NRC Updates and Announcements | | |
NRC Chairman’s Column: We’re Not Throwing Away Our Shot to Impact Rail Legislation and Programs
Chairman Daloisio’s column in the July issue of RT&S Magazine recounts his testimony in a Capitol Hill hearing in January and follow-up testimony by NRC Board Member Kevin Hicks, senior vice president of rail and freight-market sector leader at GFT. Both NRC leaders testified before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
“Being invited to the room where it happens – or at least to where what happens is considered – is a big responsibility, so we made sure we didn’t throw away our shot,” notes Joe in the July column. “We were grateful to go on the record with these concerns …”
In his testimony, Kevin represented the interests and experiences of railway contractors and suppliers regarding rail discretionary grant programs and related processes.
Check out Joe’s column recapping Kevin’s experiences and recommendations shared during his testimony: RT&S-NRC Chairman's Column: We're Not Throwing Away Our Shot to Impact Rail Legislation and Programs
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Register Now for NRC 2026 Conference: Start the new year full steam ahead at the railway construction's premier networking event. It is time to make your plans to attend the Annual NRC Conference & NRC-REMSA Exhibition on January 7-10, 2026 in Hollywood, Florida at the Diplomat Resort and Spa located at 3555 S Ocean Drive, Hollywood, FL 33019. The annual NRC Conference features a unique program agenda with chief engineers from the major freight railroads and other key speakers covering up-to-date topics of importance to the rail industry, including capital spending plans, rail projects of national significance, and railroad construction safety.
Registration: Click here to register. Take advantage of your member discount. NRC members receive a significant registration rate discount. Were you an NRC member in previous years and are unsure of your current status, or are you currently not a member? Then please visit https://www.nrcma.org/join-nrc for more information. If you have any questions about registration or your membership status please contact Marian Barreto at mbarreto@nrcma.org or call 202-975-0365. A registration fee table and schedule is below:
| | NRC 2026 Conference Registration Fees | | |
Sponsorship Opportunities: Keep an eye out. Sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming event will be opening soon, and we’d love to have your support this year!
Lodging: The NRC will offer a discounted room-block rate starting at $335/night at the Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Florida. All rooms must be guaranteed with a non-refundable deposit for the first night’s room and tax. In order to reserve a hotel room, you must be registered for the NRC conference. Information on how to book your room in our room block will be sent to you in your registration confirmation e-mail.
| | Exhibit Hall: Booth sales will open to all exhibitors today. For questions regarding exhibiting at the NRC-REMSA Exhibition and reserving your booth, please Click Here to learn more or email Heidi Baker at baker@remsa.org. An exhibit booth fee table and schedule is below: | | NRC-REMSA 2026 Exhibit Booth Fees | | |
Golf Tournament: The NRC's 2026 Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, January 9 with a shotgun start at 12 pm at the Jacaranda Golf Club courses, about a 30-minute drive from The Diplomat. Due to capacity constraints, we encourage early registration. The tournament registration fee includes carts, green fees, lunch, refreshments, as well as driving range, and putting green access prior to the shotgun start. Rental clubs must be reserved prior to December 12, 2025.Golf options and pricing will be detailed when you register.
Everglades Tour Event - NRC’s Everglades Experience at Everglades Holiday Park will be held on Friday, January 9th with transportation departing from the hotel at 12 PM. The Everglades Experience event includes round-trip transportation, boxed lunch, a thrilling airboat ride through the Florida Everglades, up-close wildlife encounters, and a live alligator show starring the Gator Boys from Animal Planet. This tour is perfect for all experience levels and promises an unforgettable day in one of Florida’s most iconic natural wonders, the Everglades! Spots are limited—RSVP is required
Questions? Please contact Marian Barreto at mbarreto@nrcma.org or click here to visit our website.
| | Scam Alert -We ask conference attendees to be vigilant of scams, including any solicitations via email that offer hotel deals or registration lists on behalf of the NRC. These groups are not affiliated with the NRC. Please check the NRC website or email NRC staff directly for the most up-to-date conference information. | | |
Tell Us How We're Doing. Complete the NRC Member Survey.
Please invest 10 minutes to share your opinions with us about a range of NRC events and services. Your response matters and will make a difference in the ways the NRC serves our members.
The NRC hasn’t sent out a survey about broader membership issues in several years. We’re counting on your participation and candid responses to help direct our future programming. Thank you for your time.
Click Here to Take The Survey
| | We’re excited to welcome Collin-Miller Construction to the NRC community! Based in Tennessee, their services include new track construction, track maintenance & rehabilitation and track inspection services. We look forward to their contributions to our growing network and the railway industry. | | The NRC 2025 Scholarship Program is Open. The Deadline is August 29, Apply Today! | | |
New Learning Center to Access NRC Safety Videos has Launched!
We’re pleased to share that the new NRC Learning Center on TopClass is now live and available to all NRC member companies. This online platform offers easy access to our full library of safety training videos, along with tools for companies to assign specific videos to employees and track their progress through certificates of completion. Developed to help foster a strong culture of safety, this resource was made possible through the work of the NRC Safety Committee and serves as a valuable member benefit. If your company would like to get started, please fill in the following form: Click Here for Form. We encourage you to share this update with your safety managers and training teams so they can take full advantage of the platform.
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NRC Promotes Barreto to Director of Operations
Congratulations to Marian Barreto on her well-deserved promotion to NRC Director of Operations. In her expanded role, she will manage day-to-day operations and key events.
“Marian has been an invaluable member of our team,” says NRC President Ashley Wieland. “She hit the ground running and has enhanced the quality and value of NRC programs and events for our members.”
Learn more about Marian’s accomplishments and her expanded role in this news release on the NRC website: NRC News - NRC Promotes Barreto to Director of Operations
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Federal Railroad Administration Releases Part 243 Compliance Guide
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released a helpful guide to assist railroads and contractors in complying with Part 243, which outlines training, qualification, and oversight standards for Safety-Related Railroad Employees. The rule ensures that employees performing safety-sensitive duties are properly trained and qualified, with responsibilities for oversight and recordkeeping falling on the employer.
To streamline compliance, FRA has launched a secure web portal for submitting training programs and accessing tools like OJT templates, job aids, and registration support. The guide also provides key highlights on employer responsibilities, including classifying SRREs, maintaining training records, conducting oversight, and ensuring completion of on-the-job training when required. Click Here to Read Compliance Guide
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USDOT Announces $488 Million in BUILD Grants for 30 Infrastructure Projects Nationwide
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $488 million through the BUILD grant program to support 30 infrastructure projects across the country. These projects aim to improve safety, reduce congestion, and stimulate economic growth through investments in roads, transit, rail, ports, and aviation. Roads and bridges received 77% of the funding. Nearly $3 million will support rail networks to enhance multimodal surface transportation. The grants were awarded to the most competitive proposals from over 800 applications, with funding evenly split between urban and rural areas. Each project was selected based on safety impact, readiness, and cost-effectiveness. To read the full list of projects, please click here.
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Industry News and Updates | | |
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to Create America's First Transcontinental Railroad.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have announced a historic agreement to merge, forming America's first transcontinental railroad with a combined enterprise value exceeding $250 billion. The transaction, valued at $85 billion for Norfolk Southern, aims to create a seamless 50,000-mile network across 43 states, enhancing freight movement, reducing transit times, and boosting economic competitiveness. The merger is expected to generate $2.75 billion in annual synergies, protect union jobs, and provide new career opportunities across the network. By uniting their infrastructure and technologies, the railroads will improve safety, service, and efficiency for customers, communities, and the broader U.S. economy. This landmark deal positions the new Union Pacific Transcontinental Railroad as a powerful engine for American manufacturing, trade, and supply chain resilience.
Federal Railroad Administration Terminates $4 Billion in Funding for California High Speed Rail Project
The U.S. Department of Transportation has terminated approximately $4 billion in unspent federal funding for the California High-Speed Rail project, citing mismanagement and failure to meet grant obligations. A Federal Railroad Administration compliance review found nine key issues, including funding gaps, missed deadlines, and unrealistic ridership projections, ultimately concluding California High-Speed Rail Authority could not complete the project as promised. Secretary Sean P. Duffy directed FRA to review additional grants and consult with the Department of Justice on possible legal actions. The agency will evaluate how unspent federal funds terminated can be reallocated to other passenger rail projects.
| | The NRC is a trade association representing businesses from across the nation in the rail construction and maintenance field. NRC members range in size from small family businesses to the largest companies in the industry. NRC members perform work for transit, commuter, intercity passenger, industrial, and freight rail customers, with services including track construction and maintenance, grade crossings, signal and communications installation, bridge construction and repair, rail yard work, and many more. The NRC strives to put an emphasis on rail safety and quality while proudly serving the rail industry | | | | |
