Widehall and the AAR recently hosted a public forum in Washington, D.C., bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore the future of transportation. The discussion centered on how flexible, forward-looking policies and emerging technologies can drive economic growth, strengthen the workforce, and promote environmental sustainability across the sector.

As host Steve Clemons, Editor at Large of The National Interest, put it, the event was about more than just technology—it was about confronting America’s “regulatory stuckness.” How can we, as a nation, rethink the way we regulate, evolve, and adapt to the realities of today’s economy and infrastructure? The conversation invited participants to engage in an open dialogue about innovation, competitiveness, and the future of how America moves. 

Ian Jefferies, AAR President & CEO

“When I look back on my eight years leading the Association of American Railroads, the world has changed in ways none of us could have imagined. We’ve lived through a pandemic, a global supply-chain crisis, and now a wave of technological transformation driven by data, automation, and AI.

Through it all, railroads kept this country moving—24/7, through every disruption—and that’s a testament to the men and women in this industry. Yet, while we’ve evolved, our regulatory framework has not. Much of it was written in the steam-engine era and still assumes a world of manual inspections and mechanical systems.

We’re steel on steel — that will never change—but everything around that has. It’s time for an outcomes-based regulatory model that rewards innovation, that says: tell us what safety or performance goal you want achieved, and let us figure out the best way to get there. Because our future depends on our ability to keep evolving.”

Susan Dudley, Former Administrator of OIRA & Distinguished Professor of Practice at George Washington University; Matt Soule, Co-Founder & CEO of Parallel Systems; & Robert Atkinson, President of ITIF

Susan

“When we talk about regulation, we often forget what it’s supposed to achieve. Regulation should focus on outcomes—not on rigid rules that prescribe exactly how to do something, but on what we’re trying to accomplish. The goal should always be safety, efficiency, and fairness, not micromanagement of processes written decades ago.

The rail industry is a perfect example: if automated track inspections can deliver better results than manual ones, then policy should adapt to that evidence. We need an iterative, learning-based regulatory model that encourages pilot programs and data collection instead of stifling them. The way forward is not to fear innovation but to harness it to serve the public interest more effectively.”

Matt

“At Parallel, we’re trying to rethink what rail can be. We’re building self-contained, battery-electric, autonomous vehicles that move together like a digital platoon—built to make rail more flexible, more efficient, and more sustainable. The goal is simple: increase rail’s market share because rail is safer, cleaner, and more energy-efficient than any other freight mode.

We respect the legacy of traditional railroads, but we also see an opportunity to modernize without disrupting what works. That means working within the system while showing what’s possible when technology and infrastructure evolve together. What drives us is the belief that American manufacturing and innovation can thrive again—if we’re given the freedom to focus on outcomes rather than being told every step we must take to get there.”

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)

“When I think about transportation policy, I think about it as an investment in America’s future—something we owe to our children and grandchildren. It’s not just about roads and bridges, it’s about opportunity, connectivity, and national strength.

My father was a civil engineer for the Department of Roads, and I grew up walking bridge abutments on Sunday drives, watching the interstate take shape. That left a mark on me—seeing how infrastructure literally connects people’s lives. Now, as we look at reauthorization and the future of transportation, we must balance innovation with practicality: using technology to make travel faster, safer, and more efficient, while ensuring we maintain the systems that built this country.

Government’s role is to enable—not hinder—the creativity and entrepreneurship that drive progress. If we view every transportation decision as an investment, not just an expense, we’ll build a system worthy of the next generation.”

Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

“Permitting reform is not just an energy issue—it’s about everything this country builds: infrastructure, transportation, data centers, energy grids, even public works. Right now, it takes almost five years on average to get through a NEPA permit, and sometimes a decade or more for projects like mines.

That delay costs taxpayers trillions, holds back innovation, and weakens our competitiveness. We can protect the environment and still build—these goals are not in conflict. The Speed Act I’m championing is about making NEPA work as a process again—not as a weapon to stop projects, but as a tool to evaluate them efficiently.

What America needs now is certainty: a clear yes or no, not endless maybe. Because without the ability to build, to innovate, to move forward, we lose the very spirit that made this country great.”