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  • Gather and Learn at the TSLRRA 2022 Annual Meeting

    Gather and Learn at the TSLRRA 2022 Annual Meeting

    Mark your calendar for this important railroad industry event in Austin

    The Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has announced the TSLRRA 2022 Annual Meeting, coming up Feb. 13 and 14 in Austin, Texas.  Rail firms, engineering companies, railroad consultants and many other professionals consider this event one that shouldn’t be missed.

    Check back with the association’s website as details on the meeting are published.

    Why we’re attending the TSLRRA 2022 Annual Meeting

    TGB Group tries to make all the “key” meetings and events that are related to our civil engineering and project management work in the railroad industry.  Texas Short Line meetings are always a priority for our team because we get to learn the most current news and information that could and does affect our business and the Texas rail industry as a whole.

    We encourage you to make plans for the TSLRRA 2022 Annual Meeting.  Maybe we’ll see you there!

    About the Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association

    If you’re not familiar with the TSLRRA, here are some highlights about the association and the state of the rail industry.

    A lot is riding on short lines

    Short line rail serves companies and industries with more than 475,000 employees who generate $56 billion in economic value-add.

    Locally owned and operated

    Texas short line railroads are often locally owned and operated and are critical parts of the communities they serve.

    Want to save on gas costs?

    Freight transport is highly economical: a ton of freight moved across 479 miles of short line track uses only one gallon of diesel fuel.

    That’s a lot of freight

    Each year, close to 380 million tons of freight are moved along Texas railroads.

    The environment likes rail transport

    Rail transportation of freight creates 75% fewer greenhouse gases than trucks and accounts for just 0.6% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

    TSLRRA provides comprehensive services

    • Active in legislative & regulatory issues
    • Advocates for advancing safe railway operations
    • Provides industry education & professional training
    • Promotes ethical operating & business standards
    • Supports responsible environmental practices
    • Partners with government and private industry for economic growth

    Learn more about the Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.

    Make plans to attend the 2022 TSLRRA Annual Meeting

    If you haven’t already marked your calendar, do it now and don’t miss out on what will surely be a fantastic annual meeting and a chance to network and renew acquaintances.

    The TGB Group

     

  • Join Us at the TEDC 2022 Mid-Year Conference, June 22-24

    Join Us at the TEDC 2022 Mid-Year Conference, June 22-24

    This is a key event for the Texas Economic Development Council

    TEDC 2022 Mid-Year Conference
    Omni Hotel, Corpus Christi

    If you have a Texas-based business or a business that operates in Texas, you should consider attending the TEDC 2022 Mid-Year Conference in June.

    TGB Group has been a participant and often a sponsor of the conference since our inception in 2016.  Our President, Mike Murphy, has been involved with the Texas Economic Development Council for more than 10 years.

    Why the TEDC 2022 Mid-Year Conference is important

    Across three days, a variety of presentations are scheduled that will be beneficial to anyone with Texas business interests.  Our company is based in Texas, so it’s a no-brainer for us to attend.

    As of late May, scheduled topics and activities for the conference include:

    • Strategies for blending the worlds of workforce, economic development and education
    • TEDC Executive Committee meeting
    • Initiatives in alternative and sustainable energy in Texas
    • The role of The Port of Corpus Christi in the global economy
    • Ideas for employee recruitment and retention
    • Best practices for screening leads and vetting projects
    • Leadership lessons for economic developers
    • Workforce Excellence Award recognition
    • Reenergizing the small business ecosystem
    • Overview of employee trends in Texas

    and so much more.

    Review sponsors and full tentative itinerary >>>

    Network with like-minded professionals

    Throughout the three-day TEDC 2022 Mid-Year Conference, there will be plenty of opportunities to network and connect with the “movers and shakers” who make Texas’ business run.

    Being able to meet and get to know other like-minded professionals is in itself enough reason to attend the conference.  Based on our experience at past conferences, many of the key players in Texas business, economics and transportation will be there.

    All this and great golf!

    Education and networking are important, but making the conference even better is a fun golf tournament scheduled for June 22 at the NorthShore Country Club Golf Course in Portland, Texas.  If you play, you can get involved.  TGB Group is one of the tourney’s sponsors.

    Where it’s happening

    The TEDC 2022 Mid-Year Conference will be held at the Omni Hotel, 900 Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, Texas.  Registration closes on June 15.  You can register at the Omni Hotel link above.

    The TGB Team

     

  • TSLRRA Membership Has Many Benefits

    TSLRRA Membership Has Many Benefits

    A recap of the 2021 TSLRRA Annual Meeting and the importance of the association

    TGB Group’s TSLRRA membership allowed us the pleasure of attending the first virtual Texas Short Line & Regional Railroad Association Annual Meeting on Feb. 24, 2021. We’ve belonged to the TSLRRA four years now, and it has always been a key part of our professional lives.

    The TSLRRA forwards to us important details about current short line rail news on both the legislative and local levels and provides many other benefits.

    Paul Treangen, TSLRRA president, says:

    Our advocacy is at the state level, including TxDOT, but we also work with ASLRRA at the federal level. Also, we provide access to, and partner with, Class 1 government affairs staff, hold annual meetings, and provide visibility/engagement to our non-railroad members.

    TSLRRA membership has added benefits of special access to background screenings and drug testing through eVerifile’s service, eShortLine (a contractor screening and security administration program explicitly formed for short line railroads).

    Why TSLRRA membership is important

    We believe in supporting an organization like TSLRRA because of its ongoing outreach to assist “mom and pop” railroads in numerous ways. The annual meeting is part of this outreach and gives these smaller railroad owners a perfect chance to meet and get to know other rail-industry professionals and gain access to helpful talks presented by knowledgeable speakers.

    Short line railroads get overlooked too often, but the fact is, they’re very important for the factories and farms that link to major shippers and exporters.

    TSLRRA Annual Meetings always bring us plenty of critical information such as details about heavy regulatory initiatives. These initiatives can hinder growth and Austin short line tax credit.

    The TSLRRA and other short line associations are encouraging Congress to institute an ongoing tax credit that will help short line railroads enhance their infrastructure.

    Want to know more about TSLRRA membership? Go to their LinkedIn page.

    About TSLRRA

    The Texas Short Line & Regional Railroad Association is a nonprofit professional organization representing the interests of the more than 40 short line railroads and industry related businesses in Texas.

    Established in 2003, TSLRRA’s purpose has been to promote the state’s economy, champion public safety issues and partner with local governments and organizations to enhance the transportation infrastructure and bring new jobs and prosperity to Texas communities. Learn more about the Texas Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

    Benefits of TSLRRA membership
    1. Industry expertise

    TSLRRA provides members with countless resources to keep them informed about ever-changing regulatory and legal issues pertaining to short line and regional railroads. Members can call or meet with in-house experts to discuss inquiries and get guidance. Bi-weekly newsletters, as well as ASLRRA’s exclusive data publication Industry Fact Book, summarize market trends and opportunities for railway operators, so members will never miss an opportunity or be caught unaware of changing tides in the industry. Members also have access to a library of webinars from trade experts and see speakers at regional meetings and seminars.

    1. Networking opportunities

    Through annual conventions, events, and regional meetings, members have a wide range of opportunities to meet with like-minded individuals, learn emerging trends and make important, lasting business connections. To get even more involved, members can serve on a number of committees or participate in mentorship programs.

    1. Advocacy programs

    ASLRRA represents small railroad operators in Washington D.C. In doing so, their team of lobbyists works with lawmakers to prevent unfair taxation and regulation. Through this advocacy, railroad owners have the ability to voice their concerns and provide recommendations directly to the government.

     

  • TGB Group Has Made the Commtrex Rail Service Providers Top 10 List

    TGB Group Has Made the Commtrex Rail Service Providers Top 10 List

    A great marketing tool and recognition of our commitment to our clients

    TGB Group has been recognized among the Top 10 Rail Service Providers on the Commtrex Top 10 Railroad Engineering Services Companies List for March 2021.

    The Commtrex Rail Services Directory connects shippers and rail service providers across the U.S. and Canada with an interactive map, comparison features and customized details.

    Prime exposure for rail service providers

    To give easy access to the best rail industry professionals, Commtrex has developed a set of Top 10 lists based on positive user engagement in its Rail Services Directory and Railcar Storage Marketplace. Each list is routinely updated and includes the major services that shippers and railroaders use to manage their businesses.

    Commtrex CEO Martin Lew pointed out that companies advertising with Commtrex have a much greater level of exposure to customers interested in learning more about top rail service providers.

    “The Commtrex Rail Services Directory is the go-to resource for shippers and asset owners, who are at the core of our membership base and compose over 65% of the Commtrex community,” Lew said.

    He added, “Our Top 10 lists provide both members and the public with the actively engaged service providers available in our Rail Services Directory and Railcar Storage Marketplace. Shippers trust our Top l0 lists as a valuable resource when searching for rail services.”

    We’re proud to be added to this list that will be seen by scores of professionals in the rail industry and related industries. The Commtrex directory is a great marketing tool for our team, but being named to the annual Top 10 list is extra-special. It validates our commitment and willingness to “go that extra mile” for our clients.

    More about Commtrex on their website.

    To learn more about TGB Group’s work as a Texas-based rail service provider and our engineering, design and project management services, contact President Mike Murphy at (866) 217-7794.

  • The AREMA Annual Conference: Learning & Networking Opportunities

    The AREMA Annual Conference: Learning & Networking Opportunities

    The perfect event for all rail industry professionals

    TGB Group representatives are looking forward to the upcoming AREMA Annual Conference to be held Sept. 26-29.  Every year, the American Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) puts on a great conference with many educational and networking opportunities.

    Presented in conjunction with Railway Interchange, the conference is designed as an opportunity for rail engineering professionals to expand their industry knowledge about the latest technologies and innovations.  TGB Group will join many others who seek key distinctions that will allow them to expand and grow their businesses or consultancies.

    AREMA Annual Conference presenters

    A variety of rail-industry experts are scheduled to speak and share important knowledge with attendees that will benefit them, no matter what sector of the industry they serve.

    Every year, those who participate in the AREMA Annual Conference get to hear about what’s trending, what’s coming up the pipeline and how we can use the information to further our expertise and make our companies more fluent and effective.

    Networking with other professionals

    The AREMA Annual Conference is the perfect time to reconnect with associates and make new connections that can bring positive mutual benefit.  Just these brief (or extended) conversations can give you a wealth of insight and ideas that you can bring back home and implement with your team.

    We attend as many industry conferences and events as possible throughout the year.  While our team of civil engineering experts are at the forefront of our niche in the industry, we believe there’s always room for improvement and growth.  The AREMA Annual Conference is a great and fun way to accomplish that.

    About AREMA

    The American Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association is a professional association for those who serve in many capacities in the rail and rail engineering industries.  AREMA focuses on education with many events throughout the year.

    The association creates and distributes recommended practices regarding communications, structures, tracks and signals in the rail industry.  AREMA currently has about 6,000 members.

    We’ll see you at the conference!

  • BBB Gold Star Certificate from Houston Better Business Bureau

    BBB Gold Star Certificate from Houston Better Business Bureau

    The BBB is one of the many ways we connect with our community

    TGB Group has received a 2020 BBB Gold Star Certificate from the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas.  We learned about this honor in April 2020.

    BBB membership is one of the many ways we stay connected with our community and is an opportunity for our community to stay connected with us.  There are Better Business Bureaus throughout the United States, and each one is in place to showcase businesses and companies in its area that perform to the highest ethical and professional standards.

    We’re proud to be recognized with the BBB Gold Star Certificate.  While our membership with the Houston BBB is just one of many memberships we hold, it’s important to us, because many consumers (including our future customers) consider it important that a company be in good standing with their local bureau.

    Along with the BBB Gold Star Certificate, we maintain an A+ rating with the Houston BBB and have received 5 stars on each of our customer reviews through the bureau.

    More important than a BBB Gold Star Certificate and other awards

    It’s always nice to be recognized by organizations and agencies for a job well done.  But at TGB Group, the most important recognition comes from our customers, the people we serve and help to grow and expand their operations.  Without satisfied customers on your side, you really don’t have a business.

    Since we launched our company three years ago, certain elements have been in place to guide us in all our work.  They include:

    • Integrity
    • Honesty
    • Hard work
    • Industry expertise
    • Clear communication
    • Customer-first approach
    • On-time delivery of services

    The way we see it, when the owners of a business set the standard for everyone in the company, when they hold employees – and themselves – to these standards, things just run more smoothly and client satisfaction is guaranteed to be high.

    If you’re interested in hiring the TGB team for your next engineering or design project, give us a call at (866) 217-7794 and tell us what you want to accomplish.

  • Importance of a Feasibility Study

    Importance of a Feasibility Study

    How TGB Group helps its clients by working through all the details of a civil design/engineering project

    Of all the parts and parcels of a civil design or engineering project, the feasibility study may be the most critical.  Like the old saying, “Failure to plan is planning to fail.”  A quality feasibility study early in the planning stages allows you to address the major concerns that will be involved in doing the project and operating with it afterwards.

    When the TGB Group team performs a feasibility study for our clients, we customize each area to our clients’ and the project’s specific needs.  General areas we cover include the following.

    Feasibility study components

    Market impact

    In the very earliest stages, company leaders must forecast the viability of a project in terms of how it will be accepted in the market and the impact it will have on competitors and sales.  A detailed feasibility study covering market impact projections is critical for every new project.

    Technical assessment

    Once we determine that the business idea is sound, we want to ensure that the civil and structural engineering aspects as well as design are capable of being executed in a way that supports the project throughout all its stages.

    Management

    We evaluate project management capabilities to confirm that the project will be overseen with the expertise necessary to make it successful.

    Financial feasibility study

    Paying for the many services required to complete a project is a paramount concern.  We want to investigate and determine that the client will be able to secure the necessary funding to see the project through to completion.

    Economic concerns

    The economic part of a feasibility study looks at the potential economic benefits and losses that could result if the project is developed and completed as planned.

    Cultural impact

    Part of a quality feasibility assessment is considering the impact of the project on the local community and culture.  Many problems can be alleviated by knowing what these impacts may be during the building phase and after the project is finished.

    Safety

    Safety assessments look at the wide range of possible environmental influences the project will create.  It’s important for our clients to see the “bigger picture” in this area so alterations to certain aspects of the project, if deemed necessary, can be made early.

    Permitting

    Every project requires a number of permits, licenses and approvals.  A feasibility study should determine which of these will be required, how they will be secured and who will be responsible for securing them.

    As noted, every feasibility study is unique, so the above elements are simply a general guide.  The bottom line is we want to make your project as smooth and predictable as possible from the earliest planning stages to the day you open for business.

  • 2020 TSLRRA Annual Meeting

    TSLRRA Annual Meeting in Dallas

    2020 TSLRRA Annual Meeting

    An opportunity to network and help support this important organization

    TGB Group was excited to attend and sponsor the TSLRRA Annual Meeting Jan. 23-25, 2020 at the Beeman Hotel in Dallas. We’ve been a member of the Texas Short Line & Regional Railroad Association for three years and have always considered it an important part of our professional lives.

    Among its many other activities, the TSLRRA provides us with vital details about current short line rail news on local and legislative levels.

    Why we attend the TSLRRA Annual Meeting

    It’s important for us to support an organization like TSLRRA as they continue their outreach to help smaller “mom and pop” railroads.  The annual meeting is one of the ways they do it, and every year the event includes the opportunity to network with others in the railroad industry and hear informative talks from leading speakers.

    This year’s TSLRRA Annual Meeting featured guest speaker Ed Emmett, a former Harris County Judge and Texas Department of Transportation Freight Advisory Committee member.

    Because of their smaller size, short line railroads often are overlooked, yet they’re quite important for the farms and factories that connect with large shipping concerns and exporters. Past TSLRRA Annual Meeting/luncheon events have provided us with information regarding heavy regulatory initiatives, which can stand in the way of economic growth and Austin short line tax credit.

    Short line associations are pushing Congress to make a tax credit permanent to help short lines improve infrastructure. modal equity and the benefits of membership through growth.

    About TSLRRA

    The Texas Short Line & Regional Railroad Association is a nonprofit professional organization representing the interests of the more than 40 short line railroads and industry related businesses in Texas.

    Established in 2003, TSLRRA’s purpose has been to promote the state’s economy, champion public safety issues and partner with local governments and organizations to enhance the transportation infrastructure and bring new jobs and prosperity to Texas communities. Learn more about the Texas Short Line & Regional Railroad Association.

  • New Crude Facilities in West Texas

    New Crude Facilities in West Texas

    Multiple crude-by-rail terminals in the works

    TGB Group is currently engaging with a large midstream company to develop four new crude facilities in west Texas. These transloading facilities are planned to be north, south, east and west in the Permian Basin, which spans western Texas and southeast New Mexico. The crude facilities will help with the rising demand for oil transport in the region.

    Our team is providing design, construction management, procurement and consulting services to the developer. Strategic consulting services for the new crude facilities in west Texas are focused on helping the client find optimal locations and assisting the client in the development of efficient operating procedures. TGB Group is working with the railroads involved – both Class I and Short Line railroads – on pricing and routing options.

    About the Permian Basin

    The Permian Basin is a sedimentary basin that contains one of the thickest rock deposits from the Permian geologic period found anywhere in the world. The greater Permian Basin is made up of smaller component basins, the largest of the three being the Midland Basin.

    The rock deposits of the Permian basin begin south of Lubbock, Texas, and extend southward through the Midland/Odessa area almost as far as the Rio Grande River. The basin then extends to the west into New Mexico.

    The Permian Basin falls within one of the country’s richest oil-production areas. With headquarters in Midland and Odessa, the area through 1993 had produced some 15 million barrels of oil.

    To learn more about the new crude facilities in west Texas and our work on this project, please contact:

    Jake Cooper, Business Development Manager, TGB Group: (832) 748-0343

  • Wolf Basin Logistics Facility Project Underway

    Wolf Basin Logistics Facility Project Underway

    TGB Group has begun the first phase of construction for the Wolf Basin Logistics transloading facility project in Big Spring, TX.  We’re scheduled to finish this phase in February 2019, with three other phases to follow. Alor will hire approximately 50 local residents to work at the facility after all phases are complete. This is a great employment opportunity for folks in and around Big Spring.

    The first phase consists of constructing two railroad tracks that will be used for the rail-to-truck transloading of barite and brine for local oilfield needs. Wolf Basin Logistics is helping the Big Spring Railroad by replacing the mainline switch and upgrading the curves that continue onto their (Alor’s) property to ensure safety and longevity.


    Phase I focuses on railroad track construction to receive barite and brine for oil fields

    Brine

    Brine is the term for dissolved salt/salt mixtures and is used in oil drilling. Preferred over water in drilling applications, brines are high-density but don’t contain particles that could cause damage in a drilling operation. Brine classes include bromides, formates and calcium and sodium chloride brines.

    Drone Footage

    TGB Group’s Business Development Manager, Jake Cooper, has been busy taking drone footage of pre-construction areas for the Wolf Basin Logistics transloading facility project. The goal is to provide a visual comparison when phase I is complete. Additional drone footage will be available following the completion of future phases.

    This video footage starts from the Big Spring Railroad and shows Wolf Basin Logistics’s property before any construction was started. You can see the rail curve that leads to the switch that is going to be replaced.

    To learn more about our work on the Wolf Basin Logistics transloading facility project, please contact:

    Mike Murphy, president, TGB Group: (832) 748-7603