Law Section Feature
PUBLIC UTILITY CROSSINGS AND THE MODEL UTILITY STATUTE
Matthew J. Hammer Daley Mohan Groble, P.C. Secretary - Law Section
Railroads Are Facing Increases in Applications to Cross Their Rights-of-Way
2020's COVID-19 lockdowns, quarantines, and isolation orders ushered in new eras of education, employment, and entertainment. From e-learning, to zoom meetings, to streaming service binge watching, the "new normal" promises an increased reliance on fast, dependable internet connections to learn, work, and play. The past several years already had seen record installation of fiber facilities for 5G service, wireless networks, and direct broadband connections to homes, businesses, and other institutions, and there are no signs deployment will slow in the near future. Billions of dollars have been spent and billions more have been pledged to support broadband expansion. Even as COVID-19 restrictions subside, one of the pandemic's lasting effects will be an increased reliance on the internet.
What does this mean for the rail industry? Railroads face a dramatic increase in public utilities, such as telecommunications companies and cable television providers, seeking to cross railroad rights-of-way. This is driven in large part by the push to expand broadband service and to introduce 5G service, especially into underserved and rural areas. To serve these areas, the broadband industry is aggressively installing new fiber optic cables that often have to cross or laterally occupy a railroad's right-of-way, creating a conflict between the railroad's property interest and the provider's need to expand its service.
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Save the Date! 2020-21 Executive Forum
 For 2020, ARDA will be focusing our effort and events around the theme of "Building Your Network." The Executive Forum will take place virtually this year.
Registration: Registration for the 2020 Executive Forum will open soon. Keep an eye for out an email announcement and more information on the ARDA website.
If you have any questions regarding the 2020 Executive Forum, please contact Ashley Riecken at [email protected].
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Sponsor ARDA in 2020-21
First, a big thanks to all of ARDA's 2019-20 sponsors who supported our effort to Build on our Foundation this past year! Your contributions were critical to putting together the Executive Forum in Charleston and the virtual Annual Meeting.
2019-20 ARDA Sponsors
Platinum
Bartlett & West
CN
CSX Corporation
HDR
Norfolk Southern
Gold
AECOM
BNSF
Canadian Pacific
RailPros Field Services
Kansas City Southern
LJA Rail
Silver
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway
TRC
JLL
GEI Consultants
TerraPact
Bronze
Antea Group
Daley Mohan Groble
Kelly Hart
RJ Corman
Bergmann
RMI
VAA
Looking forward to our 2020-21 membership year - ARDA offers companies the opportunity to sponsor the association on an annual basis, or by specific events at our Annual Meeting and Executive Forum. Multiple levels of Annual Sponsorship are available for your consideration. Corporate commitments greater than $1,000 also include complimentary individual memberships to ARDA.
If you have any questions or would like to sponsor ARDA in 2020-21 please contact Ashley Riecken at [email protected] or 812-205-5096.
| Annual ARDA Sponsorships |
Amount
| Bronze Level
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$1,000 - $2,999
| Silver Level
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$3,000 - $4,999
| Gold Level
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$5,000 - $7,499
| Platinum Level
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$7,500+
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Renew Your ARDA Membership for 2020-21!
Membership renewal information was distributed in September 2020.
Your renewed membership allows ARDA to continue fostering the industrial, real estate, natural resources, market development activities and environmental concerns of the North American railroads through the advancement of ideas and education of its members. Members also receive discounted registration rates at ARDA events, including a $200 discount on the Annual Meeting!
If you are not an ARDA member and would like to join, please visit our registration page.
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2020-21 ARDA Board of Directors
President: Mike Ray, BNSF Railway Company
First Vice President: Devin Sprinkle, CN
Second Vice President: Matt Cangiolosi, CSX Transportation, Inc.
Treasurer: Alanna Strohecker, AECOM
Secretary: Chris Ingraham, NS Corp.
Past President: Doug Morrison, HDR, Inc.
For more information, visit the ARDA website or contact:
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The American Railway Development Association (ARDA) is a not-for-profit educational trade association founded in 1906 to promote Economic Development, Real Estate Development, Technology, and Environmental Activities of the North American Railroads.
The objectives of the Association are to foster the industrial, real estate, natural resources, market development activities and environmental concerns of the North American railroads; and through the advancement of ideas and education of its members, further promote the effectiveness of railway development and related work.
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New Members since June
Shawn Zepper
Right of Way Agent II
HDR, Inc.
Michelle Martinson
Senior Rail Planner
HDR, Inc.
David Christphersen
CEO
SkyRights Holdings LLC
Trey Ward
CEO
Direct Connect Development Company
Christopher Harvey
TRC
Chelsea Wenhardt
Project Manager
TRC
Craig Neidermeier
Account Director
ERM
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In the News
Click to read about the BUILDS Act, a common-sense proposal that invests in local transportation and infrastructure needs in both rural and urban communities while also reducing our carbon footprint.
The article below includes video interview of BNSF's new CEO, Katie Farmer, providing an overview of BNSF's business and economic update for each segment of the US freight rail industry.
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