View source for About OnTrackWorld

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[[File:Michaelsussman.jpg|thumb|alt=Michael Sussman|Michael Sussman]]
<h1> About OnTrackWorld  </h1>
'''OnTrackWorld''' originated as '''OnTrackNorthAmerica''' (OTNA) which was founded by '''Michael Sussman''' in 2007 as a nonprofit 501c3 industrial policy institute co-leading society in redesigning industrial systems to support sustainable life. This mission was expanded in 2026 with the launch of OnTrackWorld, registered in Pennsylvania as a Benefit Corporation. Michael Sussman began his career in transportation in 1994 by founding [https://strategicrail.com Strategic Rail Finance], (SRF) a trusted advisory firm, and has since advised on infrastructure-related projects, companies, and systems for private and public sector clients in forty-three U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. [[https://strategicrail.com/case-studies/ View SRF case studies]]



At OnTrackWorld, we value objectivity, non-partisanship, and autonomy from any financial, political, or personal interests. We are committed to industrial systems that are financially profitable and sustainable.<br><br>
<b>OnTrackWorld, OTNA, and SRF have developed state and regional plans, tools, </b><b>analyses</b><b>, and paradigms support</b><b>ing</b><b> these </b><b>values</b><b>.  </b>
* In 2023, OTNA led a four-county stakeholder process in New Mexico in the aftermath of a 350,000-acre forest fire resulting in the [[New Mexico Sustainable Forestry Business Plan|New Mexico Forestry Business Plan]].
* In 2021, OTNA convened hundreds of transportation stakeholders to create [[Nevada’s 2021 State Rail Plan]], a new whole-systems paradigm for statewide rail-enabled economic development.
* On December 11, 2008, SRF [[Media:Resolution-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|gathered industry and government leaders in the U.S. Capitol Building]] to set a new collaborative framework for freight rail transportation efficiency.
* On December 8, 1998, SRF convened [[Media:1998-Invitation-US-Congressional-Briefing-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|a rail transportation educational event in the U.S. Capitol Building]] for 55 congressional staff.


<b>OnTrackWorld Frequently Collaborates with Partners in Academia </b><!-- This Paragraph doesn't have corresponding links -->

* Dr. Barbara Gray, founder of Penn State University’s Center for Research in Conflict and Negotiation, has contributed significantly to OTNA’s work. 
* The University of Tennessee’s [https://isse.utk.edu/ Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment] provided research assistance for OTNA’s Land Freight Lifecycle Impact Calculator.
* Philadelphia’s Temple University hosted Michael’s talk, [[How Collaboration, Trust, and Railroads Will Save the World|“How Collaboration, Trust, and Railroads Will Save the World,”]] on December 5th, 2023.
* The Transportation Research Forum honored Michael with its 2024 annual [https://trforum.org/presidents-award/ President’s Award].
* Michael serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the six-university consortium, [https://fersc.utk.edu/ Center for Freight Transportation and Efficient & Resilient Supply Chains]  


<b>He has contributed </b><b>to </b><b>improving public policy by meeting with s</b><b>taff or leaders of 6</b><b>9</b> <b>U.S. Senate and 1</b><b>9</b><b>5</b><b> U.S. House offices</b><b>.  </b>

* In March of 2011, Michael was the only private sector invitee to a [[Media:2011-Invitation-US-Congress-Rail-Workshop-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|U.S. House Railroad Subcommittee Staff Workshop]] to explore ways to improve the FRA RRIF loan program.
* On February 17, 2011, [[Media:2011-Testimony-US-Congressional-Hearing-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Railroad Subcommittee]] on reforms to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program.
* On October 19, 2005, [[Media:2005-Testimony-Surface-Transportation-Board-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|he spoke before the Surface Transportation Board]] on the 25th anniversary of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980.


<b>Representative acknowledgments of these efforts:</b>

* Thank you letters from [[Media:Thank-You-Letter-US-Rep-Wolf-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|Republican House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf]] and [https://work.ontracknorthamerica.org/images/3/3e/Thank-You-Letter-US-Sen-Rockefeller-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller’s Chief of Staff].
* In 2003, he contributed to Washington State produce shippers by designing and writing important elements of the [[Media:2003-Reference-Letter-2-WSDOT-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|Washington State Produce Railcar Pool Act]] as passed by the 2003 state legislature.
* In 1999, he worked with the Federal Railroad Administration to eliminate audited financial statement requirements for Class II and III railroads from the [[Media:OMB-Caused-the-Delay-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing Act (RRIF loan program)]].
* In November of 1997 he was responsible for making freight rail projects eligible in [[Media:OnTrackNorthAmerica-105v106.pdf|H.R.115 – the National Infrastructure Development Act]].


<b>Michael‘s writing has been published in many transportation industry journals:</b>

* [[Media:December 2014 Railway Age Perspective.pdf|Railway Age, December 2014, “Revitalizing Direct Rail Service”]]
* [[Media:A-RRIF-Centered-Capitalization-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|Railway Age, April 2011, “A RRIF-Centered Capitalization Growth Strategy”]]
* [[Media:Leveraging-Capital-for-the-Entire-Industry-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|Railway Age, September 2008, “Leveraging Capital for the Entire Industry”]]
* [[Media:Regional-and-Short-Line-RRs-in-the-US-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|Transportation Quarterly, Fall 2002, “Regional and Short Line Railroads in the United States”]]
* [[Media:Assessing-the-Process-of-Creating-the-RRIF-Program-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|Association of Transportation Law, Logistics & Policy, Fall 2000, “Assessing the Process of Creating the RRIF Program”]]
* [[Media:Getting-a-Lenders-Attention-OnTrackNorthAmerica.pdf|Progressive Railroading, June 1998, “Getting a Lender’s Attention”]]
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[[Special:Contact|Contact us]]

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<big>'''1700 Sansom Street, Suite 701'''

'''Philadelphia, PA 19103 USA'''

'''Phone: +1 215-564-3004'''</big>
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