FALL 2019 MRA RAIL UPDATE A publication of the Michigan Railroads Association Photo Courtesy of Kyle Korienek Kyle of Courtesy Photo EVERY WEEK IS RAIL SafetY WEEK KEEPING PEDESTRIANS & DRIVERS SAFE AROUND RAILROAD TRACKS hile the number of commuter will hear one approach, crossing collisions, MILE especially if wearing headphones. Wdeaths and injuries Pedestrians are not the only ones has dropped over the past five IT caN take 1 who need to be careful, drivers decades, it’s still a startling fact also need to play it safe behind that about every three hours in the wheel at rail crossings. The the U.S., a person or vehicle is hit force of a train hitting a car is by a train. equivalent to that of a car hitting There are countless reasons to a soda can. never walk, run or play on rail MORE THAN Rail accidents involving vehicles tracks and rail property. Most and pedestrians are almost people don’t know it can take always preventable — and more than a mile to stop a train everyone has a responsibility to — the equivalent of about 18 be safe around railroad tracks. football fields. That makes it ONE MILE That is why railroads dedicate difficult if not impossible for a significant time and energy train to stop if someone is on the See tracks? Think train! reaching out to communities, with tracks. TO STOP THE traiN. rail safety education at the heart Trains are also deceptively of this effort. quiet. Even when standing on SeeTracksThinkTrains.org From providing lesson plans and a rail platform it is unlikely a educational toolkits to teachers CONTINUED ON page 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT IN THIS ISSUE e continue to Sen. Dale Zorn introduced SB364 earlier this year have valuable and the Senate Transportation & Infrastructure Moving Michigan . 3 Wconversations Committee approved the legislation early this with legislators and Gov. fall on a 9-0 vote. The bill would create an 80%- RSW 2019 . 4 Whitmer’s administration 20% program with MDOT contributing 80% of a regarding a new Local grade separation project and local units, private Jon Cool, President Grade Separation Program sources, railroads and others contributing the Operation Lifesaver . 5 @MI_FreightRail administered by MDOT. The 20% portion. intent of this program is A strong and diverse coalition of supporters Tours . 5 to find a solution to some of Michigan’s most has been involved during this process. From law congested rail crossings. enforcement and firefighter groups to a school Identify Your Crossing . 6 CONTINUED ON page 2 Fall 2019 MRA RAIL UPDATE 1 EVERY WEEK IS RAIL SafetY WEEK CONTINUED FROM page 1: KEEPING PEDESTRIANS & DRIVERS SAFE AROUND RAILROAD TRACKS Senators Lucido, Nesbitt & Schmidt signing CN Safety Pledge. and conducting on-campus visits for college students to meeting with community leaders and law enforcement, railroad employees are active in the neighborhoods where they work and live, sharing their rail safety knowledge. Senators Schmidt, Hertel & Bullock signing CN Safety Pledge. Railroads also support Operation Lifesaver Inc. Railroads and their safety partners are becoming (OLI), a non-profit public safety education and HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO STAY SAFE increasingly creative in making sure their safety awareness organization dedicated to eliminating Always expect a train; freight trains don’t follow messages are seen and heard. To attract the risky behavior around rail tracks and crossings. published schedules. OLI reaches millions of people each year through attention of young sports enthusiasts, OLI in A typical freight train can take more than a mile safety presentations, training sessions, social Canada recently launched a virtual reality video to stop. media and special events held nationwide. campaign specifically geared to ATV riders who frequently ride near snow-covered railroad lines. OLI maintains a host of online safety tools The train you see is likely closer and faster- available for parents, photographers, bus drivers, Thanks to efforts like these, collisions and moving than you think. new drivers, bikers and the list goes on. OLI, incidents involving pedestrians, vehicles and The only safe place to cross the tracks is at a together with freight, passenger, commuter trains have declined in recent years. Railroads designated crossing. railroads and federal safety agencies, launched will continue their many efforts to promote Being on railroad tracks and property is not the “See Tracks? Think Train!” public safety safe behavior around rail tracks and crossings campaign and in 2017, OLI inaugurated National to reduce these incidents, but they cannot do it only dangerous – it’s illegal. Rail Safety Week. alone; we all have a role to play. Source: AAR CONTINUED FROM page 1: FROM THE PRESIDENT bus association, a major hospital and regional SB437, legislation from Sen. Wayne Schmidt that roadways. Every rail car carrying freight not only planning entity. We thank every group that has would create the Freight Rail Development and eliminates the need for 3 or 4 trucks hauling the joined our efforts to advocate for this public Preservation Act. The legislation would amend same amount on local streets and highways, but infrastructure measure. the State Transportation Preservation Act by also generates additional monies for purposes Please take a moment to call or write your state adding a competitive grant program for freight other than necessary road maintenance and legislator and Governor Whitmer’s office to voice railroads. repairs. your support for the Local Grade Separation This legislation would help Michigan’s railroads We look forward to working with Governor Program - SB364. better serve our key industries and would also Whitmer and legislative partners on these We also look forward to a committee hearing on help move more freight by rail - instead of on our priorities. Fall 2019 MRA RAIL UPDATE 2 MOVING FeaturiNG GRAND ELK MICHIGAN Railroad he Grand Elk Railroad recently celebrated Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Elkhart, Indiana. its 10th anniversary by hosting excursion There are currently 53 team members working Ttrain rides for legislators, customers, and for the railroad, and they provide service to team members; giving them a unique view of the more than 50 customers. Initially moving 18,000 GRAND Michigan countryside. Not usually a passenger carloads the first year, the team has increased RAPIDS line, the railroad typically carries commodities that number to more than 40,000 carloads. such as fertilizer, frac sand, paper, plastics and The Grand Elk Railroad team plays an active part stone on its 123 miles of track. The railroad began in the community by supporting various charities operations in March 2009, on track leased from in the towns in which they operate. Team the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS). In addition to members also work with local law enforcement the NS, the Grand Elk also interchanges with two officials to increase awareness of rail safety other Class I railroads: CSX Transportation and by hosting “Officer on the Train” events with CN. Operation Lifesaver. The railroad’s name is a combination of the Watco Companies, which operates 43 short lines OTSEGO names of the two cities at each end of the line, around the U.S, started the Grand Elk as their KALAMAZOO SCHOOLCRAFT WHITE STURGIS PIGEON JCT. ELKHART GDLK locomotive 4017 near Wayland. Photo courtesy of GDLK. (L-R) Sen. Aric Nesbitt and Kirk Small – GDLK enjoying an Grand Elk locomotive 501 heading south over the St. Joseph river in Three Rivers. October excursion train tour. Photo courtesy of GDLK. Photo courtesy of Jonathon Leese. Fall 2019 MRA RAIL UPDATE 3 MOVING FeaturiNG GRAND ELK Railroad MICHIGAN CONTINUED FROM page 3 20th railroad in 2009. Watco has close to 5,000 employees and 88 terminals. Watco Companies is a privately held company EMPLOYEES 53 MAJOR out of Pittsburg, KS. COMMODITIES “Our future growth plans for the Grand Elk ROUte MILES 123 FertiliZER Railroad will be predicated on our Customers... frac SAND we want to service their needs first, and this will REGIONAL HEADQUarters lead us into new opportunities for the future. In paper addition, transloading from truck to rail will be a Kalamazoo, Michigan key driver for our success, as we look for organic plaSticS growth in underserved Michigan markets.” CONtact STONE Kirk Small, MBA - Commercial Manager GDLK. Chadd Thimesch, General Manager RAIL SafetY WEEK 2019 – MICHIGAN Rep. Brixie signs CN Safety Pledge at RSW kickoff. Rep. Julie Brixie speaks at RSW kickoff in East Lansing. nnually the railroad industry, law enforcement, public officials and many other partners highlight safety around rail crossings and rail right-of-way. We especially want to thank ARep. Julie Brixie and ASMSU President Mario Kakos for speaking at the East Lansing kickoff event at the Amtrak station. Rep. Mary Whiteford also spoke at an event in Bangor highlighting rail safety efforts. We truly appreciate legislative involvement to help highlight Rail Safety Week. Officer Brian Poynton - Amtrak and Rep. Mary Whiteford at the RSW kickoff in Bangor. Fall 2019 MRA RAIL UPDATE 4 MICHIGAN OPERATION LIFESAVER UPDATE ail Safety Week (RSW) was held on the Foundation. The funds will be used for educating week of September 22, 2019 with a kick-off the public about trespassing safety and suicide Rat the Amtrak Station in East Lansing. The prevention using public service announcements outreach emphasized prevention efforts against and signage. trespassing, especially in the area of schools. In addition, the Posner funds will promote the RSW also warned photographers to not use awareness of the new Emergency Notification OFFICER ON THE TRAIN railroads as backgrounds to glamorize pictures, System (ENS). The blue signs are required to be letting them know that using rail property is an posted at all crossings across the nation by FRA act of trespassing. rules. The signs feature an emergency number The Lake State Railroad set up an ‘Officer on the to call in the event of a vehicle is stalled on the Train’ (OOTT) ride for RSW travelling from Flint crossing.