Project Catalyst: An Economic Development Podcast | Episode 9: The Role of Railways in Economic Development with Brian Gwin of Norfolk Southern
Hosts Tushar and Tina welcome guest Brian Gwin, who serves as the Industrial Development Manager for Norfolk Southern and Chairman of the Board for the Southern Economic Development Council. Brian sits down with us for an...more
In the year since the East Palestine train derailment, rail safety has been a hot button issue in the United States. After the East Palestine derailment dominated news headlines in late February and March of 2023, there...more
In the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, the Texas Legislature in Senate Bill 3 (2021) required the Railroad Commission of Texas to adopt rules requiring certain pipeline facility operators to weatherize equipment in order to...more
The rapid onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 marked a challenging time for the country and, consequently, U.S. freight rail traffic. Manufacturing slowed, consumer purchasing patterns changed, and for many, shopping...more
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, H.R. 3684 (117), was signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021. In addition to $66 billion in funding for passenger and freight railroads, the law contains a number...more
The rail sector in Great Britain is about to experience the most significant structural change since privatisation. The Government is abandoning the current franchise-based model, in favour of a new “Passenger Rail Contract”...more
President Biden and a bipartisan group of Senators have agreed on a compromise infrastructure proposal that shows promise for garnering the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster, pass the Senate, and become law....more
Rail Regulatory and Policy - New European Commission’s Proposals - In the fall of 2021, the European Commission (Commission) expects to put forward a set of proposals covering intelligent transport systems (ITS),...more
ANTITRUST and COMPETITION - German Court asks ECJ About Review of Rail Station Fees - The Berlin Higher Regional Court has lodged a request for a preliminary ruling with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) concerning railway...more
ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION - Latvia’s Competition Authority Imposes €5.69 Million Fine on LDZ Cargo for Abusing its Dominance in Rail Freight Transport - On 3 February 2020, Latvia’s Competition Council (CC) fined state-owned...more
ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION - Belgium to Support Travel Sector With €30 Million - On 22 January 2021, the Belgian government announced new public support for rail. Starting in January 2021 and running through June 2021,...more
As noted in Part 1 and Part 2, during the presidential campaign, candidate Joe Biden called for "Sparking the second great railroad revolution." Biden pledged to "make sure that America has the cleanest, safest, and fastest...more
ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION - Rail sector receives €4.7 billion in France - On 3 September 2020, the French government announced its intention to provide a €4.7 billion financial support package for the rail sector. ...more
ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION - Commission approves German scheme compensating public transport companies - On 7 August 2020, the European Commission approved €6 billion in German state aid to compensate regional and local public...more
ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION - Achilles And Network Rail Infrastructure: A Second Court Trial On Antitrust Lawsuit - Achilles Information and Network Rail Infrastructure are expected to face a second court trial in 2021...more
The Subcommittee on Highways and Transit and Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials of the United States House of Representatives (“Subcommittee”) held a hearing on December 5th titled: Where’s My...more
On April 11, 2019, President Trump signed an Executive Order on Promoting Energy Infrastructure on Economic Growth which included provisions related to updating regulations linked to facilities which handle liquefied natural...more
The Port of Vancouver USA and its rail partners BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad have substantially completed a $251M railroad access improvement project which significantly increases rail access in the port. ...more
The Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”) has released its latest Positive Train Control (“PTC”) implementation progress report for the 2nd quarter of 2018. The FRA’s latest report indicates that railroads are making steady...more
After weeks of speculation and rumors, the Ford Motor Company announced its purchase and plan to invest over $1 billion into the Michigan Central rail depot in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood. Made public 115 years...more
• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the $1.5 billion in surface transportation grants provided by the FY 2018 Omnibus Appropriations legislation. • This...more
Wednesday, the City of Chicago selected two finalists in its procurement process for the planned O’Hare Express, a mass transit system that will connect downtown Chicago to O’Hare International Airport within 20...more
The Northern Lights Express intercity rail proposal, connecting Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota with a stop in Superior, Wisconsin, advanced forward following a Finding of No Significant Impact (“FONSI”) from the Federal...more
• The Trump Administration released an ambitious $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan on Feb. 12, 2018 – a plan that includes many provisions focused upon encouraging the reuse of contaminated brownfields and Superfund sites. ...more
In January 2017, Holland & Knight Transportation & Infrastructure lawyers and senior advisors prepared 20 posts for the 20 days leading to President Donald Trump's inauguration regarding what to expect from the Trump...more