WAWG recommends that cargo preference laws be adjusted to eliminate the discrimination of PNW export products and that any subsidy paid to the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet be charged to the Department of Transportation. Burlington Northern is threatening to remove private railroad crossings from the rail lines in Washington state unless unreasonable liability responsibilities and new costs are assumed by the abutting landowners who use the crossings. The removal of these crossing will cause some homeowners to be landlocked. WAWG will support efforts by county commissioners, state legislature, and other government entities to keep these private railroad crossings from being removed or unreasonable liability passed on to the landowners affected by the threat of removal of the crossings. As more passenger trains are added, the delays become more apparent, causing inefficient grain movement, which in turn raises the shipping costs.
Most attention is place on funding passenger rail projects.
WAWG supports separation of passenger rail from freight rail in congested freight rail areas. The state of Washington has purchased additional hopper cars to be used within the state to help alleviate some problems associated with railcar shortages. A lack of cars is also adversely impacting Washington roads. WAWG urges railroads to meet their common carrier responsibility in timely manner. WAWG also requests the governing body to establish procedures and standards for monitoring carrier performance in supplying empty cars for loading.