Bill Overview
Title: Short Line Railroad Relief Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide grants or enter into contracts and other agreements for capital projects to protect, repair, reconstruct, or replace short line railroad equipment and facilities in danger of suffering catastrophic damage, or that has suffered catastrophic damage, as a result of an emergency.
Sponsors: Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
Target Audience
Population: People involved with or dependent on short line railroads
Estimated Size: 3000000
- Short line railroads are generally used for freight transport and are smaller than major, Class I railroads.
- These railroads often serve as connectors between rural communities and larger rail networks.
- The employees working on short line railroads will be directly impacted by the act, as it concerns their workplace infrastructure.
- Rural and agricultural communities rely on short line railroads to transport goods and may experience economic impact if these railroads are not operational.
- Businesses that use short line railroads for shipping goods will be impacted.
- The act likely serves to protect economic activities in rural areas by ensuring the continuity of transport routes.
Reasoning
- Only a subset of the US population is directly impacted by the policy - mainly those connected to the short line railroad industry, including employees and rural communities dependent on these railroads.
- Given budget limitations, not all affected individuals or regions may receive grants or support, so the impact will vary.
- Employees of short line railroads and businesses relying on them will likely see the most direct impact in terms of employment security and economic activity.
- Rural communities using short line railroads are targeted as these have enhanced significance in personal wellbeing due to connectivity and economic benefits.
- Some individuals living in urban areas may remain unaffected as their reliance or interaction with short line railroads is minimal.
Simulated Interviews
Short Line Railroad Engineer (Rural Ohio)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will secure my job and ensure the railroad can continue functioning without interruption.
- Without the railroad, our community would face economic hardships.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Farmer (Kansas)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a relief as it will support transportation for our grains.
- If the railroad fails, it would drastically affect our income due to increased transportation costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 1 |
Retired (Alabama)
Age: 59 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although I'm retired, I think the policy indirectly supports retirees by stabilizing local businesses.
- My children and grandchildren will benefit from this policy if the community's economy is stable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Tech Company Employee (Urban New York)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy isn't directly relevant to my life as I don't use or interact with freight railroads.
- I'm aware of them but they don't impact my day-to-day life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Short Line Railroad Maintenance Worker (Texas)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy ensures job security since it will fund much-needed repairs and innovations.
- I feel more secure about future infrastructure improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Small Business Owner (Pennsylvania)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is essential for ensuring the survival of many local businesses like mine.
- Timely train shipments are crucial for order fulfillment and customer satisfaction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Freight Company Manager (California)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy offers logistic stability and can lower potential transport costs.
- Given the importance of short line rail in our supply chain, this will have a positive outcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Transportation Policy Analyst (Montana)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy demonstrates a valuable investment in less-visible but critical infrastructure.
- Long-term impact will stabilize rural economies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Community Center Director (Georgia)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Even though the policy is not directly impactful yet, it provides confidence for future job stability for our youth.
- Infrastructure stability is vital for community programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Agricultural Equipment Operator (North Dakota)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy helps assure timely delivery of crucial equipment for us, which reduces downtime.
- Agriculture here depends on consistent transport links.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 3: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 10: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Key Considerations
- Short line railroads' critical role in freight transport, especially in rural areas.
- The geographical diversity and potential for localized emergencies impacting rail infrastructure.
- The variability in annual expenditures corresponding to the frequency and severity of emergencies affecting short line railroads.
- Potential economic impact and job sustenance in rural areas dependent on these rail networks.