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U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), who has served as House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair since 2023, has announced he will retire from Congress in January, at the end of this session.

“After considerable reflection, 2026 will be my final year in Congress,” Graves reported March 27 via social media platform X. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right one. I believe in making room for the next generation. It’s time to pass the torch and allow a new guard of conservative leaders to step forward and chart a path forward for Missourians.”

From 2019 to 2022, Graves was the T&I Committee’s senior Republican. Before that, he served four years as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, and as the senior Republican of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

Graves is also Co-Chair of the House General Aviation Caucus. From 2009 to 2015, he served as Chairman and senior Republican of the Committee on Small Business, and he continues to serve as a high-ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Graves was born in Tarkio, Mo., on Nov. 7, 1963. He graduated from Tarkio High School in 1982 and attended college at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he received his degree in Agronomy from the College of Agriculture. In 1992, Graves won his first race for State Representative. In 1994, he was elected State Senator for the 12th Senatorial District and was subsequently re-elected in 1998.

“When I first ran for State Representative back in 1992, my aspiration was to represent my hometown of Tarkio, Missouri,” Graves reported March 27. “I was a twenty-seven year old farmer who just wanted to stand up for a way of life and his community. I never could have imagined where that decision would take me.  

“For 8 years in the Missouri House and Senate, I fought for Northwest Missourians. From deregulating vehicle inspections, to standing for chain gangs, to securing funding for rural schools in the desegregation fight, I never lost sight of why I was sent to Jefferson City. Then, in 2000, the good, hardworking people of Missouri’s Sixth District entrusted me to be their voice in Congress.   

“For 26 years, I have had the privilege of serving, culminating in becoming the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and passing some of the most significant legislation in our nation’s history. The responsibility entrusted to me is not something I have ever taken for granted. Not for a single day.  

“What I’m most proud of is the work my team did when Washington made life harder for the people of Missouri’s Sixth. Together, we stood with hundreds of thousands of Missourians in their toughest moments.  We helped them cut through red tape and navigate a system that often felt stacked against them. We got them answers and fought to deliver real results when they needed them most.  

“I’ve said all of that to say this: After considerable reflection, 2026 will be my final year in Congress. … 

“That doesn’t mean I’m slowing down, not even close. As I enter the 4th quarter of my life, I have more left in me. As many of you know, I don’t let grass grow under my feet. We’ve still got a lot of work to do. I’m going to fight to protect Missouri interests as we work to shape this year’s Highway Bill. I plan to finish this last term the same way I started, full speed ahead.  

“Maintaining our strong democratic republic will always depend on good people stepping up to serve from every corner of our great nation. I’m grateful for my colleagues in both parties, for the people I’ve worked alongside, and even for the opponents who challenged me and made me better. Public service isn’t easy. It takes hard work, humility, a thick skin, and a willingness to fight for what’s right.  

“At the end of the day, I’m still the farmer from Northwest Missouri. You’ll find me back home on the farm nearly every weekend, after all, it is planting season. In fact, I’ll probably be on a tractor this weekend. And come Monday, I’ll be heading back through Kansas City on my way to D.C. to keep doing the job you sent me there to do.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.   

“It has been the honor of a lifetime.”

Graves noted in a separate T&I Committee press release that “Before the end of this year, the Committee must complete a vital surface transportation reauthorization bill to fund America’s roads, bridges, highway safety, transit, and rail transportation systems—a surface bill that will be the most important of its kind in decades.

“The Committee is working on the next Water Resources Development Act to improve our ports, harbors, inland waterways, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure.  We have bills to reauthorize pipeline safety programs, to modernize Clean Water Act permitting processes to cut red tape in the building of infrastructure projects, and to provide the most significant reforms to FEMA since Hurricane Katrina.

“And just this week [week of March 22], our committee unanimously approved the ALERT Act to address all 50 safety recommendations from the NTSB following their investigation of the tragic aviation accident in our nation’s capital.

“I will remain fully focused on getting these bills and other important legislation over the finish line.  Serving as Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where Members of Congress can and have so often worked together to get things done for all of America, has been a tremendous honor that will drive me until my last day in Congress.”

Graves’ “exit was unlikely to affect the balance of power in the House given the strongly Republican bent of his district in northwest Missouri,” The New York Times reported March 27. “But it was the latest in a wave of G.O.P. retirements over the past several months as Republicans anticipate defeats in November that could cost them control of Congress. And it marked another significant loss of institutional knowledge underway in both parties as a push for generational turnover has prompted senior lawmakers to retire after lengthy careers in Washington.”

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas released the following statement on March 27:

“On behalf of APTA and our over 1,700 members organizations, I extend our deep appreciation to Chairman Sam Graves for his years of dedicated service and his commitment to building a stronger, safer public transportation network for all Americans.

“Chairman Graves has been a trusted partner to the public transportation community. Just last year, he spoke at APTA’s Legislative Conference and challenged our industry to make the case to Congress on the importance of reauthorization. We heard him, and we took that charge to heart. As he prepares to close this chapter, we are mindful of how much his leadership has shaped the path forward—and how much work remains, with the September 2026 reauthorization deadline fast approaching and so much riding on the outcome for public transit riders, workers, and communities across the country.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Graves through the remainder of the 119th Congress and wholeheartedly thank him for his years of public service and leadership to deliver a strong surface transportation bill for the American people. We wish him well in all that comes next.”

The post House T&I Committee Chair Sam Graves to Retire appeared first on Railway Age.

New Jersey Transit (NJT), at the direction of Gov. Mikie Sherrill, is developing a Rapid Action Plan, “detailing measures to improve specific aspects of the customer travel experience, including cleanliness, accessibility, safety, and the digital experience.” It will hold three virtual forums for the public to help inform the plan’s development.

The New Jersey Governor, on March 24, signed Executive Order No. 16 (download below), which requires the transit agency “to improve commuter experience.” NJT provides more than 925,000 weekday trips on 264 bus routes, three light rail lines, and 12 commuter rail lines, and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations, and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

“Every New Jerseyan deserves a transit system that is safe, clean, accessible, and reliable,” Gov. Sherrill said. “This Executive Order is about delivering cleaner stations, clearer communication, and more dependable service across NJT. We are listening to riders, holding ourselves accountable, and making the improvements necessary to ensure that rail and bus transit work better for everyone who uses it.” 

“The goals of the Executive Order and the focus on public engagement will help in moving our transportation system forward, and I look forward to working with NJT CEO and President Kris Kolluri in executing the Governor’s vision,” NJT Chair and Acting NJDOT Commissioner Priya Jain said.

The Executive Order has two parts:

1. Within 45 days from signing, the Commissioner of Transportation, in her capacity as Chair of the NJT Board of Directors, will develop and send to the Governor “a comprehensive plan to improve riders’ experiences.” Gov. Sherrill is directing the Commissioner to focus the plan on the following priority areas: “Cleanliness of NJ Transit stations, stops, buses, and railcars; “[a]ccessibility of NJT-owned properties, including escalators and boarding areas”; “[p]ublic safety, including lighting, cameras, and law enforcement presence at stations and stops”; and “the digital experience for riders, with focus on the usability and reliability of real-time tracking features on the NJT website and mobile app.” To inform the development of this plan, NJT Customer Advocate Franck Beaumin will hold three public listening sessions (virtual forums) and develop a public survey, for those unable to attend. The survey is posted on njtransit.com/actionplan. Beaumin will report the survey results and feedback from the listening sessions—to be held March 31, April 2, and April 4—within 30 days. 
2. In the 45 days following the delivery of the plan, NJT “will fast-track implementation of the highest priority initiatives so that, by June 22, NJT riders begin to see immediate improvements toward a safer, cleaner, and more reliable ride.”

“Since stepping into this role [in 2024], my top priority has been listening to our customers and gathering their feedback to help deliver a better travel experience across NJT,” Franck Beaumin said. “I truly value the opportunity to engage directly with customers and hear their ideas on how we can make every trip more enjoyable. I look forward to developing a plan that improves the customer experience.”

Separately, in January, NJT launched a language survey to improve the customer experience.

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The post For NJT, A ‘Rapid Action Plan’ appeared first on Railway Age.

BNSF’s $3.6 billion capital investment plan for 2026 will help us modernize infrastructure and enhance capacity across our 32,500-mile network. A key part of that plan is a major improvement project underway in Galesburg, Ill., a location central to BNSF operations since the 1850s.

Located about 200 miles southwest of Chicago, Galesburg is the second-largest hump yard on BNSF’s system and an essential hub for sorting and classifying railcars. To increase efficiency and support long-term growth, we are adding a second hump lead track—a significant enhancement that will increase switching capacity and improve overall terminal performance.

Galesburg’s strategic location, combined with its yard capacity, makes it one of BNSF’s most important merchandise terminals. 

“With Chicago serving as the nation’s largest rail interchange hub, Galesburg provides essential classification support for traffic moving to and from interchange partners,” said Felicia Mosenfelder, Corridor Superintendent for the Chicago Division. “The Galesburg yard’s performance is vital to sustaining fluid, dependable operations systemwide.” 

Currently, Galesburg’s hump is served by a single lead track. After an inbound train arrives into a receiving track, the cars are pulled to the hump lead to then be pushed over the hump to be sorted based on next destination.

“This capital project will add a second parallel hump lead that will reduce the time between processing trains over the hump, because a second inbound train can be readied on the lead while the prior train is being pushed over the hump crest,” explained Craig Rasmussen, Assistant Vice President of Engineering Services & Structures. 

In addition, how the yard is configured today results in tracks on the east side of the yard being unable to directly reach the hump crest, Rasmussen added. “The second lead will connect into these tracks, allowing operational flexibility with more tracks available to arriving inbound trains.”

Once completed, the upgraded yard will be able to process approximately three additional trains per day or about 300 cars.  This added capacity will meaningfully improve terminal fluidity and contribute to more consistent merchandise service across the BNSF network.   

“This expansion enhances terminal reliability and supports more predictable schedules for our customers, contributing to steadier transit times and overall service dependability,” Mosenfelder added. 

Currently the area is being graded and is expected to be ready for track installation in May.

Beyond the yard, a BNSF certified site is available southeast of Galesburg. This industrial park offers convenient access to both BNSF’s main line and nearby highway infrastructure. The site, along with improvements at the yard, positions the region for continued economic and customer growth.

For nearly two centuries, BNSF, its predecessors and Galesburg have been inextricably tied since the settlement was founded in 1836. The city became a major railroad center not long after the first train passed through in December 1854—and we continue the tradition of mutual growth with this latest expansion project.

The post BNSF: Investment in Galesburg Yard to Boost Efficiency, Support Growth appeared first on Railway Age.

With a direct connection to Savannah’s 40 ships per week global ocean carrier network, local manufacturers—including poultry, heavy equipment, and forest product companies—can reach international markets more efficiently, GPA noted.

Direct rail with service five days a week between Northeast Georgia and Savannah gives shippers an alternative to a 600-mile roundtrip truck route “that will reduce trucks on Georgia’s highways and in the Atlanta region,” according to GPA.

“Our new inland rail facility in Gainesville, Georgia, will significantly offset truck traffic congestion in Atlanta and improve air quality by replacing an estimated 26,000 truck roundtrips in the first year alone. We’re already seeing positive customer engagement and Norfolk Southern will bring an excellent level of service working together with GPA,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch at the March 24 GPA Board meeting.

At full build-out, the $134 million Gainesville Inland Port (formerly known as the Blue Ridge Connector) will have an annual capacity of 200,000 containers.

To reduce the new railyard’s traffic impact on local communities in Gainesville, GPA funded $4.8 million in Hall County projects, eliminating an at-grade rail crossing, rerouting White Sulphur Road and surfacing Cagle Road. The new White Sulphur route south of the inland terminal “ensures free access for emergency vehicles and avoids traffic disruption from trains,” GPA noted. Equally important, the resurfacing of Cagle Road “offers an improved alternative for residents.” Both projects were completed in late summer 2025.

GPA is carrying out a nearly $5 billion infrastructure investment plan over the next decade to expand berths, yards, gates, inland ports and rail capacity. 

“New infrastructure assets take planning and time to build,” said GPA Board Chairman Alec Poitevint. “We believe in a steady investment that delivers port capacity ahead of our customers’ future needs. This enables our customers to plan long-term for the future and have confidence their supply chain keeps pace with growth. We want to thank Governor Kemp, the General Assembly, and GDOT for the great work they are doing with Peach State infrastructure projects outside the terminal, like Brampton Road, the Talmadge Bridge, and the widening of Savannah highways for freight to move easier.”

The post GPA’s Gainesville Inland Port Set for May Opening appeared first on Railway Age.