Page 2 - 2020 Annual Report

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2020: The Year That Was Like No Other

ust another normal year, right?
J
2020 was strange, disorienting, and challenging for the entire world, and short line railroads were no exception. The coronavirus
pandemic impacted not only our businesses, but also each of us personally. Just the simple act of going into work became fraught with Online staff meetings were the norm - here
safety considerations. But as they always have, short lines found a way to get the job done. ASLRRA staff wears red for Red Out for Rail
Safety Week in September.
I have been humbled to watch our members show up – as part of the nation’s critical workforce, as contributors in your communities, as providers for your family.

We continued to safely and consistently move critical goods - grain and wood pulp to produce food and paper products for grocery stores, chemicals for cleaning and inputs for PPE, lumber for
the unexpected housing boom, manufactured goods to keep the stores stocked, energy products to keep the rest of America working efficiently and effectively, and so much more – what our
industry does daily is critical to keep America functioning smoothly.

Your service continued uninterrupted, as it has through prior national crises, from world wars to natural disasters, and now through a global pandemic. Despite the events going on around us,
the Association was able to notch several very important victories on behalf of the short line industry. It is a thrill to report that the Short Line Tax Credit (45G) has been made permanent, or at
least it no longer has an expiration date – a 15-year goal which has been accomplished through the hard work of so many of you.

We were able to ensure that railroad workers and companies were treated equally in coronavirus relief legislation, on issues including unemployment funding, employer tax credits, and PPP
access. Another round of CRISI funding was allocated with many successful short line recipients, the RRIF Express program was launched, the Short Line Safety Institute was funded again, and
no truck size and weight increases or crew size mandates were passed into law.

ASLRRA continues to advise and educate regulatory bodies such as the Federal Railroad Administration, the Surface Transportation Board and others to ensure regulations are balanced,
implementable by small businesses, and serve a legitimate purpose. Highlights of those efforts in 2020 included securing temporary pandemic-related waiver relief from regulation where
needed and completing a multi-year effort to create approved Part 243 Training Templates.

Our Association provided our membership with traditional offerings, adjusted for COVID-19’s realities - we pivoted to an online Annual Convention, continued to provide support and training via a
strong webinar program, and engaged with members on local and regulatory issues, to name but a few.

As 2021 advances, working with a new Administration and a new Congress will be a big focus. Our economic contributions, and our ability to provide sustainable,
environmentally-friendly transportation, will be crucial. Ensuring that our legislators and shipper communities understand these benefits will be a big job.

I look forward to seeing you in person at our upcoming Regional or Annual Meetings. Until then, congratulations on a job well-done, and all the best as we head
into 2021.

Note: Photo images throughout the Annual Report were either taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, or were taken with COVID-19
restrictions in mind. CHUCK BAKER
President, ASLRRA
ASLRRA Annual Report 2020