April 2022 NRC Bulletin
May 2, 2022
NRC Updates and Announcements
Recap of NRC 2022 Railroad Equipment Auction - April 22-28, 2022

From April 22-28, the NRC hosted it's annual equipment auction hosted by Delta Railroad Construction at their Austinburg, OH facility. Over two dozen sellers listed over 330+ pieces of equipment (including on-site and off-site pieces). The auction was very well-attended, both in-person and virtually, with over 100 people streaming in over the week and over 50 railroad contractors and suppliers attending on-site. Also in attendance was Ariann Barile, who is the District Outreach and Casework Representative for Rep. Dave Joyce (R OH-14). Left photograph, from left to right, President of the NRC Ashley Wieland, COO of Delta Railroad Services Linda Laurello, and Ariann Barile)

Popular items this year were excavators, tampers, and large work trucks, among many other items that were in high-demand this year due to an uptick in shovel-ready projects across the country. This year's in-person and virtual approach helped sellers save on shipping expenses and and also gave folks that were able to attend the opportunity to network with fellow colleagues.

The NRC would also like to thank the folks who consigned equipment, participated in the auction, bid on equipment, or just attended for the networking and fun. The NRC would also like to thank the following companies who donated pieces of equipment (100% of the proceeds go to the NRC's Safety Video production and other safety-related member resources):
Delta Railroad Construction

RailWorks
Thank you to the NRC Auction Committee!

- Danny Brown,
RELAM, Inc. (Chairman)

- Thomas Blackmon, Blackmon Auctions

- Daniel Daugherty, RELAM, Inc.

- Mike Green,
Stacy and Witbeck

- Paul Laurello, Delta Railroad Services

- Dale Morgan,
RailWorks

- Greg Spilker, Maintenance of Way Equipment Solutions, Inc.

- George Williams,
Herzog Contracting
A&K Railroad Materials Hosts U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids on Facility Tour
On April 19, NRC and REMSA member company A&K Railroad Materials hosted Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS 3rd District), for a tour of its manufacturing facility in Kansas City, KS. The tour was the first stop on Davids' "Made in Kansas" tour to promote domestic manufacturing and supply chain solutions.

Davids, who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as Vice Chair, said she was pleased to get a boots-on-the-ground perspective to carry back to Washington. “When we make more here at home, and when we invest in strong supply chains, we lower costs for folks atthe store. The work at A&K Railroad Materials is important to every piece of that equation,” said Davids. “Today I got to see how both the bipartisan infrastructure law and the new supply chain legislation we’re working on in Congress will help Kansas manufacturers continue to serve our entire country’s transportation needs.”
A&K Railroad Materials President Kellen Desmond led an employee meeting with Davids and a tour through the facility. We’re glad to be the first stop on Representative Davids’ tour and show off the manufacturing capability we have here in Kansas City, Kan.,” said Desmond. “We’re excited to see what the bipartisan infrastructure law holds for the railroad industry and for A&K." To see more on the tour, please click here.

The NRC is dedicated to serving the needs of NRC Members and the railroad contractor and supplier community. That includes making sure that our members have their voices heard on Capitol Hill. Members of Congress frequently mention in-person site visits as one of the most effective ways to convey the importance of the industry. If you would like to talk with NRC staff about organizing an event with your company or our grassroots program further, please email info@nrcma.org.
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NRC 2022 Education Grant: Deadline Extended to June 3rd!

The NRC is now accepting applications for its Education Grant Program. Originally April 30, and in order to give each University thinking of applying the chance to do so, the deadline has been extended to June 3.

The Program awards an education grant to a college, university or technical school within the United States with a railway construction, railway engineering or construction management program. This year the NRC will award one $15,000 grant to the top applicant. Applications will be judged by the NRC Education Committee. NRC Education grant funds are intended for targeted student educational and research purposes. Learn more about the program and download the application here.

The deadline for receiving completed applications is June 3, 2022, at 5 pm EDT. Applicants will be informed of their application status after Memorial Day. Grant application materials can be emailed to info@nrcma.org, sent via Adobe PDF, Dropbox or similar program.
NRC IIJA Resource Page, BIL Dashboard Available

The NRC has compiled a comprehensive list of resources for its members on the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Please click here to access important resources on the NRC website and the newly-created IIJA page.

Additionally, the BIL (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) dashboard that came out earlier in February. In an effort to streamline and present critical information related to available discretionary grants, the agencies that are involved, and the important dates related to all applications, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) created a comprehensive dashboard with all pertinent information. Please click here to view the DOT's comprehensive dashboard on BIL.
Renew Your NRC Membership or Join Today!

It's time to renew your company's NRC 2022 membership. NRC staff has emailed your organization's primary contact for with all corresponding information for your organization's renewal. If your organization was a member in 2021, and you would like to renew or have any questions about renewing or joining in please contact NRC staff at info@nrcma.org

Not an NRC member and want to access to this and many other membership benefitsJoin as an NRC member today!. If you have any questions about joining the NRC, or your organization's current membership status, please simply reply to this email.
2022 Progressive Railroading Rising Stars Announced

On April 26, Progressive Railroading announced the names of 25 people chosen for recognition this year as Rising Stars in the North American railroad industry. This is the 10th year Progressive Railroading has conducted the award. Over several months, Progressive Railroading readers submitted more than 140 nominations of individuals who work in the industry.

A Rising Star is defined as someone under the age of 40 who has made, or is making, a positive impact on his or her company, organization, department or team, and viewed by peers and colleagues as an up-and-coming leader in the rail industry. To view the winners and more information, please click here.

The NRC would like to congratulate all the winners, in particular the following individuals who work for NRC member companies: Matthew Bolte, Railway Equipment Co., Jacquelyne Colvis, Siemens Mobility, and Kelly Pilarski, WSP USA. Congratulations Rising Stars!
FRA Announces Climate Challenge to Meet Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

On April 22, Earth Day, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced its rail industry Climate Challenge. The FRA is asking owners and operators along the national rail network, and manufacturers of rail equipment, to join FRA's commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the rail industry and rail transportation by 2050. Achieving this target will contribute to FRA’s key goals of building a safe, efficient, and modern transportation system that will expand economic opportunities, create cleaner and safer communities, and help curb the worst effects of climate change

Per the FRA webiste, Freight rail is up to 75% more efficient than truck transportation, while passenger rail is up to 46% more efficient than driving and 34% more efficient than flying. “FRA commits to supporting innovation in the rail industry to keep rail one of the most sustainable transportation choices,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “Together, we will expand access to passenger and freight rail, ensure that they are powered by environmentally-friendly technologies, and eliminate emissions across the rail supply chain.” To learn more, please click here.
CSX-Pan Am Merger approved

On April 18, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced it had approved CSX's purchase of Pan Am Railways, a regional railroad in the northeastern United States. The deal will expand CSX's 23-state network into Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. It will also add to its existing network in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

The STB said the deal would improve Pan Am's rail network because of CSX's capital expenditure capability, and that customers will beenfit from being able to ship their goods through a region on a single carrier. CSX CEO Jim Foote said he looks forward to adding Pan-Am’s employees and serving the industries in the northeast that rely on railroads. Foote said he’s glad regulators “recognized the significant benefits this transaction will bring to shippers and other New England stakeholders." Pan Am, which is based in North Billerica, Massachusetts, is expected to become part of CSX on June 1, 2022.
House Reps Urge FRA to Minimize Railroad Worker Fatigue

On April 6, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, wrote a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) urging the FRA to finalize the fatigue risk management program rulemaking. This congressional mandate, which is a decade late, would help mitigate railroad worker fatigue.

In the letter, the members wrote: "After decades of studying the issue, the FRA has a clear understanding of the safety risks posed by fatigue: fatigue symptoms include falling asleep, slower reaction time, attention loss, performance impairment, and increase error. A number of individual, environmental, and organizational factors can contribute to the likelihood of fatigue, such as general health and medical conditions as well as scheduling and other practices that affect opportunities for workers to obtain sufficient quality and quantity of sleep." If you would like to read the full letter, please click here.
Industry News and Updates
On April 19, The Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSAAM) Rail Corridor Agency Board of Directors unanimously appointed Jason Jewell as the Interim Managing Director of the LOSSAN Agency, effective April 18, 2022. Jewell has been with LOSSAN for seven years, serving as the Agency's Chief Financial Officer. Jewell will take over management and operations of the Agency and continue his responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer. He replaces Donna DeMartino, who served as LOSSAN Agency Managing Director since January 2020.

On April 19, the Federal Railroad Administration website was updated to reflect the April 18, 2022 court decision (Health Freedom Defense Fund, Inc. et al v. Biden et al), and what it means to public transportation and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Per the ruling, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public transportation masking order is no longer in effect at this time. Therefore, effective April 18, the TSA will not enforce its Security Directives requiring mask use on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Similarly, the FRA will no longer enforce Emergency Order No. 32 (Emergency Order Requiring Face Mask Use in Railroad Operations at this time.

On April 13, NRC Member Company American Track announced the acquisition of The Railroad Associates Corp (TRAC) in Boiling Springs, PA. American Track serves a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, petrochemical, mining, agricultural products, food and beverage, basic raw materials, ports and transload facilities across the U.S. Thomas Lucario, Chief Executive Officer of American Track, commented: "TRAC has been a strong force in the railroad services industry, and we are happy to have them join the American Track family. With the addition of the TRAC team, American Track greatly enhances our service delivery capabilities, customer base and national reach." 

On April 5, NRC Member Company Industry-Railway Suppliers (IRS) announced it had signed an official agreement with Milwaukee®, becoming an authorized distributor of Milwaukee tools to the railroad industry. Milwaukee Tool brings a large line of maintenance-of-way solutions and tools to the industry, including cordless and corded heavy-duty power tools, hand tools, job kits, and more. “We are ecstatic to offer the railroad industry a large line of Milwaukee battery-powered tools, and for the future development of specialized rail products with a world-class partner aimed toward achieving customer safety, ergonomic and sustainability goals,” said Scott Commo, President, Industry-Railway Suppliers.
The NRC is a trade association representing businesses from across the nation in the rail construction and maintenance field. NRC members 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