6 | American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
We look out for their interests at the federal
level. We additionally help them with meet-
ing federal requirements related to regula-
tion, related to providing information. We
do a lot of information relaying and com-
munications, so that they can keep on top of
matters, and of course, we’re also here to an-
swer any questions that they may have con-
cerning the particulars of running a railroad.
BW: How many people do you have work-
ing for you?
MEARS:
We have 12 people and I always
pride myself on that. If you look at it in
terms of total mileage, the short lines, the
regional railroads, the small and medium-
size railroads of the United States, make up a
third of the national rail network. The other
two-thirds is the seven big companies. But I
think it’s interesting, and I’m not trying in
any way to be self-congratulating, but here
we have 12 people that look out for the in-
terests of about 450, 500 railroads, another
450, about 500 companies that supply and
serve railroads and there’s just 12 of us here
in the office. So, as I like to say, there’s 12 of
us here sustaining a third of the industry.
BW: Associations will generally they’ll
have one flag that they plant in the ground
and say we are this to our members, and
that’s what they value in us. What do you
consider your primary strength?
MEARS:
We look out for their legislative
needs, for their regulatory requirements,
and for the networking possibility, we have
a number of events that we stage through-
out the year that allow them to get together
and talk. We have a number of committees
in which we advance certain issues, such as
technology, legislative policy, mechanical,
passenger – we have a committee that looks
at that actually, because 40 or 50 short lines
cross inter-city passenger traffic or commut-
er traffic. So that’s the flag we plant in the
ground – is to try and be multi-faceted.
BW: Talk about your convention later this
month.
