U.S. Sen. Kaine's staff visit Stella-Jones' Virginia plant

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine's (D-Va.) staff earlier this month toured wood-tie manufacturer Stella-Jones' plant in Goshen, Virginia.

The plant supplies crossties and bridge timbers to freight railroads, Amtrak, state departments of transportation and transit agencies. Each year, the facility treats more than 1 million ties from sawmills throughout Virginia.

Coordinated by the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), the visit included a transportation policy discussion, as well as conversations highlighting the importance of the short-line 45G tax credit, known as the Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy Act.

The legislation would enable short lines and regionals to claim a 50-cent tax credit for each dollar they spend on track rehabilitation and maintenance. The tour group also called for maintaining current federal limits for truck size and weight.

Other tour attendees included representatives from Buckingham Branch Railroad, a 275-mile short line operating in Virginia.