Glendale, NY—October 15, 2024 (James Street Media Services)—Growth in construction material traffic on New York area rail lines has benefitted shippers while keeping heavy trucks off the area’s highways, according to testimony delivered to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB).

During a September presentation at the STB’s Growth in the Freight Rail Industry hearing, New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA) President Marlon Taylor provided details about a rail partnership that moves construction aggregate materials. The partnership with Providence & Worcester Railroad (P&W) has seen aggregate traffic grow by some 700% since it was started in 2000.

According to the STB, the hearing was convened because “the Board recognizes that some shifts in volume [away from rail] may not be primarily within the control of rail carriers, [but] the Board has observed that over the past ten years carload volumes have not grown and have, in fact, decreased.”

Taylor explained that short line railroads can offer a “substantial and flexible” alternative for moving products such as the aggregates being shipped into Long Island by NYA and P&W. The 7,000 rail carloads of aggregates moved by the railroads in 2023 are estimated to have kept more than 20,000 truckloads off area streets and highways.

Aggregates include materials such as gravel, sand, and crushed rock used in most construction projects.

Short-line and regional railroads are motivated to work closely with customers to attract new business, Taylor told the Board. In the case of New York aggregate shippers, including Rawson Materials and Tilcon, traffic has been won by the railroads as the result of “personalized, adaptable service to meet the specific requirements of these customers,” Taylor said.

Receivers of the aggregate shipments—including Astro Aggregate and Kings Material—have also benefitted from the reliable and efficient transportation provided by NYA and P&W.

“Through their long-standing partnership and continued innovation,” Taylor told the panel, “NYA and P&W offer comprehensive logistics solutions that enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen the entire supply chain in the NYC region.”

The ongoing involvement of NYA and P&W in aggregate shipments underscores their lasting impact on the rail industry and their critical role in supporting the infrastructure needs of one of the world’s largest urban markets.

About New York & Atlantic Railway
New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA) began operation in May 1997 as a result of the privatized concession to operate freight trains on the lines owned by Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). NYA serves a diverse customer base and shares track with the densest passenger system in the United States. The railcars that travel over the NYA remove over 120,000 heavy truck trips from the roads and highways of metro NYC and reduce transportation emissions by 75%. NYA originates and terminates rail traffic that moves across North America. www.anacostia.com/our-companies/nya/

About Anacostia Rail Holdings
Anacostia Rail Holdings is a privately held company that owns and operates freight railroads throughout the U.S. Combined, ARH’s six railroads handle the equivalent of over two million carloads annually. ARH provides freight services to major metropolitan centers and small communities operating on more than 600 miles of track. www.anacostia.com

NOTE: Reproducible photo available upon request

MEDIA CONTACT
Peter Gilbertson
Anacostia Rail Holdings
(312) 341-1026
pgilbertson@anacostia.com