Highlights - WCGroup Activities 2010-2016
| Dates | Description |
| 2016, Nov. 17 | WCGroup Steering Committee, consideration of 2017 agenda and projects. |
| 2016, Nov. 14-16 | WisDOT Annual Rail Conference, consultations with short line operators, other stakeholders. |
| 2016, Oct. 24 | CN consultation re "CN WCGroup Collaboration - Next," begin stand down. |
| 2016, Sept. 30 | At Homewood, consultation with CN re future Advisory Board interests, options. |
| 2016, Sept. 13 | Communicate to CN consensus request on CN Advisory Board agenda. |
| 2016, Aug. 16-18 | At Marquette, MI 4th Annual Michigan Rail Conference attendance and networking. |
| 2016, July 26 | WCGroup comments in STB EP 704-1 (exemptions revocation), anticipated filing. |
| 2016, July 19 | Circulate draft agenda update "Moving in New Directions" and "Action Options". |
| 2016, July 12 | At Midwest Rail Shippers Association, Lake Geneva, WI, consultation with key stakeholders, input for draft WCG agenda update and scoping regional and branch lines perspectives map and action options |
| 2016, June 29 | WCGroup agenda update task group, stakeholder input conference call. |
| 2016, June 24 | Northwoods Rail Transit Commission ("NRTC") meeting (via video conference). |
| 2016, May 12 | Receive CN comments on WCG Stakeholder/Steering Committee draft "Moving in a New Direction?". |
| 2016, May 5 | At Hill Farms, Madison, meeting with WisDOT re federal funding options for infrastructure and log cars. |
| 2016, April 28 | NRTC conference call, debriefing on CN/NRTC 4/20/2016 meeting. |
| 2016, April 20 | At Stevens Point, CN/NRTC senior management meeting (scheduled). |
| 2016, March 24 | WCGroup Agenda 2016Q1 concluded, forward agenda for 2016 pending CN/NRTC meeting. |
| 2016, March 21 | CN/NRTC meeting, questions updated. |
| 2016, March 16 | NRTC conference call reviews "questions" and priorities for CN/NRTC senior management meeting. |
| 2016, Feb. 23 | Meeting with WisDOT Railroads and Harbors Section, at WMC. Discussion re challenges of northwoods line preservations (network in addition to branch perspective) and log cars. |
| 2016, Jan. 29 | Northwoods Rail Transit Commission Meeting - Adopted resolution supporting SB305/AB458 log car funding. Discussion reviewed USDOT TIGER VII debriefing, CN's response to request to meet senior management, CN's request NRTC "prioritize" line segments. Set committee to prepare for CN/NRTC meeting. Concluded to pass on TIGER VIII grant application (due 4/29/2016) for log cars. |
| 2015-2016, Jan. 15 |
Consultation with stakeholders, set WCGroup agenda for 2016Q1. |
| 2015, Nov. 30 | Debriefing with USDOT on unsuccessful 2015 TIGER VII application - received suggestions for enhancing the application, specifically, emphasis on loggers and other communities who will benefit. |
| 2015, Nov. 17 | At Madison, WisDOT Annual Freight Railroad Conference, Peter Kammer of Wisconsin Railroad Association expresses antipathy for public ownership of railcars. |
| 2015, Nov. 16 | Proposed 2016 Q1 agenda submitted to WCGroup Steering Committee. |
| 2015, Nov. 12 | CN/WCGroup, consultation task group call-in, finalize immediate agenda, proposed agenda for 2016 Q1. |
| 2015, Nov. 6 | At O'Hare, CN/WCGroup, consultation task group, brainstorming session. |
| 2015, Oct. 13 | Anticipated date for CN/WCGroup consultation at PCA, Lake Forest, Il. |
| 2015, Sept. 25 | Northwoods Rail Transit Commission meeting, WCGroup presentation. |
| 2015, Sept. 9 | "WCGroup Branch Line Projects 2015-2016, Looking at the Region from a Branch Line Perspective," post map. |
| 2015, Sept. 4 | Sen. Baldwin Transportation Roundtable, at Sun Prairie, presentation on railroad industry competitiveness for non-captive truck-competitive freight. |
| 2015, Aug. 31 | Request consultation with CN re overall collaborative effort. |
| 2015, July-Aug. | Consultations with individual WCGroup stakeholders re log cars, funding options and other considerations for preservation of northwoods branch lines. |
| 2015, July 7 | WI State Budget passed without $4.8 million earmark for log cars. |
| 2015, June 4 | Log car TIGER VII grant application filed: $13.8 million total project: $4.8, TIGER; $4.8, WI; $3.0, MI; and $1.2, CN. |
| 2015, May ... | Communications re log car funding and preparation of grant application. |
| 2015, May 4 | Log car TIGER VII Pre-Application files, $13.8 million total project: $4.8, TIGER; $4.8, WI; $3.0, MI; and $1.2, CN. |
| 2015, April 16 | NRTC meeting, confirm TIGER VII application and MI and WI funding objectives. |
| 2015, April 9 | At Green Bay, Cong. Ribble Transportation Summit, presentation on intermodal and log car relationship; meet CN and TIGER VII consultant, confirm engagement. |
| 2015, April 6 | TIGER VII process begun, log cars; initiate Michigan participation contacts. |
| 2015, Mar. 18 | At Green Bay, Log Committee meeting (Intermodal Committee participation invited) including: GLFR Log Fleet funding, WI Freight Rail Preservation, anticipated TIGER 2015, potential for MI participation; status of Initial Projects and Northwoods Actionable Shipper Data, targeted outreach. |
| 2015, Feb. 26 | NRTC Actionable Shipper Data Committee call-in, agreement on steps for building an outreach contacts network, development of introductory briefing materials. |
| 2015, Feb. 6 | At WisDOT, Madison, Counsel, WMC and WI Counties Assoc. meet with Administrator, WisDOT Division of Transportation Investment Management and WisDOT Counsel re FRPP application and legislation to permit FRPP funding of log cars. |
| 2015, Feb. 2 | Federal System for Award Managment, update Northwoods Rail Transit Commission's account for TIGER VI grant application. |
| 2015, Jan. 30 | WI Freight Rail Preservation Program ("FRPP") log car application filed with WisDOT, $4.8 million FRPP funding to be matched by $1.2 million to be funded by CN, total 50 log cars, $6 million. |
| 2015, Jan. 21 | At WMC, consultation with WI County Highway Assoc., WI Counties Assoc., and Great Lakes Timber Professionals Assoc. re GLFR log car project, FRPP funding. |
| 2015, Jan. 16 | NRTC meeting (via video conference), adopt resolution for TIGER VII and WI Freight Rail Preservation Program ("FRPP") log car applications; approve letter to Governor Walker in support of funding FRPP at $60 million. |
| 2015, Jan. 15 | At Oak Brook IL, CN Advisory Board meeting. Confirm consensus on TIGER VII and WI FRPP log car grant applications, support for consultant. Discuss project priorities including Actionable Shipper Data ("ASD") outreach, L'Anse-Barago work plan, potential for MI particvipation in log car funding. |
| 2014, Dec. 11 | North Central WI, East Central WI and Bay Lakes Regional Planning Commission (via call-in), initial joint consultation on rail projects and potential public grant funding including U.S. Economic Development Administration |
| 2014, Dec. 10 | Escanaba & Lake Superior accepts invitation to participate in CN/WCGroup Log Committee. |
| 2014, Dec. 9 | Log Committee meeting (via call-in only). Discuss and move toward consensus on log car fleet grant applications, retaining consultant |
2014, Nov. 12 |
WisDOT Annual Rail Conference, meeting re potential Wausau LINC locations. |
| 2014, Nov. 03 | "Remote" intermodal, now, Local Intermodal Network Connections or "LINCs". |
| 2014, Oct. 27 | At WisDOT Madison, briefing session re Freight Rail Preservation and loan program and log car fleet concept and work plan and restoring out-of-service segments (e.g. Ladysmith-Prentice, Rhinelander-Goodman, White Pine Line). |
| 2014, Oct. 22 | Great Lakes Forests Log Car Fleet, draft work plan. |
| 2014, Oct. 19 | Hayward Line, notice re substitute service by Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad, begin follow-up with stakeholders and CN. |
| 2014, Oct. 10 | At Rhinelander, Nicolet College, NRTC Meeting, presentation re 2015 projects, remote intermodal criteria and Actionable Shipper Data NRTC/WCGroup coordinated work plan, discussion re White Pine Line "discontinuance". |
| 2014, Oct. 08 | TIGER grant application debriefing (conference call) with USDOT evaluator Paul Baumer and NRTC TIGER working group. |
| 2014, Oct. 03 | At Appleton, Ribble-Shuster (Bill Shuster, Chr. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee) Roundtable, cite CN/WCGroup collaborative model; staff follow-up re scheduling 3rd Biennial Great Lakes Forestry Policy Conference. |
| 2014, Sept. 15 | CN/WCGroup call-in conference, confirming criteria for establishing "remote" intermodal locations in the CN/WC Region. |
| 2014, Aug. 26 | At Warren, MI, 2nd Annual Michigan Rail Conference (sponsored by MI DOT, MI Tech Rail Transportation Program & NURail Center), participation and WCGroup presentation. |
| 2014, Aug. 19 | At WMC, Madison, conference with Escanaba & Lake Superior, explore potential means of facilitating "virtual single line service" at Duluth-Superior, Green Bay and Upper Peninsula interchanges. |
| 2014, Aug. 4 | At WMC, Madison, conference/call-in with Northwoods Rail Transit Commission Chair and others, means of implementing Actionable Shipper Data outreach, local coordination of shippers, public officials and development interests. |
| 2014, July 25 | At Rhinelander, Northwoods Rail Transit Commission meeting: Presentation by WisDOT Secretary Gottlieb; WCGroup presentation on Actionable Shipper Data Outreach, L'Anse-Baraga Subdivision - Work Plan and Duluth-Superior Gateway Logs - Work Plan. |
| 2014, July 14 | At Lake Geneva, CN Advisory Board. Discuss action plan, potential for combining general Actionable Shipper Data outreach wth targeting early establishment of remote intermodal and multipurpose transload locations and follow-up on potential alternative funding and additional options for a publicly owned Great Lakes Forests Log Car Fleet. |
| 2014, July 1 | L'Anse-Baraga Subdivision - Work Plan and Duluth-Superior Gateway Logs - Work Plan circulated. |
| 2014, July 1 | At Green Bay, 2014 Transportation Policy Conference, Cong. Reid Ribble (WI-8). |
| 2014, June 25 | At Madison, Canada-Wisconsin Relations, presentation by Counsel General Roy Norton, deliver WCGroup introduction and agenda. |
| 2014, June 20 | Consultation, Cosco Container Lines regarding Prince Rupert vessel routes and opportunities for WI intermodal locations for imports with optimized match-back. |
| 2014, June 17 | At Green Bay, meeting with The Stone Group regarding WI intermodal connection solutions for WI's food industry, reefer containers, in furtherance of collaborating with DATCP rail service initiative. |
| 2014, June 12 | Log Sub-Committee explores funding feasibility study and AAR certification converting beam to log cars and sets agenda for recovery of Actionable Shipper Data for capacity upgrades on L'Anse/Baraga Subdivision. |
| 2014, June 5 | At Green Bay, Log Committee: CN presentation on benchmarks for extremely light density branch lines; initiate Actionable Shipper Data collection for analysis of MN Arrowhead and Duluth-Superior gateway logs, including joint lien and 2-way loaded miles; explore options for L'Anse/Barago development; revisit log landing for Somerset and Plover areas; consider criteria for restoring out-of-service segments, public funding alternative beyond TIGER grant application. |
| 2014, June 4 | At Fox Valley Tech, Appleton, Intermodal Committee meeting, joined by Hon. Reid Ribble (WI-8). Initiate select sampling of Actionable Shipper Data Worksheet. Committee to reconvene 9/9/2014. |
| 2014, June 4 | At Appleton, "Future of Transportation II" with Hon. Reid Ribble (WI-8), sponsored by WI Counties Assoc., WI Transportation Development Assoc., and WI Transportation Builders Assoc. |
| 2014, May 9 | At Madison, Wisconsin Counties Association meeting regarding extending WCGroup participation. |
| 2014, April 25 | At Rhinelander NRTC meeting: Presentation of NRTC TIGER VI Grant Application for $14 million, with $4 million CN commitment, for 150 log cars at $18 million; discussion of considerations for future of Argonne-Crandon line and WCGroup efforts on Rhinelander-Goodman segment. |
| 2014, April 14 | WCGroup "Great Lakes Forests Log Car Fleet - Our Vision": add a minimum of 300 to 450 new log cars (2015-2017), beginning with 150 car TIGER VI grant; provide supply chain visibility portal; and integrate fleet to provide virtual single line service to the Great Lakes Forests Region.
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| 2014, April 7 | At Madison, WI Economic Development Corp., meeting regarding follow-up on log and intermodal projects, potential participation. |
| 2014, March 21 | At Rhinelander, joint CN and WCGroup presentation, NRTC adopts resolution to seek TIGER VI grant for log car fleet. |
| 2014, March 7-10 | CN expresses interest in TIGER VI funding for log cars; WCGroup responds with a concept for a public-owned Great Lakes Forests Log Car Fleet; communications with NRTC. |
| 2014, Feb. 28 | At Rhinelander, Northwoods Rail Transit Commission ("NRTC"), present ASD Worksheet and Confidentiality Agreement, objectives of out-of-service segments, "How the Railroad Can Help Fix Willow Road" and concept for flexible funding road and bridge maintenance dividend. (e.g., model, WI S.B. 31). |
| 2014, Feb. 24-25 | At Appleton and Green Bay, shipper visits regarding Intermodal and Log Committee participation; extend invitations; develop "routing protocols" concept for "virtual single line" service for logs. |
| 2014, Feb. 1 | Begin circulation of Confidentiality Agreement and "Actionable Shipper Data" Worksheet, experimentally, seeking additional comments. |
| 2014, Jan. 27 | At Madison, Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, follow-up regarding agriculture and food industry intermodal interests. |
| 2014, Jan. 17 | CN Advisory Board at Oakbrook, IL
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| 2013, Dec. 12-13 | At Madison, Governor’s Forestry Economic Summit presentation. |
| 2013, Dec. 11 | At Madison, NRTC and WCGroup meeting with WisDOT (anticipated) regarding project options. |
| 2013, Nov. 13 | At Madison, WisDOT Annual Freight Rail Conference, discussions regarding Northwoods Rail, future funding. |
| 2013, Nov. 12 | At Stevens Point, CN Depot, Log Committee meeting, identify three initial projects; discuss “pricing for Strategic Advantage.” |
| 2013, Nov. 5 | At Milwaukee, Governor’s Freight Industry Summit, presentation by J. Culotta, circulate “Success” and “Ahead” flyers. |
| 2013, Oct. 25 | At Green Bay, consult with Schneider National regarding intermodal interests and working committee. |
| 2013, Oct. 9 | At Madison, Wisconsin Freight Rail Day, contacts regarding CN/WCGroup agenda, circulate “Success” and “Ahead” flyers. |
| 2013, Sept. 27 | At Rhinelander, Northwoods Rail Transit Commission meeting regarding approval of interstate cooperation agreement and public sector freight. |
| 2013, Sept. 5 | At Homewood, IL, consult with CN regarding working committees and Advisory Board schedules and agendas. |
| 2013, Aug. 22 | Initial meeting of CN/WCGroup Log Committee. |
| 2013, Aug. 9 | At Green Bay, Cong. Ribble Transportation Policy Conference, participate with CN representative. |
| 2013, Aug. 8 | At Green Bay, CN/WCGroup Intermodal Committee meeting (in-person and call-in). |
| 2013, July 8 | At Lake Geneva, CN Advisory Board meeting (in-person and call-in). |
| 2013, June 24 | At Carter WI, 2nd Bi-Annual Great Lakes Forestry Policy, hosted by Cong. Benishek, Duffy, and Ribble, panel presentation by CN and CN/WCGroup Log Committee members. |
| 2013, June 18 | Initial CN/WCG Intermodal Committee meeting (call-in). |
| 2013, June 6 | Presentation of CN/WCGroup agenda to WI Counties Association, WI League of Municipalities, WI Towns Association, at invitation of Sen. Petrowski, WI Senate Transportation Committee Chair. |
| 2013, May | Update website, issue papers incl. “Public Benefits of Our Efforts.” Continue committee recruitment. |
| 2013, April 18 | At Rhinelander, “Pellet Industry Summit” – participate with CN and network with representatives of WI State Energy Office, CFIRE, WI Department of Agriculture, Trade etc. (export specialists). |
| 2013, April 2-3 | At Green Bay, CSCMP “State of Intermodal in Wisconsin” – participate/network, separate meetings with stakeholders & CFIRE (UW Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education). |
| 2013, March 27 | At Rhinelander, Northwoods Rail Transit Commission meeting, participate with CN representatives, discussion regarding WisDOT freight survey. Report on pro bono assistance regarding drafting and approval of “interstate cooperation agreement” to add Michigan counties to NRTC. |
| 2013, March 27 | At Rhinelander, meet with officers GLTPA, briefing on Log Committee, CN/WCGroup agenda. |
| 2013, March 26 | At Green Bay, Brown County Port/Rail Development Committee meeting, participate with CN representatives, discussion regarding intermodal location including freight and operational issues. |
| 2013, March 5 | At Sheboygan, LINKe transportation sub-committee and WI DATCP export specialists. Develop concept for potential use of shipper association model for drayage serving the CN/WC Region. |
| 2013, Jan. 23 | At Oakbrook IL, CN Advisory Board meets (in-person and call-in) and directs recruitment two initial working committees “Log” and “Intermodal.” |
| 2012, Dec. 12 | Initial meeting CN Advisory Board (call-in), discuss potential projects, schedule in-person meeting. |
| 2012, Sept. 7 | At Oshkosh, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, Board of Directors; present CN/WCGroup 2012 Joint Projects Initiative, Log Project. Announce agreement on creation of CN Advisory Board. |
| 2012, Sept. 4 | At PCA, Lake Forest IL, meeting with Canadian National (including VP Marketing), agreement on creation of Canadian National Advisory Board – Great Lakes Region, a/k/a CN Advisory Board. |
| 2012, Jan. & May | Agreement on 2012 Joint Projects Initiative and, for first time, identify effort as a “collaboration”; “Contact Committee” to negotiate with Canadian National, defining “collaboration” and “projects.” |
| 2011, June 7 | At Wausau, meeting with Canadian National representatives (marketing, operations, public affairs), Domtar, NewPage, Wausau Papers, PCA, WI Paper Council – CN to compete on all CN/WC lines. |
| 2011, Feb. & June | WCGroup comments and appears (Washington, D.C.) in STB Dockets EP-704, Review of Commodity, Box Car and TOFC/COFC Exemptions, and EP-705, Competition in the Railroad Industry. |
| 2010, June | WCGroup name adopted, Steering Committee organized, explore seeking regulatory relief from the Surface Transportation, rail service & competition. |