The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on November 29 issued a final rule implementing passenger rail-related dispute resolution provisions of Title XI of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015 (“FAST Act”), Pub. L. No. 114-94.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) said November 17 that the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) should defer regulatory proposals, most notably forced access, until the U.S. Senate confirms a full slate of board members appointed by President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Pity economic regulators. The more they seek the middle-of-the-road, the greater risk both sides assail them. Economist Sidney L. Miller wrote, “It seems clear that our railways are regulated well, rather than wisely.”
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board would be doing itself a favor if chooses not to mess with UPS and heed the gargantuan railroad customer’s call to deep-six forced access, otherwise known as “reciprocal switching.”
Surface Transportation Board Chairman Daniel R. Elliott announced October 12 that the Board will host an economic roundtable, at 10:00 am on October 25, 2016.
The Surface Transportation Board announced September 30 that it is adopting final rules to modify its arbitration procedures in accordance with the requirements of the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015, P.L. 114-110 (2015) (Act). The Act requires an arbitration process that is voluntary and binding, as with the STB’s existing arbitration rules.
On the offensive following the Surface Transportation Board’s recent flurry of activity on multiple proposed regulations, the Association of American Railroads wrote to leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
A Surface Transportation Board study on the Board’s SAC (stand-alone cost) rate reasonableness methodology is complete and can be downloaded at the link below.
The Surface Transportation Board is advising the public of an upcoming change to its Internet website address.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Sept. 8, 2016 announced its annual determination of revenue adequacy for U.S. Class I freight railroads for 2015. Of the “Big Seven” (five U.S. carriers and two U.S. subsidiaries of Canadian roads), four made the cut.