Rail suppliers, stakeholders show Rep. Kelly what “rocks” about the industry

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
image description
Bill Sanders, Ontario Trap Rock, with Rep. Robin Kelly in front of aggregate used for ballast.
NRC

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL-2) joined representatives from various segments of the rail industry on Aug. 29 to discuss policy and tour the Middle River Marine facility in Chicago.

Bill Sanders, regional sales manager, Ontario Trap Rock, led the tour of the Middle River Marine Facility, which is owned by Ozinga. Ontario Trap Rock, a division of the Tomlinson Group, provides aggregate to a variety of industries, including ballast to the rail industry. Ontario Trap Rock’s parent company Tomlinson offers an extensive network of more than 18 Canadian and U.S. ports, which give asphalt producers, pavement preservation contractors, and railway operators the confidence of timely and reliable deliveries.

“It was a pleasure to tour Ontario Trap Rock’s facility and see, first hand, the challenges and opportunities facing this important job-creating industry,” said Rep. Kelly.

Rep. Kelly’s district includes urban, suburban and rural areas of the Chicagoland area and, she shared with the group that her district is one of only two in the nation served by every Class 1 railroad.

Attendees also participated in a brief policy discussion about the importance of the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, which would grant shortline railroads a tax credit for infrastructure investment. Preserving trade was also discussed, as was the private nature of America’s freight railroad network and attendees also asked that current federal limits for truck size and weight be maintained.

Rail suppliers, stakeholders show Rep. Kelly what “rocks” about the industry

The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association and National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association coordinated the event.

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