“My site visit to Northern Indiana – primarily Elkhart County – was designed to educate local stakeholders about the many public benefits of privately funded railroads, as well as the policy issues facing rail.

I began one of my days on the road by meeting with the mayor of Elkhart, during which we discussed pending re-regulation proposals at the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). The mayor was supportive, sending a letter to his representative and two senators. Similarly, a productive meeting with the Economic Development Corporation of Elkhart County yielded a letter on STB, a commitment to review a pro-rail op-ed and an invitation for GoRail to present at a manufacturing conference in 2019.

Still in Elkhart County, I then met with two county commissioners. One of these commissioners agreed to author an op-ed on the importance of international trade and this piece was later published in the local Elkhart paper. Rounding out the day, I traveled to the City of Mishawaka to connect with the mayor, who agreed to review a pro-rail letter to his members of Congress.”

"I started the Tuesday of my Portland site visit by meeting over coffee with the Portland Alliance, the city's Chamber of Commerce. After discussing our position on forced access, the Alliance expressed its interest in sending a letter on the issue to all seven members of the Oregon delegation. This came with the assistance of Union Pacific, which is also a member of the Alliance — a great example of how GoRail collaborates with the railroads to achieve results.



Next, in an effort to increase outreach to academia, I met with a professor at Portland State University’s School of Business. It was a great opportunity to build inroads with a transportation expert and educate him more on topics from forced access to infrastructure investment. He agreed to review an op-ed on re-regulation proposals pending at the Surface Transportation Board.

I then met with the Multnomah County HazMat Department to share useful information about the AskRail app, which they hadn’t heard of and really appreciated.

Last but not least, I met with the mayor of Oregon City in the afternoon. During a casual and frank discussion in the mayor’s screen-printing shop, we touched on issues from the economic regulation of rail to technology and safety. The mayor sent letters opposing forced access to the state’s entire congressional delegation within two days of our meeting."

"This week was split between visits to New York and Connecticut. On Wednesday, I began the day by speaking with a New York Assemblyman, an advocate who I had met earlier in the year. We discussed the expected confirmations of STB members and how a fully staffed board could weigh in on several pending re-regulation proposals. He agreed to send letters to his members of Congress and was able to get them out within the week.

Later, in Connecticut, I met with the City Manager of Coventry, who’s also on the board for CT Conference of Municipalities and past President of the CT Council of Small Towns. He did not take action on the spot but expressed an interest in keeping in touch; I hope to develop this relationship over time.

On the way to my next meeting, I drove past the Windham Chamber of Commerce and stopped in to say “hi” to an advocate who had signed the STB group letter in 2017. This visit prompted her to take a fresh look at letters I had shared with her earlier in the year — and to send them to her representative and both senators.

I then met with a state senator who serves on the transportation committee and as First Selectman for the Town of Sprague. She was very supportive of rail, noting her advocacy for upgrades to the New England Central line and its connection with the Port of New London via a TIGER grant. She followed GoRail on Twitter during our meeting and subsequently sent letters in support of balanced regulation."

"I started my Monday by meeting with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), during which they asked me to participate in a forum on export opportunities that Friday. The event – held for Michigan businesses, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and a few other Detroit-area economic development associations looking to export products – was a productive way to connect with new groups and highlight the relationship between rail and trade.

Later that day, I participated in a district meeting with Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-7) at the invitation of a Michigan manufacturer. We discussed several topics including rail intermodal and the importance of trade with Mexico. Rep. Walberg mentioned blocked crossings as his top rail concern and that he hopes to develop an intermodal facility in Monroe.

In the evening, I provided a transportation briefing to Haley Stevens, then a candidate for Congress in Michigan’s 11th district (she was elected in November). The briefing covered economic regulation, modal equity and NAFTA. Rep. Stevens is a major proponent of NAFTA and free trade, and she is very aware of freight rail’s importance to the automotive industry."