Association of American Railroads encouraged by Senate vote on STB reauthorization

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) said Friday it is encouraged by the U.S. Senate vote to approve the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015.

"The freight rail industry is encouraged that the Senate has acted on Surface Transportation Board reauthorization legislation and we congratulate the bipartisan leadership of Sens. (John) Thune (R-SD), (Bill) Nelson (D-FL), (Deb) Fischer (R-NE) and (Cory) Booker (D-NJ) on striking the right balance of preserving a market-based structure for shippers and railroads through this bill," AAR President and CEO Edward Hamberger said.

"This bill provides common-sense process improvements that will allow the STB to work more efficiently and, at the same time, recognizes the need for freight railroads to earn revenues that allow for billions of dollars in private spending each year to build, maintain and grow the nationwide rail network, so taxpayers don't have to,” Hamberger said.

AAR is the leading railroad research, policy, and technology organization in the world. The organization concentrates its efforts on the productivity and safety of rail carriers. Amtrak as well as main freight railroads throughout Canada, Mexico, and the US are part of the AAR’s membership.