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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.

CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) plans to stop service on a 7.51-mile rail line stretching from Bergen County, New Jersey, to Rockland County, New York. This decision is based on the line not having local traffic for over two years, and any other traffic is being rerouted. Employees affected by this change will receive protection under certain employment conditions. If no objections or offers to support continued service are received, this change will take effect on May 17, 2025, unless reconsidered or challenged by specific dates provided.

The Lake Providence Port Commission (LPPC), a non-carrier entity in Louisiana, applied to acquire a 20-mile rail line from Delta Southern Railroad. On December 11, 2020, the Board conditionally accepted the application despite missing financial details, requiring these by December 28, 2020. LPPC submitted the necessary information, including a lease agreement with North Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad, enabling the Board to proceed with a scheduling plan for reviewing the application and any competing interests. This decision was finalized to be effective immediately, with public notice to follow in the Federal Register.

The Surface Transportation Board has approved the first quarter 2025 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor (RCAF) and cost index, as submitted by the Association of American Railroads. This factor is used to reflect changes in the costs incurred by major railroads in the U.S. The figures adopted include an RCAF (Unadjusted) of 0.944, an RCAF (Adjusted) of 0.367, and an RCAF-5 of 0.347. The adjustments will be applicable starting January 1, 2025.

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.

San Joaquin Valley Railroad Co. (SJVR) has filed for an exemption to continue leasing and operating 101.5 miles of rail lines from Union Pacific Railroad Company. This lease, initially established in 1994 and most recently renewed in 2020, has been extended by a Lease Amendment signed in January 2025, allowing operations to continue for another five years. SJVR's notice also requests a waiver for a 60-day advance notice to labor unions, which will be decided separately. Moreover, SJVR confirms that its projected revenues will not exceed the limit set for a Class III carrier, despite current revenues being over $5 million.

North Florida Industrial Railroad, LLC (NFIR) has submitted a notice to lease and operate approximately 4,891 feet of inactive railroad track in Columbia County, Florida. This track connects the North Florida Mega Industrial Park with a rail line run by Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad. The lease will help the park's tenants by facilitating the shipment of goods. NFIR states that its projected revenues will remain under $5 million and that this arrangement will not affect its status as a Class III rail carrier. This plan is exempt from environmental and historic preservation reviews.

OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc. and HGS Railway Holdings, Inc., together known as Omni-HGS, have filed a notice to continue controlling the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC (SMVR), which will become a Class III rail carrier. This transaction is part of a plan where SMVR will acquire and operate certain railway lines in California, without connecting to other lines within Omni-HGS's ownership. The transaction is exempt from prior approval requirements because it involves only Class III carriers. Any petitions related to this notice must be submitted to the Surface Transportation Board, and the action is considered exempt from environmental and historical reporting requirements.

The Surface Transportation Board has received a request from the University of Toronto to access data from the 1984-2022 unmasked Carload Waybill Samples. This dataset includes confidential information about railroads and shippers, and interested parties have 14 days from the notice date to file any objections. The regulations regarding the release of this data are outlined in 49 CFR 1244.9. For more information, individuals may contact Alexander Dusenberry at (202) 245-0319.

Puerto Verde Industrial Railroad, LLC (PVIR), a noncarrier company, plans to operate a 2.43-mile private railroad track in Maverick County, Texas, on the site of a former coal mine. This site, owned by PVIR's affiliate, Farming Hydrasource, LLC, is being converted into an industrial park. Once operational, PVIR will provide carrier services like switching and transloading for local businesses. The railroad's annual revenue is projected to stay under $5 million, classifying it as a Class III rail carrier. The earliest start date for operations under this exemption is January 1, 2025, and certain regulatory reviews do not apply to this project.