Industry Update

• Class I's to gain more business from crude-by-rail projects
  Canadian Pacific provides rail access to a crude-oil transload facility in New Town, N.D. The complex is undergoing a $50 million capacity expansion that will enable it to handle 120 tanker cars and increase throughput capacity from 30,000 barrels per day to up to 80,000 barrels. In Texas, GT Logistics and Twin Eagle Resource Management struck an exclusive marketing deal on crude-oil transloading services at the GT OmniPort facility in Port Arthur, which is served by BNSF and Union Pacific. ProgressiveRailroading.com (3/15), RailwayAge.com (3/15)     

• BNSF helps drive industrial growth in N.D.
  BNSF's operations in North Dakota are helping the state's economy to grow, particularly given the large quantities of crude oil shipments, says Ken Rogers. "The railroad has become an important player in North Dakota's crude oil business, as it was, and continues to be, for the state's farm economy," Rogers stated. "As western North Dakota becomes industrialized, the railroad has become a key industrial hauler." The Bismarck Tribune (N.D.) (3/16)     

• Beverley Swaim-Staley is WTS International's "Woman of the Year" for 2013
  ProgressiveRailroading.com (3/15)     

Infrastructure & Economic Spotlight

• White House report warns of obstacles to economic recovery
  While noting dangers ahead due to budget sequestration, the White House's annual report on the U.S. economy paints a generally bright picture, beginning with a resurgent housing market. However, "in the weeks and months ahead, sequestration will begin to disrupt basic functions of government on which Americans depend, from education to emergency first-response to airport security," the report said. The Wall Street Journal/Real Time Economics blog (3/15)     

• Factory-output increase signals rebounding economy
  The automotive sector was a leader as manufacturing output increased 0.8% last month compared with January and 2% compared with February 2012. Improvement was seen in every industry except primary metals. "Growth has clearly picked up," said Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. "This is another positive sign" for the economy. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Money & Co. blog (3/15)     

• Other News

• Minn. DOT to collect public input on 155-mile HSR project
  Minnesota Public Radio (3/17)     

Energy & Environmental Watch

• EPA may delay emissions rule for new power plants
  The Environmental Protection Agency could revise its proposed greenhouse gas regulations for new power plants, which could postpone the implementation of stricter rules, according to sources. The EPA's emissions-reduction proposal received flak from Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky. "As far as I know, America is the only country in the world where you can't build a new coal plant because we don't have the technology to meet those standards," Whitfield said. The Washington Post (3/15)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by AAR SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Harrison: CP is on the "fast track of change" (ProgressiveRailroading.com)

• Class I's share insights on PTC ahead of 2015 deadline (Progressive Railroading)

• With crude-by-rail, jobs growing rapidly (Bloomberg)

• Railroads see more business growth opportunities in Mexico (Omaha World-Herald (Neb.))

• Koraleski overcame challenges of being top exec at UP (The Wall Street Journal)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Safety & Security

• Heavier trucks under discussion in Ohio
  An amendment in Ohio's transportation budget bill that would allow the weight of trucks to rise from 80,000 pounds to 90,000 pounds is a bone of contention between the state's House and Senate. A six-member panel will make the decision. The two legislators sponsoring the bill are owners of businesses that could benefit from a change in the law. Opponents of the weight limit increase are concerned about the expense and hazard of road damage and the safety of longer braking distances. Springfield News-Sun (Ohio) (free registration) (3/15)     

• UP heightens rail crossing safety advocacy in Minn.
  Union Pacific employees partnered with local police officers in Worthington, Minn., to teach motorists about the safety measures along rail crossings. Citations were issued to those who disobeyed crossing warnings and signals. "We think if we're out there on a day-to-day basis writing tickets and issuing citations, hopefully down the road there will be less infractions on behalf of the motorists," said Ed Ford, UP yard operations manager in Mankato, Minn. KDLT-TV (Sioux Falls, S.D.) (3/15)     

SmartQuote

What men value in this world is not rights but privileges." --H.L. Mencken, American journalist and essayist