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	Widmeyer Public Affairs Tackles Rail Equity Issues on behalf of CURE Widmeyer is proud to work with Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE), a coalition of freight rail customers seeking changes in policy that would require railroad companies to provide more competitive and reliable service. The membership organization includes associations that represent electric, utility, chemical, manufacturing and forest and paper companies. Since the Staggers Act of 1980, the railroad industry in the U.S. has been on a steady path of consolidation, decreased competition, higher rates and declining service. This trend is increasingly untenable for rail customers represented by CURE who have no other means of transporting vital goods – the captive shippers. CURE needed to persuade members of Congress to strengthen the Surface Transportation Board and eliminate the broad anti-trust exemptions currently enjoyed by the rail industry. Widmeyer worked with CURE to build support for the issue through aggressive media outreach and by helping develop third party allies. Further, we helped coordinate op-ed submissions from local CURE members and we pitched the local angle of federal legislation to state and local papers. Finally, Widmeyer redesigned the CURE Web site, www.railcure.org, and created and placed issue advertisements to emphasize key messages about the campaign. The Web site also offers updated information and features visual material designed for CURE. Results Though this work is ongoing, after several years of stalemate, rail reform legislation has begun to gain momentum on Capitol Hill. Between September and November 2007, three separate hearings were held on rail reform legislation, including a full committee hearing in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. And in November 2007, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed S. 772 - The Railroad Antitrust Exemption Act. Widmeyer’s extensive media outreach garnered an extensive article in USA Today that discusses the many issues that surround the railroad industry. We also secured an AP story covering a letter signed by 21 states Attorneys General in support of S. 772. Other coverage has included: The Hill, Roll Call, Forbes Magazine, Bloomberg News, Reuters, The Capital Times, Washington Times, Baltimore Sun, Congressional Quarterly, Kansas City Star, Omaha World-Herald, The Florida Times-Union, Tampa Tribune, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and many other key outlets.

Widmeyer Public Affairs Tackles
Rail Equity Issues on behalf of CURE

Widmeyer is proud to work with Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE), a coalition of freight rail customers seeking changes in policy that would require railroad companies to provide more competitive and reliable service. The membership organization includes associations that represent electric, utility, chemical, manufacturing and forest and paper companies.

Since the Staggers Act of 1980, the railroad industry in the U.S. has been on a steady path of consolidation, decreased competition, higher rates and declining service. This trend is increasingly untenable for rail customers represented by CURE who have no other means of transporting vital goods – the captive shippers.

CURE needed to persuade members of Congress to strengthen the Surface Transportation Board and eliminate the broad anti-trust exemptions currently enjoyed by the rail industry.

Widmeyer worked with CURE to build support for the issue through aggressive media outreach and by helping develop third party allies. Further, we helped coordinate op-ed submissions from local CURE members and we pitched the local angle of federal legislation to state and local papers.

Finally, Widmeyer redesigned the CURE Web site, www.railcure.org, and created and placed issue advertisements to emphasize key messages about the campaign. The Web site also offers updated information and features visual material designed for CURE.

Results

Though this work is ongoing, after several years of stalemate, rail reform legislation has begun to gain momentum on Capitol Hill. Between September and November 2007, three separate hearings were held on rail reform legislation, including a full committee hearing in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. And in November 2007, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed S. 772 - The Railroad Antitrust Exemption Act.
Widmeyer’s extensive media outreach garnered an extensive article in USA Today that discusses the many issues that surround the railroad industry. We also secured an AP story covering a letter signed by 21 states Attorneys General in support of S. 772.
Other coverage has included: The Hill, Roll Call, Forbes Magazine, Bloomberg News, Reuters, The Capital Times, Washington Times, Baltimore Sun, Congressional Quarterly, Kansas City Star, Omaha World-Herald, The Florida Times-Union, Tampa Tribune, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and many other key outlets.