Policy Issues

Policy Issues

The Crescent Corridor and other rail infrastructure projects give America a competitive advantage. From the Capitol to statehouses to town halls, more and more public officials see this.

Two legislative issues are of key importance: an infrastructure tax incentive and balanced regulation.

First – railroads are extraordinarily capital intensive. That means we can’t always make infrastructure improvements, such as the Crescent Corridor, fast enough. That’s one reason NS supports an infrastructure tax incentive for businesses – not just railroads – that invest in new rail, intermodal facilities, rail yards, and locomotives. This would push investment to projects that help the shipping community and public but that otherwise aren’t feasible, given mounting rail infrastructure needs.

Second – a group of giant companies wants to “re-regulate” railroads so that they can benefit from artificially low shipping rates. Railroads already operate in an environment of sensible, effective, balanced regulation. If the equation becomes unbalanced, it will choke off rail infrastructure investment. That’s not the way to go. America needs more railroad, not less.