Minooka, IL - On December 4, 2015, U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member - Colo Railroad Builders - for a tour of their new facility in Minooka, IL.

Attendees included:

Mr. M.D. (Mike) Stolzman, CEO of Colo Railroad Builders
Mr. Conrad McMillin, General Manager - Northern Region, at Colo Railroad Builders
Mr. Travis McCormick, General Manager - Southern Region, at Colo Railroad Builders
Ms. Rachel Burns, Director of Marketing and Sales at Colo Railroad Builders
Mr. Freddy Cordero, Controller at Colo Railroad Builders
Ms. Shirley McCoy, Director of Human Resources at Colo Railroad Builders
Mr. Pat Brennan, Mayor of Minnoka, IL
Ms. Jessica Barr, Chief of Staff for State Rep. John Anthony (R-Joliet)
Mr. O.J. Stoutner, Legislative Aide for State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris)
Mr. Patrick Doggett, Field Representative for Congressman Kinzinger
Ms. Lindsey Collins, VP of Grassroots Advocacy at NRC

Mr. Stolzman gave an overview of Colo Railroad Builders and their current operations. Since 1979, Colo has been a leader in new track construction rehabilitation and maintenance for railroads and private industry. Colo's capabilities and services include: production of rail and tie gangs; production surfacing; new construction; track rehabilitation; panel turnout construction and installation; track inspection and reporting; tailored maintenance programs; and track pick-up and removal. Colo also maintains a fleet of over 200 pieces of specialized equipment from spikers to tampers to cranes. Colo primarily serves the greater Midwest, but their operations extend across the United States. Their corporate offices are in Houston.

Mr. Stolzman led a tour of Colo's new facility, which was recently relocated from Romeoville, IL. The facility, which opened in August of this year, has a 2,000 square foot office and a 4,000 square foot shop, and employs 35 people. It is estimated to bring in $12 million of the Houston-based company's $30 million in revenue this year.

Attendees discussed the importance of extending the 45G tax credit, which leverages private sector investment in rail infrastructure by providing a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar spent on track improvements. The Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, also known as H.R. 721, was introduced in February, and has over 50 percent co-sponsorship in the House with 247 co-sponsors, including Congressman Kinzinger. H.R. 721 would extend section 45G of the tax code which expired at the end of last year.

"Thank you to the team at Colo Railroad Builders for a fantastic tour of their new facility in Minooka. Rail transportation is important to the entire state of Illinois, and Colo's operations will benefit not only the immediate region, but the entire 16th district," said the Congressman. "I was glad to speak with them about this week's passage of the first long-term surface transportation bill in ten years, and how it will improve our nation's rail infrastructure, enhance rail safety, accelerate rail project delivery, and leverage innovative financing."

Congressman Kinzinger was first sworn into the United States House of Representatives in January 2011. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee during the 113th Congress. Kinzinger serves as a Deputy Republican Whip. At the age of 37, he is one of the youngest Members of Congress and was named one of Time Magazine's 40 under "Rising stars in American politics."

Lawrence, KS - On November 9, U.S. Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS-02) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member - Brown Industries, LLC - for a tour of their facility.

Attendees included:

Mr. David Price, CEO of Brown Industries, LLC
Mr. Dane Jennison, President of Brown Industries, LLC
Mr. Stuart Seeger, Director of Rail at Brown Industries, LLC
Mr. Brett Agnew, Plant Manager at Brown Industries, LLC
Mr. Ryan McCune, President of ASM Engineering Consultants
Mr. Mike Murphy, Business Development Leader at Bartlett & West
Ms. Kate Webb, Controller at Coreslab Structures
Mr. Jerry Darnaby, Insurance Broker, Cretcher Heartland
Ms. Lindsey Douglas, Director of Northern Region Public Affairs, Union Pacific
Ms. Diane Stoddard, Assistance City Manager, City of Lawrence
Mr. Lee Modesitt, District Representative for Congresswoman Jenkins
Ms. Lindsey Collins, VP of Grassroots Advocacy at the NRC

Mr. David Price gave an overview of Brown Industries and their current operations. Brown is a manufacturer of cargo vans and HyRail Maintenance of Way equipment headquartered in Lawrence with a satellite plant in Henderson, CO. Brown builds approximately 750 custom trucks per year, 10 percent of which are sold directly to Kansas-based clients.

Brown was founded in 1946 in Spokane, WA, and moved to Lawrence in 1975. In 2008, Brown added a rail division. Since 2013, the company has nearly doubled in revenue and has added almost 20 new employees. The Lawrence plant employs 72 people.

The Congresswoman and guests went on a walk-through of Brown's facility at which Brown builds track inspectors, heavy duty track inspectors, material handlers, and custom rail equipment. Brown's engineers fit trucks with Hi-Rail gear to meet or exceed Federal Rail Administration regulations. Their Material Handlers have crane lift capacities from 4,500 to 16,000 pounds, and boom lengths ranging from 22 to 30 feet. Custom crane trucks can lift up to 138,000 pounds with boom lengths of 140 feet.

"It was great to tour Brown Industries and hear first-hand from folks about their priorities so that I ensure they are my priorities," said Congresswoman Jenkins. "Small businesses like Brown Industries, and so many others in the rail industry world, are part of the lifeblood of Kansas and American economies. I am proud to champion their cause in Washington through items like my Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act legislation promoting the 45G tax credit. I will continue to fight to ensure that these rail industry businesses have the opportunities they need to grow and compete in an increasingly competitive marketplace."

Attendees thanked Congresswoman Jenkins for her leadership regarding an extension of the 45G tax credit, which leverages private sector investment in rail infrastructure by providing a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar spent on track improvements. The congresswoman introduced the Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, also known as H.R. 721, in February. The bill already has over 50 percent co-sponsorship in the House with 246 co-sponsors. H.R. 721 would extend section 45G of the tax code which expired at the end of last year.

Congresswoman Jenkins is serving her fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was reelected by her colleagues to again serve as the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference during the 114th Congressional session, making her the fifth-highest ranking member in House Republican Leadership. Congresswoman Jenkins serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, the chief tax writing committee in the House of Representatives, on both the Health and Trade Subcommittees.

Marysville, OH - On October 30, U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member - Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc. - for a tour of their track project at Heritage Cooperative.

Attendees included:

Mr. Gordon Webster, Project Engineer at Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc.
Mr. Tom Willhelm, Project Engineer at Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc.
Mr. Ben Swope, Safety Officer at Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc.
Mr. Bud Lykins, Foreman at Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc.
Mr. Tyrone Robinson, Foreman at Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc.
Mr. Eric Parthemore, President & Chief Executive Officer at Heritage Cooperative
Mr. Dave McIntosh, Project Manager at Heritage Cooperative
Mr. Travis Rowe, VP Marketing & Sales at Heritage Cooperative
Mr. Steve Davis, Regional Development Manager at CSX Transportation
Mr. Roger Orben, VP State relations at CSX Transportation
Mr. Roger Crate, President at Crates Excavating
Mr. Ray Yonkura, Chief of Staff for Congressman Jordan
Ms. Barbara Taylor, Deputy District Director for Congressman Jordan
Ms. Lindsey Collins, VP of Grassroots Advocacy at NRC

Mr. Webster gave an overview of Fritz-Rumer Cooke and their current operations. Fritz-Rumer Cooke is a railroad and general contractor based in Columbus, OH. The company was established in 1879 and has been in continuous operation for over 135 years. In that time, Fritz-Rumer Cooke has never failed to complete a project. They specialize in track design, track construction, track repair, track inspection and related services. They are family owned and operated, and the fifth generation of the Cooke family now manages the company. They serve customers throughout Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois.

Mr. Webster led a tour of Fritz-Rumer Cooke's project at Heritage Cooperative, a member-owned cooperative founded in 2009 which serves over 3,500 farmer members, and over 4,000 rural and urban customers. Fritz-Rumer Cooke designed and is currently constructing 11,457 feet of track to serve the new facility. The majority of the track consists of a 1.24-mile-long loop track to handle 90-car unit trains, and is one of only two such loop tracks in the state of Ohio at an agricultural complex. The track design avoided all wet lands on the project and includes a wye connection with CSX Transportation's mainline. This type of connection allows trains to enter and exit the facility in either direction, reducing delays at any nearby road crossings.

Heritage Cooperative broke ground May 14, 2014 for the Ag Campus and Research Farm. This state-of-the-art facility is being built on a 277 acre plot and will include an express unit grain terminal; a 30,000 ton dry fertilizer warehouse; and a 10,000 ton liquid UAN (nitrogen fertilizer) storage with 24/7 distribution. All of these commodities can be shipped/received by rail at the site.

"I always say that the Fourth District grows things and makes things," said the Congressman. "Fritz-Rumer Cooke has played a big part in that, serving as an employer and manufacturer in Ohio for over 100 years, and now employing folks in our district to continue improving and advancing the railroad industry. I'm proud of the work they are doing in Marysville, and look forward to seeing the project at its completion."

Attendees discussed the importance of extending the 45G tax credit, which leverages private sector investment in rail infrastructure by providing a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar spent on track improvements. The Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, also known as H.R. 721, was introduced in February, and already has over 50 percent co-sponsorship in the House with 246 co-sponsors. H.R. 721 would extend section 45G of the tax code which expired at the end of last year.

Congressman Jordan serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on which he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs. He is serving as the first Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. As one of the most conservative members of Congress, his efforts have earned him recognition from Citizens against Government Waste, Family Research Council, and as Americans for Tax Reform's Friend of the Taxpayer. He was also the recipient of the 2012 Weyrich Award for National Legislator of the Year.

Paulsboro, NJ: On October 15, U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member - the Railroad Construction Co. of South Jersey (RCCSJ) - for a tour of their facility, and their project at the Port of Paulsboro.

Attendees included:

James J. Daloisio, President of RCCSJ
Christofer Daloisio, Vice President of RCCSJ
James A. Daloisio, Director of RCCSJ and Vice President of Railroad Constructors, Inc.
Paulsboro Councilman and Incoming Mayor Gary Stevenson
New Jersey State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney
Gloucester County Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli
Lindsey Collins, Vice President of Grassroots Advocacy, NRC

Mr. James J. Daloisio gave an overview of RCCSJ and their current operations. RCCSJ offers a wide range of services to their customers including track design, drafting, and layout; emergency track repair; track inspection, maintenance, removal, and rehabilitation; high production tie and rail gangs; grade crossing installation and rehabilitation; and more. RCCSJ serves the Greater Philadelphia region, including New Jersey, Delaware, and Eastern Pennsylvania. RCCSJ has been family owned and operated since its founding in 1969.

The Congressman and guests went on a walk-through of RCCSJ's facility, which has over 14 acres of storage yard, a 60,000 square foot warehouse, a 13,000 square foot mechanic's garage, 20,000 square feet of covered storage, a fully equipped training facility, and a new office building.

At the Port of Paulsboro, Congressman Norcross and guests learned about the construction of a new marine terminal at which 14,000 feet of new track and nine turnouts are being built.

"This investment in infrastructure in South Jersey is an investment in our future. The trains that will travel these rails will literally deliver new jobs and economic growth to this region, and that's something we all welcome," said the Congressman.

Attendees discussed the importance of extending the Positive Train Control (PTC) deadline to avoid serious consequences and costs for not only companies directly affected by the railroad industry, but also for the local and national economies. In 2008, Congress mandated railroads to install PTC on lines that carry passengers and/or toxic by inhalation gas, such as chlorine and anhydrous ammonia. The deadline for installation is December 31, 2015.

Attendees also discussed extending the 45G tax credit, which leverages private sector investment in rail infrastructure by providing a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar spent on track improvements. The Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, also known as H.R. 721, was introduced in February and already has over 50 percent co-sponsorship in the House with 243 co-sponsors. H.R. 721 would extend section 45G of the tax code which expired at the end of last year.

Congressman Donald Norcross represents New Jersey's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he sits on the Armed Services Committee and the Budget Committee. He previously served in the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly. An electrician by trade, Norcross is a former president of the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO. He and his wife Andrea are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two.

Garrison, KY: On October 20, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Field Representative Shane Noem joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member - TRAM Construction - for a tour of their facility in Garrison, Kentucky.

Attendees included:

Terry LeMaster, Founder and President of TRAM Construction
Leslia LeMaster Wilson, Operations Manager at TRAM Construction
Lindsey LeMaster, Business Development Manager at TRAM Construction
State Senator Steve West (R-27)
State Senator Robin Webb (D-18)
State Rep. and Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins (D-99)
State Rep. Jill York (R-96)
Anthony T. Ruckel, Lewis County Judge Executive
John Grabill, Lewis County Chamber of Commerce
Lindsey Collins, Vice President of Grassroots Advocacy, NRC

Terry LeMaster gave an overview of TRAM Construction and their current operations. TRAM is a family owned and operated contracting company that provides track services and railroad materials for the private and public sectors. TRAM currently has 25 employees, and has served clients throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States for over thirty years.

Terry's introduction to the railroad construction business began with Chessie System where he worked as a camp car cook. His career progressed, and it was during his time working as a foreman that he saw a need to provide local industries with track repairs and maintenance. He did so on nights and weekends, and quickly developed a reputation for providing quality work. In 1983, Terry was awarded a contract from Mead Paper Company, and the dream of owning his own business became a reality.

Shane Noem and guests went on a walk-through of the facility, where TRAM maintains a large inventory of relay rail and other railroad track material. This material is received by rail car at the Garrison, KY location, where it is sorted to use for future track projects or processed and sold as piling or scrap to local foundries.

Attendees discussed the importance of extending the Positive Train Control (PTC) deadline to avoid serious consequences and costs for not only companies directly affected by the railroad industry, but also for the local and national economies. In 2008, Congress mandated railroads to install PTC on lines that carry passengers and/or toxic by inhalation gas, such as chlorine and anhydrous ammonia. The deadline for installation is December 31, 2015.

Attendees also discussed extending the 45G tax credit, which leverages private sector investment in rail infrastructure by providing a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar spent on track improvements. The Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, also known as H.R. 721, was introduced in February and already has over 50 percent co-sponsorship in the House with 241 co-sponsors. H.R. 721 would extend section 45G of the tax code which expired at the end of last year.

Mitch McConnell is the Senate Majority Leader. Elected to that position unanimously by his Republican colleagues in 2014, he is only the second Kentuckian to ever serve as Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate. He previously served as the Republican Leader in the 110th, 111th, 112th, and 113th Congresses, and as the Majority Whip in the 108th and 109th Congresses. Before his election to the Senate in 1984, he served as judge-executive of Jefferson County, KY for seven years. McConnell is Kentucky's longest-serving senator. He currently serves as a senior member of the Appropriations, Agriculture and Rules Committees.

Spokane, WA - On September 22, 2015, U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05) joined Railway Engineering Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) and National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member L.B. Foster Company for a tour of their concrete tie manufacturing facility.

Attendees included:

Steve Burgess, President, CXT, Inc., and Vice President of Concrete Products, L.B. Foster Company
Jeff Kondis, Manager of Corporate Marketing, L.B. Foster Company
Sean Winkler, Grassroots Coordinator, REMSA
Lindsey Collins, Vice President of Grassroots Advocacy, NRC
Ross Lane, Regional Director of Public Affairs, BNSF Railway
Ken Lucht, Director of Government Relations, Watco Companies
John Pollack, Vice President of Marketing, Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad Co.
Neal McCulloch, Vice President of Railroad Services, Shannon & Wilson
Josh Austin, Area Manager, RailWorks Track Systems

Mr. Burgess gave an overview of L.B. Foster and their current operations. L.B. Foster supplies infrastructure products and services for major transportation, construction, and energy and utility projects in the U.S. and around the world. Specializing in rail products, among other industries, L.B. Foster employs approximately 100 people at their Spokane facility, which they acquired from CXT Inc. in 1999.

In her opening remarks, the Congresswoman stated, "is critical that manufacturers thrive in our community. I will continue to advocate for a smaller and more effective government and work with local organizations, like L.B. Foster, to create opportunities and jobs right here in the Spokane region."

Attendees discussed the importance of extending the Positive Train Control (PTC) deadline to avoid serious consequences and costs for not only companies directly affected by the railroad industry, but also for the local and national economies. In 2008, Congress mandated railroads to install PTC on lines that carry passengers and/or toxic by inhalation gas, such as chlorine and anhydrous ammonia. The deadline for installation is December 31, 2015.

Attendees also thanked the Congresswoman for her support of the 45G tax credit. The Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, also known as H.R. 721, was introduced in February and already has over 50 percent co-sponsorship in the House with 237 co-sponsors. H.R. 721 would extend section 45G of the tax code which expired at the end of last year.

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee. She is the Chair of the House Republican Conference, the fourth highest-ranking Republican in the House, and the highest ranking woman in Congress.

Fort Worth, TX - On 3/8/15, U.S. Congressman and Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Bill Shuster (R-PA-09) joined representatives from BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, HDR, Inc. and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of the Tower 55 project.

Upon his arrival, Congressman Shuster was greeted by representatives from HDR, including Senior Vice President, Global Director of Freight Railroads and NRC Board Member Scott Goehri and Vice President, Lucas Bathurst. HDR played a key role in the Tower 55 project by developing the preliminary plans, obtaining environmental clearances, and performing the engineering, design and permitting work.

Additionally the Congressman received a briefing on the project from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) Executive Chairman Matt Rose, VP of Government Affairs Amy Hawkins, Director of Engineering Services Brian Large and Union Pacific Railroad Director of Public Affairs Dan Harbeke.

Completed in September 2014, the $104 million Tower 55 project overhauled the nation's busiest rail intersection to more efficiently move freight and passengers both nationally and internationally. The four-way intersection sees about 100 trains per day and was known as one of the nation's biggest freight bottlenecks before this project.

During the driving tour of Tower 55, the Congressman had an opportunity to see various project elements including the new north-south main line that was constructed to accommodate additional capacity, volume growth, and mitigate train delays. In addition, the tour showcased the structural improvements to existing bridges and overpasses and the overhaul of at-grade public crossings and pedestrian access ways near downtown Fort Worth.

Georgetown, TX – On 5/5/15, U.S. Congressman John Carter (R-TX-31), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, joined representatives from Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX) and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for the debut of GREX’s rail tie inspection solution, Aurora Xi. The NRC organized the event.

Congressman Carter met with GREX’s executive team, including President & CEO Wiggie Shell, Vice President of Engineering Greg Grissom, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Business Management Tim Harris, and Emerging Technologies Developer Jeb Belcher. Additional attendees included NRC VP of Grassroots Advocacy & Events Ashley Bosch.

The event showcased GREX’s Aurora Xi technology, which advances track inspection by enabling railroads to see and understand what’s occurring inside their wood ties. Aurora Xi harnesses backscatter x-ray technology to reveal flaws in individual ties – everything from hollow sections caused by decay to the depth and size of cracks. Once the data from the backscatter x-ray is collected, Aurora Xi issues detailed reports so that railroads can better estimate the life of their existing ties and create accurate, efficient and cost-effective maintenance plans to replace them as needed.

“GREX is committed to providing railroads with the most cutting-edge inspection data streams to support resource prioritization, safety, and efficiency” said Greg Grissom.

“GREX is a perfect example of Central Texas innovation and small business success” said Congressman Carter. “The work being done by this industry leader will help to ensure the safety and future growth of Central Texas and our nation. I am proud of GREX’s pioneering drive and I look forward to seeing the creative and ground-breaking rail solutions they will come up with in the future. ”

Memphis, TN On 4/9/15, U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen (R-TN-09) joined representatives from Atlantic Track and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of Atlantic Tracks Memphis operations and facility. The NRC organized the event.

Upon his arrival, Congressman Cohen was greeted by Atlantic Tracks team including President Peter Hughes, Vice President of Engineering and Operations Jeff Grissom, Railroad Products Manager Pat Reilly, and Office Manager Laura Chitwood.

Additional attendees included NRC VP of Grassroots Advocacy & Events Ashley Bosch and University of Memphis Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute Professor Martin E. Lipinksi, Ph.D., P.E.

The Congressman had the opportunity to take a tour of Atlantic Track’s Memphis facility where they manufacture turnouts, special track work, transit rail products, compromise rails, movable bridge joints, track panels and more. Atlantic Track provides material for Class I and short line railroads, transit agencies, rail contractors, and end users in the U.S., Canada and worldwide.

With five Class I railroads, Memphis is one of the nation’s largest rail hubs. In order to meet the growing demand for quality rail products at home in Memphis and overseas, Atlantic Track plans to break ground this month to expand their Memphis facility. The new addition to their facility will house a $3.7 million state of the art machining center which will yield new jobs and economic activity in the area.

“I am pleased to see Memphis businesses like Atlantic Track expanding due to international demand” said Congressman Cohen. “Their success is creating good-paying jobs right here in the 9th District, and I enjoyed this opportunity to visit their facility.”

Congressman Steve Cohen is a member of the Judiciary Committee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.

Stockton, CA - On 4/8/15, U.S. Congressman Jerry McNerney joined representatives from the Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad (STE), OmniTRAX and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of the ST&E's facility. The NRC organized the event.

Upon his arrival, Congressman McNerney participated in a meet-and-greet with ST&E and its customers, including Kinder Morgan/Watco Plant Manager Robb Johnson, Kinder Morgan/Watco Business Development Manager Steve Sheldon, Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers Operations Manager Armando Gutierrez, R & B Foods Plant Manager Ivo Shoguhn. Following the meet-and-greet, Congressman McNerney had the opportunity to take a locomotive ride and see the inner-workings to the locomotive cab and the businesses served by the ST&E.

Additional attendees included NRC VP of Grassroots Advocacy & Events Ashley Bosch and NRC Member A&K Railroad Materials Western Region Sales Manager Jeff Long.

ST&E provides freight rail service to the greater Stockton area, with their 25 miles of track connecting to the BNSF, Union Pacific, and the Central California Traction Company. ST&E supports the transportation needs of multiple industries that call Stockton home, including: agriculture, asphalt, cement, chemical transportation, food processing, lumber, steel, and many others. ST&E connects these industries to the national freight rail network and allows for local Stockton businesses to move their goods more safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.

Shortly after seeing the benefits that the ST&E provides to the local community, Congressman McNerney joined 136 of his House colleagues as a co-sponsor of H.R. 721, the short line railroad tax credit bill, which helps incentivize short line railroads such as the ST&E to invest as much as possible into their infrastructure.

Colton, CA - On 2/28/15, U.S. Congressman and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Jeff Denham (R-CA-10) joined representatives from HDR, Inc. and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of the Colton Crossing Rail-to-Rail Grade Separation project. The NRC organized the event.

Upon his arrival, Congressman Denham was greeted by representatives from HDR, including Senior Vice President, Global Director of Freight Railroads and NRC Board Member Scott Goehri, Senior Vice President, Transportation Group Area Manager Tom Kim, Federal Government Relations Coordinator Patrick Malone, and Vice President of Client Development Lisa Reece.

Additional attendees included NRC VP of Grassroots Advocacy & Events Ashley Bosch, San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) Board President Dennis Michaels, SANBAG Director of Project Delivery Garry Cohoe, SANBAG Chief of Legislative and Public Affairs Tim Watkins, City of Colton Mayor Richard Delarosa, City of Colton Mayor Pro Tem Frank Navarro, Former City of Colton Mayor Kelly Chastain and California State Assembly member Cheryl Brown.

The Colton Crossing is located where Union Pacific Railroad's (UPRR's) east/west tracks meet BNSF Railway's (BNSF) north/south tracks in Colton, California. To better serve freight and passenger movement in the region, a flyover structure was constructed to elevate the UPRR mainline tracks approximately 35 feet above the BNSF tracks. The lines serve as a main vein to/from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles and are used by Amtrak and Metrolink for passenger rail services.

The Congressman had the opportunity to see the flyover structure first-hand and gain insight on the stakeholders' collaborative efforts that helped deliver the project $100 million under budget and 8 months ahead of schedule. The project, as part of a public-private partnership, successfully met the tight schedule to qualify for US Department of Transportation's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant funding. Other funding sources included state bonds, the railroads, and Caltrans funding for environmental studies.

"The success of the Colton Crossing Flyover Project is a result of the superb collaboration among all stakeholders and the project team" said Goehri. "Everyone, locally and nationally, will receive tremendous benefits as a result of this success."

"Colton Crossing's success has made transportation, travel, and goods movement easier on everyone in the region" said Denham. "The project is a great example of using innovative construction methods to deliver projects of national significance ahead of schedule and below predicted costs, and I was pleased to see it firsthand."