WCGroup has renewed its call for completion of STB’s investigation of the state of competition in the Railroad Industry, specifically for non-captive, truck-competitive freight. WCGroup has requested a “Congressional Mandate” to STB to complete its pending investigation be added to the upcoming Highway Bill. The request is consistent with WCGroup Testimony in STB Dockets EP 704 and 705. Call for the mandate was presented to Reps. Reid Ribble and Bill Schuster at a transportation roundtable in Appleton, 10/3/2014. Rep. Ribble is a member, and Rep. Shuster is the Chair, of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, which is currently working on the next Highway Bill. The request was also presented to Senator Tammy Baldwin at a transportation roundtable at Sun Prairie, 9/4/2015. Sen. Baldwin is actively involved in Senate consideration of, and pending legislation on, rail transportation and competition issues.

For our Region, rail competitiveness for non-captive, truck-competitive freight – not only competitiveness of our serving railroads but also their Class I connections – is critical. Among the Class I, CN appears to be one of the more experienced and committed to competing for the variety of commodities, including merchandise freight, involved in the retail railroad our Region needs. The suggested mandate to STB is intended to bring this field of competitiveness to the attention of all of the North American Class Is and their shortline partners.