U.S. Rep. Kelly talks short-line tax credit, infrastructure bills during plant tour

The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) and its member Gallagher Asphalt Corp. hosted U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) last week for a tour of the company's facility in Thornton, Illinois.

During the visit, Kelly met with Asphalt President Charles Gallagher, senior company executives and employees, community leaders and rail industry representatives to discuss the importance of passing a surface transportation reauthorization bill.

"We appreciate [Kelly’s] support in passing a long-term funding solution for our national transportation system," said Dan Gallagher, the company's chief operating officer, in a REMSA press release.

Also discussed was legislation that would extend the 45G short-line tax credit, which expired at 2017's end. The measure allows a credit of 50 cents for each dollar railroads invest in track and bridge improvements, capped at $3,500 per mile.

Kelly is a cosponsor of H.R. 510, the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act, which is the short-line tax credit extension bill.

Kelly also toured Gallagher's Hotmix plant. The company is equipped to handle railroad trackbeds, intermodal yards and freight terminals, highways, shopping malls, commercial parking facilities, industrial roads and loading bays and high-speed surface-critical racetracks.