Omaha Track hosts Rep. Bacon for tour, policy discussion

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Rep. Don Bacon, left, during a tour of Omaha Track’s facility, which was led by the company’s President and Owner Terry Peterson, right.

Omaha Track, Inc., hosted U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-2) and local railroad officials on Aug. 2 for a facility tour and public policy discussion.

 

The event was coordinated by The Railway Engineering-Maintenance and Suppliers Association, which has nine member companies based in the state.

The tour was led by Omaha Track’s President and Owner Terry Peterson. During the visit, Rep. Bacon toured the new corporate office followed by a visit to the Omaha Track Equipment facility. Omaha Track Equipment custom builds, fabricates and maintains all types of maintenance-of-way equipment and specializes in hi-rail trucks, cranes and other products related to the railroad industry. Finally, he was able to see the Omaha, Neb., (WECO) yard, which houses approximately 25 percent of Omaha Track’s steel inventory.

“We are honored to host Congressman Bacon and share our Omaha success story and continued commitment to the region with him,” said Peterson. “Railroads invest tens of billions of dollars annually into their networks, supporting rail supply jobs across our country. It is critical that our policy makers understand rail’s importance to Omaha’s continued success and growth.”

Rep. Bacon is a retired Brigadier General with the United States Air Force and was elected to serve Nebraska’s Second District in 2016. He is currently in his first term and serves on the U.S. House Armed Services, Agriculture and Small Business Committees.

The group discussed the private nature of America’s freight railroad network and preserving fair and balanced regulation. Also discussed was the recent bipartisan and bicameral introduction of the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, which is cosponsored by Rep. Bacon and would make permanent the shortline maintenance credit, also known as 45G. The BRACE Act recently achieved the majority of sponsors in both the U.S. House and Senate.

“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to tour Omaha Track’s local operations and learn more about their small business success story,” said Rep. Bacon “I look forward to continuing to engage with those present today as we work together to create jobs, spur economic activity across the state, and ensure our communities are safely and efficiently served by freight and passenger rail service alike.”

Omaha Track, formerly known as The Tie Yard of Omaha, has operated in the area since 1983 and employs 250 across the organization with 170 employees based in the Omaha area. The company supplies track material to Class 1, shortline railroads, rail contractors and industries across North America.

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