Coalition urges Surface Transportation Board to resist regulations that would shift freight to carbon-intensive modes of transportation

ConservAmerica, Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions (C3), National Wildlife Federation, and Third Way sent a letter on Monday to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) urging caution when considering new regulations that could impact how railroads operate, including a proposed rule to mandate “reciprocal switching.”

Citing an increased demand for consumer goods and a supply chain strained by the global pandemic, the four organizations raised concerns that government intervention in the market could undermine existing efforts to maximize efficiency, lead to increased congestion, and push freight to less environmentally friendly modes of transportation. The letter follows on the heels of similar concerns raised by members of Congress in September. 

“Given the two most-cited repercussions of market intervention in rail are disinvestment and inefficiencies, we share many of the same concerns as these lawmakers. Should any new regulation cause new bottlenecks, which the Biden administration and the rail industry are already working together to alleviate, freight could shift to more carbon-intensive modes of transportation,” the group wrote.