October 2019 NRC Bulletin
October 31, 2019
NRC Updates and Announcements
The NRC 2020 conference is January 5th - 8th at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California. Please click here to register for the conference, golf tournament, and whale watching excursion. Please note that the next discounted rate for registration ends at the end of November!

Due to high demand, the NRC room block at the Hotel Del on peak nights is currently full. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for the hotel, or you have any other questions on sponsorships, activities, or other conference-related questions, please email Mike McGonagle at mmcgonagle@nrcma.org.

Additionally, If you would like more information on the NRC-REMSA Exhibition please click here .
NRC Draft Conference Program Now Available!

As previously announced, the NRC is thrilled to have Keith Creel, President and CEO of Canadian Pacific, as keynote speaker for the NRC 2020 Conference . A few other confirmed speakers include:
  • David Becker, Chief Engineer Design & Construction, NS
  • Rob Castiglione, Staff Director Human Performance Division, FRA
  • Michael Cegelis, Executive Vice President, Rail Infrastructure, Virgin Train USA
  • Tod Echler, AVP Engineering, CSX
  • Eric Gehringer, Vice President of Engineering, UP
  • Robert Guinan, Director of Procurement, OmniTRAX
  • Tony Hatch, Senior Transportation Analyst, ABH Consulting
  • Tom Hilliard, Chief S&C, CN
  • Jim Linthicum, Director of Mobility Management and Project Implementation, SANDAG
  • Tom Holmes, Vice President - Purchasing & Materials, Watco
  • Bruce Marcheschi, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Executive Director, Metra
  • Jim McLeod, Chief Engineer – Structures, Design & Construction, CN
  • Stacey Mortensen, Executive Director, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission/ACE Rail
  • Stacy Posey, President, Montana Rail Link 
  • Kristine Storm, Vice President of Purchasing, G&W
  • Zachary Vallos, System Engineer – Construction & Maintenance, OmniTRAX
  • Michael Weiss, Managing Director, Greenbriar Equity Group

To view a full draft conference program, please click here, or visit www.nrcma.org/2020conference.
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Sign-up for UP/Contractor "Speed Networking" at NRC Conference
The NRC is hosting the first ever “speed networking” event with Union Pacific Railroad’s Directors of Bridge and Track Construction and Supply chain Strategic Sourcing on Monday, January 6, from 2pm to 4pm PST. To attend, you must first register for the NRC Conference, which you can do online at http://www.nrcma.org/2020conference .

Once you have registered, sign up for one 10-minute slot with UP engineering team here . Please be advised that this event is filling fast and are reserved on a first come first serve basis! The goal of this event is to connect UP's Engineering Team with  General Contractors who do earthwork, track construction, track maintenance, bridge construction, bridge maintenance, etc. Do not miss your chance to connect one-on-one with Union Pacific’s engineering team! 
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49 C.F.R. Part 243 Resources for NRC Members

The NRC filed a joint petition with the ASLRRA to amend 49 C.F.R Part 243 by delaying certain implementation dates for applicable short lines and contractors for an additional two years or suspending such dates all together. This petition is in an effort to reduce substantial and unnecessary regulatory burdens for our members, and give our members greater regulatory flexibility in how they implement training requirements.

Additionally, in order to help our NRC contractor members comply with the requirements of FRA Part 243, the NRC has produced and received approval from the FRA for ten separate model programs. These model programs cover the tasks contained in the following FRA Parts: 213, 214, 218, 220, 228, 233, 234, 235, 236, and 237. These model programs are available to NRC member companies free of charge. For more info, visit http://nrcma.org/243modeltemplates and login to the NRC website to access the templates.

Not a member and want access to the templates? JOIN TODAY or contact Mike McGonagle with questions regarding NRC membership.
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Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 NRC Scholarships!

The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) is proud the announce the recipients of our 2019 scholarships.

First Place Winner  -  Alexandria Puett  of the University of Nebraska ($12,000), who was sponsored by Herzog Contracting Corp.

Second Place Winners  -  Matthew Heron  of Georgetown University ($6,000), who was sponsored by Harsco Rail, and  Bailey Gerstner  of Shorter University ($6,000), who was sponsored by Birmingham Rail.

Third Place Winners  -  Andrew Chalon  of Clemson University ($3,000), who was sponsored by RT&S,  Grace Bastyr  of the University of Alabama ($3,000), who was sponsored by Progressive Railroading, and  Madison Burnside  of Purdue University ($3,000), who was sponsored by LB Foster.

Please encourage all eligible college-age children and grandchildren of NRC member companies to apply next year. The application period for 2020 NRC scholarships will open next summer. If you have any questions about the 2019 NRC Scholarship, or the upcoming 2020 NRC scholarship, please email mmcgonagle@nrcma.org
Industry News
The Metropolitan Council in Minneapolis announced it has awarded the Aldridge-Parsons Joint-Venture a $194.4 million contract to build and install systems for a 14.5-mile extension of the Green Line light-rail system. This project is part of the SWLRT project, which by 2023, will have service from Eden Prairie to Downtown Minneapolis.

MTA released a 2020-2024 capital plan that proposes spending $51.5 billion on the region’s subways, railroads, and buses to create a more reliable transportation system. $37.3 billion will go to the NYCT subway. Work includes track installation/replacement, tie installation/removal, switch replacement, and bridge and tunnel improvement.

The Alaska Railroad Corp has issued an Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from entities interested in a public-private partnership to replace the aging passenger dock and cruise terminal in Seward, Alaska. The entity chosen will be tasked with providing design, construction, and seasonal operation of the new facility. Company officials plan to have their partner or partners by the end of 2019 and negotiate project details in 2020.

Texas Central announced earlier this month it has signed a contract with Lane Construction Co., a subsidiary of the Salini-Impreglio joint venture. Salini-Lane will supply the civil infrastructure work, which includes the design and construction of the viaduct and embankment sections along the entire route, installation of the track system and construction of maintenance and rail equipment storage areas along the entire route.

Earlier this month, the FTA approved the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) recovery plan to deliver the 20.1 mile rail project, with a plan for completion by 2025. HART states that by 2030 “80 percent of the island’s jobs will be located along the rail corridor.” However, FTA’s letter also explained that the project will not receive any of the $744 million committed until HART can identify and finance the City Center procurement, anticipated to be awarded in January 2020.

The Southern Rail Commission will receive a $4.36 million grant from the US Department of Transportation and FRA. The grant is aimed at restoring passenger service between New Orleans, LA., and Mobile, Ala. Damage caused by Hurricane Katrina suspended service in 2005, and the Southern Rail Commission is working to see that service is restored.

The FRA has extended its stay on publishing a final rule that requires commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs until March 4, 2020 . Previously, the deadline had been September 4, 2019, but in order to review all comments, the deadline was extended. Based off 13 comments in the last notice of proposed rule making, three included support of extending the stay, and one urged to be implemented immediately.  

The FTA announced the allocation of $125 million to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II project in California. The $5.81 billion heavy-rail extension is the first to receive funding under FTA’s Expedited Project Delivery pilot program. 
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The NRC is a trade association representing businesses from across the nation in the rail construction and maintenance field. The NRC’s member companies range in size from small family businesses to the largest companies in the industry. NRC members perform work for transit, commuter, intercity passenger, industrial, and freight rail customers, with services including track construction and maintenance, grade crossings, signal and communications installation, bridge construction and repair, rail yard work, and many more. The NRC strives to put an emphasis on rail safety and quality while proudly serving the rail industry.
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