RSI Annual Report 2009 - Railway Supply Institute

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18 2009 RSI Capitol Hill rail track, intermodal facilities, rail yards, locomotives or other rail infrastructure expansion projects. All businesses, including railroads, ports, shippers, and trucking companies, would be eligible for the credit. Examples of qualifying capacity: Expanding investments include adding new track to existing right of ways; adding or extending new sidings or spurs to existing right of ways; constructing new intermodal or transload facilities; and new technology-based expansion, including signaling in dark territory. New locomotives would qualify only if they increased the total horsepower of a carrier’s locomotive fleet. Finally, all freight rail infrastructure capital expenditures would be eligible for expensing treatment. Short Line Tax Credit Extension H.R. 1132 and S. 461 would extend the short line tax credit through December 31, 2012. Currently this credit creates an incentive for short line railroads to invest in track rehabilitation by providing a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar the railroad spends on track improvements; however it was to expire on December 31, 2009. Congressman. John Mica (R- Fla., at left), Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,listens to one rail industry employee during Railroad Day on Capitol Hill. High Speed Rail Earlier this year, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in an effort to move our nation toward economic recovery. ARRA provided $9.3 billion for high speed and intercity passenger rail, which included $1.3 billion for Amtrak and $8 billion for the development of high speed rail. Additional funds have been approved by the House in their version of FY 2010 DOT Appropriations with $4 billion designated for high speed rail and $1.5 billion for Amtrak. Finally, the House T & I Committee released its version of a Surface Transportation Bill, which would provide $50 billion over six years for high speed rail corridors. This massive infusion of capital money for high speed rail provides the potential for revitalizing the U.S. manufacturing sector if it is done in the correct way. FY2010 DOT Appropriations RSI supports the following for Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Transportation Appropriation Levels: High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (including $50 million for HSR R&D): $4.0 billion Amtrak: $1.84 billion Rail Safety Technology Grants (Would provide Funding for PTC): $100 million Rail Line Relocation: $40 million National Infrastructure Investment Grants (extension of TIGER Grants): $1.1 billion MAJOR LEGISLATIVE INTERESTS, SECOND SESSION, 111th CONGRESS Surface Transportation Bill (SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization) The 2005 “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU), approved by Congress and signed by then President Bush in August 2005, authorized $286.5 billion in federal investment for the highway, public transportation and highway safety programs from fiscal years (FY) 2004-09. The law expired on September 30, 2009. The House and Senate have so far passed two extensions of SAFETEA-LU. The second was set to expire on December 18, 2009.
Issues that fall under this larger bill: ■ Section 130 Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Program ■ Truck Sizes and Weight Section 130 Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Program Since 1973 Congress has provided dedicated funding for states to implement safety improvement projects at highway-rail grade crossings. This funding has been a part of every surface transportation act since 1973 and, at the urging of RSI, was continued in SAFETEA-LU at $220 million per fiscal year. The Chairman of the House T & I Committee, Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), has introduced his version of SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization titled, the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009. This bill would provide $500 billion in total transportation funding, with nearly $100 billion for public transportation and $50 billion for high-speed rail. Unfortunately, this bill terminates the Section 130 highway-rail grade crossing program $220 million set aside over two years and consolidates the funding and its authority into the Highway Safety Improvement Program thereby forcing it to compete with 21 other major highway safety programs for limited federal safety dollars. RSI has joined a coalition with groups such as AAR, ASLRRA, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, and others to combat this change in the Section 130 program by supporting H.R. 2125, the Surface Transportation Authorization Act. H.R. 2125 would extend the longstanding and successful Section 130 highway rail grade crossing program and enhance project prioritization requirements. Without a budgetary set-aside like the Section 130 program, grade crossing needs would fare poorly in competition with more traditional highway needs (such as highway construction and maintenance. If incorporated in the next surface transportation act (SAFETEA-LU reauthorization), the provisions of H.R. 2125 would RSI Supports Operation Lifesaver 19 2009 RSI Annual Report RSI is a cofounder and longtime supporter of Operation Lifesaver (OLI), the nationwide volunteer organization dedicated to reducing crashes at highway rail grade crossings. With chapters in 49 states, OLI’s look, listen, and live message has been a major factor in reducing the number fatalities associated with highway-rail grade crossing crashes and trespassing. OLI enjoys broad support from Congress, the Department of Transportation, individual states, the railroad and railway supply industries, law enforcement agencies, the trucking industry and other highway safety organizations. Operation Lifesaver and the federal Section 130 grade crossings improvement program have combined to create educational programs that have saved lives. Since its creation is 1985, RSI members have donated their time and more than $500,000 to Operation Lifesaver. 2009 Contributors American Railcar Industries, Inc. Chicago Freight Car Leasing Co. Diesel Electrical Equipment, Inc. Ebenezer Railcar Services GLNX Corporation The Okonite Company PHW, Inc. Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc. (RSSI) Strato, Inc. Union Tank Car Company
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RSI Annual Report 2009 - Railway Supply Institute

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