In the world of partisan politics, it’s rare to prioritize environmental sustainability and economic and national security in a single bill, but that’s what a bill aimed at modernizing and upgrading our nation’s fleet of freight railcars has done. If implemented, the impacts will be felt here at home in Ohio, too.
Known as the Freight RAILCAR Act, H.R. 838 is important legislation currently waiting for action in Congress that incentivizes private investment in the nation’s fleet of freight railcars, bringing fuel efficiency and increased sustainability to this vital industry. It also shores up local economies in our state and across the country.
Nationwide, the freight rail manufacturing and supply industry powers the U.S. economy to the tune of $75.78 billion in GDP. It’s also a cornerstone of economic output in Ohio, providing 24,597 family-wage jobs. Regarding national security, the freight rail industry is the lynchpin to securing everything from our supply chains to our military and defense systems. The Freight RAILCAR Act is a good investment.
It’s also a win for environmental sustainability. Considering that the average age of our freight railcar fleet is 20 years old, it makes good sense to invest in a more modern, efficient fleet now rather than years from now.
Already, transportation by freight rail is more efficient than other modes of transport. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office recently reported that rail wins on fuel efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
While rail moves 40 percent of freight (per ton-mile), it accounts for less than 1 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions. In fact, freight rail emissions are eight times lower per ton-mile than goods moved by trucks, and they’re lower than goods moved by water or air, too. That’s good, but we can do better.
When it comes to the Freight RAILCAR Act, the numbers speak loudly: If just one-third of the almost 300,000 outdated hopper cars were replaced by higher capacity railcars, the savings would amount to 4.3 million gallons of diesel fuel in the first year alone, or 13 million gallons of fuel, and 1.5 million tons of CO2 over 30 years; the average life span of a freight railcar.
The bill also builds on the green energy goals backed by the nation’s railroads.
Data like this is something that Ohio’s elected officials can stand behind, no matter party affiliation. After all, why wait to take advantage of the industry’s innovative new materials and improved safety standards and the environmental benefits to go along with it? Or why wait to encourage investment in an industry that supports so many constituents? The answers are clear.
Right now, the Freight RAILCAR Act has support from more than 50 Republican and Democratic members in the U.S. House and 65,000 domestic freight railcar manufacturers and suppliers whose livelihood impacts every corner of the U.S. Other groups, including the Railway Supply Institute, have also supported this bipartisan bill.
But there’s one more piece to consider:
While the U.S. continues to try and compete against China in everything from the production of microchips to the manufacturing of everyday household goods, there’s a clear direction we can take to invest in one of our state’s — and nation’s — most critical manufacturing and supply industries. The Freight RAILCAR Act has proven to be a good bill based on its strong bipartisanship in the House.
Now, we need a strong leader in the Senate to see it through — and to invest in the lives of Ohio workers whose jobs depend on it.
By Erik Olson, Executive Director of the Rail Security Alliance