nev.) are cosponsors.
Similarly, in the Senate, more than half of the majority members of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Commerce Committees, the committees with tax and rail jurisdiction respectively, are on record cosponsoring S. 1532. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are the lead sponsors of the bill.
And the bill has strong support among Senate leadership. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Conference Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Steering and Policy Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are all cosponsors.
For short line railroads, being able to upgrade track directly results in improved service and safety for customers and communities, and the credit is widely considered an effective and successful public policy The tax credit is a significant driver of private infrastructure investment; over $8 billion has been spent since the credit was first introduced in 2005.
Upgrading 45G is a priority for short lines, as the credit cap has been frozen at $3,500 per mile since 2005, although inflation has driven up costs over the past two decades. The proposed bills would increase the cap to $6,100 per mile, allow the credit to be indexed to future inflation and make all short line track eligible for the credit. Currently only track owned by short lines in 2015 is eligible.
ASLRRA Encourages Continued Engagement on 45G and Short Line Priorities
ASLRRA and its members continue to encourage support for short line priorities, including 45G modernization. Engagement can occur in many ways, including making phone calls, writing emails, visiting lawmakers’ Washington, D.C. offices and hosting tours of railroad facilities for officials.
One effective strategy for advocacy is consistent communication. Following up visits or meetings with even a simple thank you helps build relationships and maintain familiarity. One example is a press release recently published by ASLRRA member Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC). The press release noted a meeting between LIRC President John Goldman and Representative Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) and thanked Houchin for her strong support of the railroad.
The Association’s government affairs team can help organizations and individuals connect with their elected officials. ASLRRA also offers materials and information about the short line industry and its priorities, and data and talking points to support discussions on issues such as 45G modernization, rail grant programs, modal equity with trucks and rail safety programs.
Sponsors of ASLRRA’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition are invaluable contributors to the event’s success. At the same time, sponsors receive unparalleled opportunities to showcase their brand and build relationships at the short line freight rail industry’s top event.
There are a wide range of sponsorship opportunities available at a variety of price points, starting as low as $1,000. However, many of the upper tier sponsorships have sold out, leaving only a handful of spots remaining for ASLRRA members to benefit from additional visibility before the industry’s leading voices and decision makers.
Click here to learn more, or contact the meetings team to ask a question or secure a sponsorship.
Register today to attend the conference at the early bird rate. ASLRRA also has room blocks in four hotels within walking distance of the convention center. Click here to view hotels and reserve lodging.
What are the latest ways Association members can engage with ASLRRA? What is ASLRRA’s most recent call-to-action? Below are some of the different types of information the Association would love to gather.
ASLRRA members have elected five new board members from the Southern, Pacific and Eastern Regions and a new Young Professionals board representative.
The Association welcomes
Outgoing board members include Tracy Alves of Modesto & Empire Traction Company, Nathan Fenno of New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway, Frank Forlini of Spokane, Spangle and Palouse Railroad, Clark Hopp of Alaska Railroad, Hunter Sims of Pickens Railway Company, Scott Traylor of Rio Grande Pacific Corporation and William Weedmark of Transportation Occupational Medicine Consultants (TOMC). ASLRRA is grateful to these individuals for their work in support of the Association and will honor them at the Board of Directors meeting being held this week in Washington, D.C.
ASLRRA will hold a virtual Annual Membership Meeting on Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. Eastern time. All ASLRRA members are invited to attend. Click here to register for the webinar. Confirmed members will receive a webinar link after submitting the registration form.
Board Chairman Matt Walsh and President Chuck Baker will be joined by ASLRRA staff and region vice presidents to provide attendees with an update on all aspects of Association business and priorities including finance, communications, data/technology, education, training, business services, meetings and membership. Also discussed will be ASLRRA’s legal, legislative and regulatory activity.
ASLRRA Member Discount Program Preferred Provider MaxAccel offers a suite of software products available in web and mobile-based solutions to assist small railroads in driving safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and return on investment.
MaxAccel’s product offerings include all eight solutions on the AssetPro and SafeTrack Platforms. ASLRRA members can choose one application or several to make MaxAccel their single solution for electronic recordkeeping. Over 220 freight railroads, passenger operations and railroad contractors rely on MaxAccel’s electronic recordkeeping applications every day, making them some of the most widely used in the rail transportation industry.
Click here to learn more about ASLRRA’s Member Discount Program and view all of the products and services available from the Association’s Preferred Providers.
Since its start in 2017, ASLRRA's Short Line Education Fund has been used to pursue projects that provide critical support for high-priority industry education and training initiatives and award scholarships that enable employees of small railroads to attend industry training and access educational resources.
Consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Short Line Education Fund. Click here to learn more about the scholarship fund, or send an email to get the donation process started.
Two more ASLRRA members will make improvements to railroad crossings in Washington state and Ohio thanks to funding recently approved by state agencies.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approved $176,467 in Grade Crossing Protective Fund grants for Yak Rail to install new motion detector controllers at eight railroad crossings in Yakima County. The devices, known as PMD-4s, detect approaching trains and activate warning lights, gates and bells.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved funding for rail crossing upgrades in three state counties. This includes $733,487 to the Kanawha River Railroad to install lights and gates and complete surface reconstruction at two crossings in Athens County.
This section highlights ASLRRA members that have received Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grants, showcasing the importance of this funding and how benefits reach beyond the railroad itself.
If your railroad has received a CRISI grant and would like to submit information for this section please complete our online form.
Project Facts
Awardee: Lancaster & Chester Railroad (L&C)
Fiscal Year: 2018
CRISI Grant: $8,752,185
Local Match: $4,712,715 (35%)
Total Project Cost: $13,465,900
The project provided funding for the acquisition of three locomotives and the rehabilitation of 49 miles of track from Chester to Kershaw and the Catawba River Rail Bridge. The project increased track speed from 10 to 25 miles per hour and allowed for the handling of 286-pound railcars. The upgraded track resulted in the railroad attracting three new customers to the line.
Notable Quotes
“Over the last 11 years, Chester County has attracted over $3 billion in new industrial development creating almost 4,000 new jobs. This massive amount of opportunity is a direct result of having the short line L&C railroad as our partner.”
Alex Oliphant, City Council Member, Chester County, South Carolina
ASLRRA’s Senior Vice President Law and General Counsel Sarah Yurasko was named the League of Railway Women’s (LRW) 2025 Member of the Year.
The award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an LRW member. The award announcement, made during the LRW’s annual membership meeting, noted Yurasko’s continued dedication to LRW and its mission, her support for LRW members and her overarching generosity and leadership.
View the award announcement here.
In the December issue of Railway Age magazine, Chuck Baker’s ASLRRA Perspective column focuses on carload growth and how partnerships will be critical to short line success in 2026.
Baker reflects on ways Class I executives talked at ASLRRA’s region meetings about their railroads’ efforts to work with short lines to grow business. Though such efforts are laudable and reveal an approach different from the early Class I short line management teams, Baker cautions that “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
Railroads need to pay attention to various metrics and act upon the collected data to move the needle in a positive direction when it comes to carload volume. For Baker, a new year is a new opportunity to do just that.
Jo Strang traveled to Sacramento, California to meet with members of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Several ASLRRA member short line representatives joined Strang for the meeting, which included discussions of the initiatives short lines are undertaking to reduce emissions and the challenges they face. According to Strang the meeting “was a productive first step in a cooperative effort with the agency.”
Cameron Downs and Richard Sherman attended the “Big Data” in Railroad Maintenance Planning Conference in Newark, Delaware. The conference, hosted by the University of Delaware, features discussions about how railroads can convert big data into actionable information for their planning and maintenance. Sherman will speak on the second day of the conference about ASLRRA’s grant-funded project with associate member Wi-Tronix.
This session will explain the applicability of the Roth Catch-Up contribution rule, effective January 1, 2026, under the SECURE 2.0 Act, with a focus on Railroad employers and employees covered by the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA).
Speakers: Robert Auditore, Principal, Financial Advisor, CAPTRUST Financial Advisors and Chelsea Sweet, Outsourced Controller, Bowers CPAs & Advisors
Sponsored by:
Obtaining a CRISI grant is a trajectory changing event. This panel will highlight successful CRISI project awardees who will provide lessons learned and cautionary tales about managing the project, while running a railroad!
Moderator: Adam Nordstrom, Principal, Viking Navigation, LLC
Speakers: Justin Bentaas, Program Analyst & Development Associate, Mickelson & Co; Joey Evans, Director Business Support & Development, TNW Corporation; Tres Myer, VP Operations, Rio Grande Pacific; Brady Peters, Assistant Division Engineer, OmniTRAX
Sponsored by:
Join us for an exciting conversation as the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) team reveals its partnership with the Scouts of America to bring the Railroad Merit Badge to Merit Badge University students! This initiative allows high schoolers to dive into rail safety, operations, and career paths in the rail industry. Discover the journey behind their sponsorship and newfound partnership with the Scouts of America.
Speakers: Chasity Rojas, Assistant Director HR/Talent Acquisition, IAIS and Tom Meirhoff, Director Rules and Operating Practices, IAIS
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) team discusses Safety Action Plans and provides steps on how to develop one. A Safety Action Plan is a living document that tracks your safety performance, manages your safety programs, and outlines your future safety goals. Whether you don't know where to begin or have already developed one and have specific questions, SLSI's "Ask the Experts" is here to be your resource to keep safety on track.
Speakers: Sam Cotton, Director of Safety Culture Programs, SLSI; Julia Leone, PhD, Assistant Director of Research and Organizational Development, SLSI; Karen Adams, Safety Culture Assessor, SLSI
Views & News is published by American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Please contact Mariel Takamura, associate editor, with questions or comments.
