News

Guest Comment: Critical period in truck size, weight issue as House considers legislation

From Rail News:

“Defenders of public safety are heading into a critical period in the truck size and weight national debate in Congress, and the rail industry should take notice.”

“The House of Representative’s Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I) recently unveiled its surface transportation reauthorization bill, named the INVEST in America Act. While the good news is there is no bigger truck language in this bill, the mark-up for the bill is scheduled for June 17 with the floor vote scheduled for July 1.”

Read the rest of the article here.

CSLRA June 2020 Newsletter

Members and friends of CSLRA: Below you will find a brief summary of the Association’s news and current plans for 2020. Watch our web site Activities page for event updates.

2020 CSLRA Annual Meeting
CSLRA’s next annual meeting, originally to take place in San Diego July 8 – 9, 2020, will be held online in an abbreviated format on July 8 from 1 PM to 3 PM PDT. The agenda will include updates on the State of California’s new Short Line Grant Program and current state/federal legislative issues affecting the CSLRA membership. Through the generosity of our sponsors, registration for the online meeting will be free. Thank you, sponsors!

GOLD SPONSORS
Pacific Harbor Line
SFBR/Republic Services
Stella-Jones Corp

SILVER SPONSOR: Union Pacific Railroad

Mark your calendar now! Virtual meeting information will be provided soon.

2020 CSLRA Fall Train Trip
November 11–13 , 2020
SAVE THE DATES! CSLRA’s fall train trip will be held aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train. Join us for beautiful scenery and a great meal aboard nicely-restored vintage passenger equipment. Details and registration information will be posted during Q3.

Update: House Committee Releases Infrastructure Bill with No Truck Size or Weight Increases

(Coalition Against Bigger Trucks, June 5, 2020) The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I) yesterday released its version of the surface transportation reauthorization bill and there were no increases in truck size or weight included. This comes on the heels of 82 Members of Congress signing a letter to T&I Chairman Peter DeFazio, asking that no bigger truck legislation be included.

The “Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act”, otherwise known as the INVEST in America Act, is expected to be voted on in the T&I committee June 17. A vote by the entire House has been scheduled for July 1.

Over the next two weeks, we expect supporters of both longer and heavier trucks to work to gather support for amendments that could be offered during committee mark-up or floor vote. We will keep you posted as we learn more.

But for now, this is very good news. Rest assured, CABT will do everything we can to keep the INVEST in America Act free of heavier and longer truck language.

Thanks!