by George Landrith, President, Frontiers of Freedom Institute
America’s freight rail system is in serious need of updating. Too often we have seen where outdated and congested rail interchanges, especially in the heart of the country, are slowing goods, driving up costs, and hurting businesses and consumers alike.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently pointed to the problem on CNBC, noting that the current system creates major bottlenecks and needs a modern, coast-to-coast solution. “Whether that should be through a merger or in any other way, I’ll leave that to the regulators,” Lutnick said. “But making it more efficient is something we applaud.”
His remarks were made in response to the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
And he is right. These delays across the country are not minor technical issues. They are economic drag. Freight sits idle while transferring between carriers. Aging infrastructure and poor coordination can make it worse. Costs rise for manufacturers, retailers, and, ultimately, American families.
The solution is straightforward. Streamline the system. That could mean strategic mergers, like has been proposed by UP and NS in their merger that will create the first transcontinental railroad in our country, targeted infrastructure upgrades, or both. The goal is simple: move goods faster, more reliably, and more affordably.
This is not a partisan issue. It is an economic necessity. Every day America waits is a day lost in competitiveness and efficiency.
It is time to update our freight rail system for the needs of the 21st century. The economy cannot wait, and neither can the people who rely on it.
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VIDEO: Sec’y Lutnick on CNBC discussing how to make America’s freight rail system more efficient and supporting the merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
