Legislation introduced to enhance railroad rehabilitation credit
Shortline Shorts
Legislation introduced to enhance railroad rehabilitation credit
Legislation has now been introduced in the U. S. Senate comparable to H. R. 721, the U. S. House bill that was introduced on Feb. 14 to extend and enhance the Section 45G shortline railroad rehabilitation tax credit. The Senate bill, S. 411, was introduced Feb. 28 by Sen. Jay Rockefeller( D- W. V.).
The text of the Senate bill and its related information is available on the Library of Congress’ s federal legislative website. From the home page, search for bill number S. 411.
As with the House bill, the Senate bill proposes extending the tax credit through Dec. 31, 2016. It also proposes allowing new shortline railroads created after Jan. 1, 2005 and before Jan. 1, 2013 to be eligible to claim the tax credit.
The bill continues the credit cap at $ 3,500 per mile.
RJ Corman enters signal design business
Railroad industry convenes on Capitol Hill
R. J. Corman Railroad Group is entering the railroad signal system design, wiring, construction, maintenance and related business through its new company, R. J. Corman Signaling LLC. The company says that it is working on a new facility for the signal business in Nicholasville, Ky., and has identified a location for a second facility near Jacksonville, Fla.
Work in Kentucky is nearing completion. The second facility will help accelerate the company’ s early-stage growth in engineering and construction, said Vice President Mike Wilson, who is leading the new company.“ Our short-term plans include hiring more than 100 new employees to support engineering and the signal shop, although construction and maintenance demands will drive that number much higher.”
R. J. Corman President Craig King said that Wilson’ s background starting new ventures at United Railway Signal Group and 10 East Corp. made him the easy choice to lead the new company.
“ Mike joined our company earlier this year to help develop the business plan and strategy of this new segment of our business,” King said.“ His success with other business startups in the signaling discipline made him a good fit for building this new business in R. J. Corman fashion.”
OmniTRAX announces management changes
OmniTRAX recently announced several management changes.
Darcy Brede was appointed president and chief executive officer; Scott Bell was appointed interim chief financial officer; Peter Touesnard was appointed chief commercial officer; and Brad Marsh was appointed vice president of human resources of the Broe Group, an OmniTRAX affilliate.
In April, the company also announced that Jeff Lederer joined OmniTRAX as north divisional general manager. Before joining OmniTRAX, Lederer spent his entire career at BNSF Railway.
Hundreds of Class I, II and III railroaders, suppliers and customers were on hand March 14 in Washington, D. C., for Railroad Day on Capitol Hill.
According to Jeff Van Schaick of the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association’ s allied firm, Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell, participants made 352 congressional appointments, which resulted in a total of 2,547“ handshakes.”
The day began at the Renaissance Washington, D. C., Downtown Hotel, with an early-morning briefing by Adam Nordstrom of Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell and Laurie Knight of the Association of American Railroads( AAR). Notable this year was a skit performed by( among others) Jeff Van Schaick of Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell and Kim Smith of Genesee & Wyoming that simulated a congressional visit and what makes such visits a success.
Attendees later had appointments in the U. S. Senate and U. S. House office buildings. The day concluded with a gala reception and dinner. U. S. Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari made remarks, as well as AAR President Ed Hamberger, ASLRRA Legislative Policy Committee Chair Ed McKechnie of Watco Companies, and ASLRRA President Rich Timmons.
Ken Koff was promoted to senior vice president – corporate development and Steve Ward was promoted to vice president – engineering, assuming the role previously held by Koff.
GWA Australian unit under new leadership
Greg Pauline has assumed leadership of Australian business as managing director of Genesee & Wyoming Australia Pty. Ltd.( GWA). GWA operates nearly 5,000 kilometers of railroad in south Australia and the Northern Territory, including the 2,200-kilometer Tarcoola-to-Darwin line that links the Port of Darwin to the interstate rail network in south Australia.
Pauline has worked in senior roles with three major Australian corporations in the past 24 years. He was most recently executive director of development and corporate affairs for Lend Lease Group’ s Infrastructure Services business.
Pauline succeeds Bert Easthope, who served as GWA’ s managing director for the past eight years.
Shortline Shorts is compiled from website reports, press releases and other external communications and does not represent the views of BNSF Railway.
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