Search Results for agency_names:"Surface Transportation Board"

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), a Class III rail carrier, has filed for an exemption to acquire and operate an 87.65-mile rail line from North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) in California. The transaction allows SMART to be the freight operator using a noncarrier contract operator and is expected to be completed on or after March 4, 2021. SMART assures that its annual revenues from the deal will not exceed $5 million and that there are no agreements limiting future connections with other carriers. This transaction is mostly exempt from environmental and historic preservation reviews.

The Surface Transportation Board received a prefiling notification regarding a proposed transaction where Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company aim to gain control of Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Company. After reviewing the February 14, 2025 submission, the Board determined the transaction is "significant" rather than "minor," requiring more detailed information and compliance with different procedures. The Board instructed Norfolk Southern to amend their application, submit a revised procedural schedule by March 21, 2025, and to pay the additional filing fee associated with significant transactions. Additionally, the Board noted concerns from CSX Transportation and the Virginia Port Authority about potential anticompetitive effects.

Central New York Railroad Corporation (CNY) is a small railroad company that continues to lease and operate a rail line from Norfolk Southern Railway Company, covering about 123.1 miles between New York and Pennsylvania. This notice states that CNY plans to amend their lease to extend the term and adjust renewal conditions, while keeping all other original terms in place. CNY assures that the transaction will not make it a larger railroad and estimates their earnings won't go beyond $5 million a year. The Surface Transportation Board will allow this change to be effective from April 12, 2025, unless any misleading information is found or if objections are filed in time.

Dover and Delaware River Railroad, LLC (DDRR), a small railway company, plans to amend its lease agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company. This change will not turn DDRR into a larger rail carrier and will involve an interchange commitment. The transaction is set to take effect on January 16, 2025, and people can contest it by filing petitions before that date. The project is exempt from environmental and historical reviews, according to federal regulations.

Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC (SMVR), which is not currently a rail carrier, plans to acquire and operate two rail lines in Santa Barbara County, California. They intend to: (1) buy a line from Coast Belle Rail, LLC, and (2) take over the operation of another line leased from Union Pacific Railroad Company. This change means that SMVR will take over from Coast Belle as the common carrier, but their revenues are expected to remain under $5 million. The transaction is anticipated to start on or after April 12, 2025, and is exempt from certain environmental and historic preservation reviews.

TBL Group, Inc., a holding company that manages several interstate motor passenger carriers, has requested the Surface Transportation Board's approval to acquire Reston Limousine & Travel Service, Inc. The Board is tentatively approving this acquisition, which will become final if no comments are filed by March 31, 2025. The transaction is expected to enhance transportation services by improving operational efficiencies and increasing capacity, without significantly affecting employees or the level of service to the public. If finalized, Reston will continue its operations under its current name.

Kansas City West Bottoms Railroad, LLC (KCWB) is planning to lease and operate a section of railroad track from Union Pacific Railroad Company in the Kansas City area. The agreement will involve the State Line Yard Tracks and a portion of the KC Metro Big Mary Subdivision between two mileposts. This transaction is pending exemption approval and is part of a larger plan involving Jaguar companies, which intend to manage KCWB as a Class III rail carrier. The transaction is expected to be finalized after March 5, 2025, provided all legal requirements are met and any exemptions are not revoked.

On January 22, 2025, Jefferson Partners, L.P., which operates as Jefferson Lines, applied to acquire the assets of Karst Stage, Inc., another passenger bus company. The Surface Transportation Board is tentatively approving this move, allowing Jefferson to continue its operations under a new company, Karst Stage, LLC, while maintaining separate identities but sharing management tasks. The approval is contingent on no opposing comments being filed by April 28, 2025. Jefferson argues this transaction will improve service and efficiency without harming competition or employee interests.

The Surface Transportation Board reviewed a petition from the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition to build an 85-mile railway in Utah to connect the Uinta Basin with the national rail network. The Coalition seeks an exemption from the usual prior approval requirements, arguing that the rail line will provide critical transportation benefits and support local industries. While there is significant support, including endorsements from state officials, there is also opposition citing financial viability concerns and potential environmental impacts. The Board has made a preliminary decision on the transportation merits but will only finalize its decision after completing an environmental review.

American Services Rail, LLC (ASR), a noncarrier, has submitted a notice to lease and operate a small rail line in Mississippi currently operated by Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, LLC (CRIP). The arrangement allows ASR to function as a common carrier on a specific section and as a contract carrier on additional tracks. ASR affirms that no interchange commitments are involved and that the transaction will not lead to it becoming a larger rail carrier. The transaction is set to take effect on April 9, 2025, with legal precautions in place if any misleading information is found.