
Letter from
Board Chair
Cindy Earhart
Norfolk Southern Corp.
Constituent participation — writing to Congress, meeting with a legislator, engaging on social media or publishing one’s views in the local newspaper — is playing an ever-growing role in the decision-making process in Washington today. Congress listens when constituents speak out.
This reality underscores why GoRail’s model of engaging local leaders across the country is so important. Via thousands of field meetings with key local influencers annually and a sophisticated media strategy, GoRail’s team is able to build the relationships that matter and then utilize these connections to impact policy decisions when it counts.
Letter From Cindy Earhart
Norfolk Southern Corp.
Constituent participation — writing to Congress, meeting with a legislator, engaging on social media or publishing one’s views in the local newspaper — is playing an ever-growing role in the decision-making process in Washington today. Congress listens when constituents speak out.
This reality underscores why GoRail’s model of engaging local leaders across the country is so important. Via thousands of field meetings with key local influencers annually and a sophisticated media strategy, GoRail’s team is able to build the relationships that matter and then utilize these connections to impact policy decisions when it counts.
Those of us in the rail industry know the freight rail story, but GoRail’s role is to bring it to the public — to spread the word that, as the nation’s only privately funded freight transportation mode, railroads pay their own way, investing billions of dollars each year in the people, technology, equipment and infrastructure that powers the American economy and has given the United States the safest, most efficient and productive freight rail system in the world.
This report provides an overview of GoRail’s 2017 accomplishments in telling this story. From educating new members of Congress to promoting balanced regulation to engaging first responders on the industry’s safety initiatives, GoRail is on the front lines, highlighting the industry’s positive impact every day.
Having served as a member of GoRail’s board since 2013, I have an appreciation for its fine work, as well as its commitment to ensuring that the organization continues to grow and succeed. I look forward to serving as chair of its board in 2018.
We could not convey the freight rail story without the thousands of community and business leaders; local, county and state officials; rail suppliers and contractors; and others who consistently support GoRail and have committed to speaking out about the public benefits of freight rail. Thank you.

Countering STB Reregulation Proposals
First introduced in 2016, rail regulation proposals under consideration at the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) — including “forced access” — threaten to undermine private rail investment, in turn jeopardizing safety and efficiency across the network. GoRail devoted much of its 2017 activities to countering these misguided policies.
- 457 local community, business, and government leaders signed a letter to the STB and Congress opposing forced access
- 1,660 letters from GoRail State Directors to key members of 32 state legislatures directly countered anti-rail messaging from reregulation proponents
- 1,200+ field meetings discussed how rail reregulation would harm communities
- 20+ earned media pieces published

Truck Size and Weight Activation
In response to the threat of Congress taking up heavier truck amendments during the appropriations process, GoRail launched its Action Center, prioritizing targeted constituent contacts to Congress as well as targeted op-ed placements.
- 2,100+ emails to 235 members of the House and 92 Senators opposing heavier trucks
- 6 op-eds published in targeted states

Building AskRail Awareness
To promote an updated AskRail app, GoRail prioritized education around the AskRail mobile app for first responders, as well as other railroad safety initiatives.
- Distributed AskRail information in 199 meetings with first responders and other community officials and organizations
- 16 safety-focused articles ran in first responder and local government publications, reaching an audience of over 500,000

Examining Intermodal
With the holidays approaching, GoRail focused its earned and social media efforts on intermodal and how it delivers for consumers, highlighting the important role of rail investments in building the intermodal network we enjoy today.
- 5 op-eds by GoRail advocates published
- Influential constituents sent over 30 tweets on intermodal and freight rail
Investments in #intermodal create efficiency gains that make US businesses more competitive in the global #economy. Learn more: https://t.co/RneqLJxKLU
— Virginia Chamber (@VAChamber) December 7, 2017
- 3January
- 2March
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