About The Railway Association
What is the Railway Association of southern california?
The Railway Association of Southern California is a business development group and professional fellowship founded in 1996 focused on rail planning, engineering, and construction in Southern California. Our group brings together rail industry professionals from both the public and private sectors, as well as helping to field the next generation of talent in the rail industry to keep Southern California’s railroad system growing and vibrant.
What FIELDS IS THE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION FOCUSED TOWARDS?
The Railway Association of Southern California is dedicated to promoting the diverse professions within the railroad industry and sponsoring fellowship among railroad professionals, including:
Engineers - Railway engineering is a multi-faceted discipline dealing with the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of all types of rail transport systems and their associated systems ranging from drainage to signals. Our members work on high-profile projects throughout Southern California, with both county agencies, public-sector operators such as LA Metro, Metrolink, Amtrak, CAHSR, Coaster, and SDMTS, nationally-renowned private-sector operators such as BNSF, Union Pacific, and Virgin Trains.
Architects - Station building is a crucial part of keeping our rail systems connecting people from across the region and to points beyond. While these stations serve a distinct and direct purpose, station building is seen as a true masterpiece of architecture, integrating form with function - moving people efficiently on and off trains, while both melding with and exemplifying the unique character of their surroundings. Additionally, architects help blend rail corridors into the areas they pass through with context-sensitive design solutions and aesthetic treatments.
Environmental, Planning, and Outreach - Railroads in Southern California need to meet one of the most rigorous environmental review processes, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). And with good reason—a single rail project can pass through dense urban areas sensitive to noise, vibration, and utility disruptions, inner-ring suburbs disproportionately impacted by pollution, traffic, and many years of inequity, and ecosystems consisting of flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. These disciplines are instrumental in designing a rail system which improves the safety, health, and welfare of the surrounding communities and furthers environmental stewardship.
Surveyors - Railroad surveying is focused on providing and managing the base-mapping required for the design and maintenance of rail infrastructure. Surveyors are also on the cutting edge of technology, harnessing emerging technologies through fields such as geospatial information, UAV photography and LiDAR, and seismic refraction.
Right of Way - When improving a rail line, sooner or later the corridor will need to expand beyond its footprint to accommodate safety improvements, temporary infrastructure during construction, or additional tracks and supporting infrastructure such as substations or retention basins. Right-of-way agents are responsible for procuring this additional land, gathering the requisite property information and how the project impacts it, and then negotiating with stakeholders to obtain it for a fair market value, all while understanding the unique needs of all stakeholders.
how do i Sign up to attend an event?
On our home page, click the “Attend an Event” button to navigate directly to our Eventbrite page, or open our upcoming events calendar and select the event.
how do i become a member?
On our home page, click the “Become a Member” page for more details on membership. RASC membership for 2020 opens in November 2019. Check back then for more details.
What programs are available for students?
Student members get a discounted rate on our luncheons and events, as well as eligibility to enter our annual scholarship. We are also in the process of developing more student-focused events, programs, and partnerships in the coming year.
how do i sign up for the scholarship?
Applications will be made available at the start of the calendar year.
what are the requirements to apply for the scholarship?
To apply for the scholarship, you must be either an undergraduate or a graduate student in a transportation planning or engineering field, with a focus on a rail-related career path. A GPA of 3.0 or above for graduates or a GPA of 2.0 or above for undergraduates is required to apply.
how do i become an event / annual sponsor?
On our homepage, select “Sponsor an Event” to be directed to our sponsorship form and follow the instructions on the page.
Any other questions?
Please contact us using the form or contact information on our contact page and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
The Railway Association of Southern California (RASC) is a tax-exempt educational advocacy organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The organization’s federal identification number is 95-4613131. More information can be found on our Guidestar Profile or by searching our EIN on the IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Database. Contributions made to RASC are deductible as charitable donations to the extent allowed by applicable tax law. Consult your tax advisor for more information.