Our Founder

Michael Sussman

I began my career in transportation in 1994 by launching Strategic Rail Finance, a North American transportation-industry consulting firm. My associates and I have been busy since then, advising private and public sector clients in 44 states and Canada. I entered the rail industry with the intention to improve how we invest capital in infrastructure and industrial systems. In addition to our client work, I have contributed considerable time and energy to educating, and learning from, government officials and staff at all levels.

I have met with the staff or leaders of 68 U.S. Senate offices and 135 U.S. House offices, speaking on behalf of policy and programmatic improvements that would benefit all, not just a particular client or vested interest.

Leading up to the founding of OnTrackNorthAmerica in 2007, and in the years since, we have developed our capacity to convene stakeholders in government and industry.

In 2023 we led a four-county stakeholder activity in New Mexico in the aftermath of a 450,000-acre forest fire. This work resulted in the New Mexico Forestry Business Plan.
In 2021 we convened hundreds of transportation stakeholders to help create Nevada’s 2021 State Rail Plan, which supports the Nevada Department of Transportation in a new whole-systems paradigm for freight rail planning.
On December 11, 2008, we convened a five-hour summit of industry and government leaders in the U.S. Capitol to consider new collaborative approaches to freight transportation efficiency.
On December 8, 1998, we convened a rail transportation conference in the U.S. Capitol for 55 congressional staff, which was praised by many as the finest briefing they had ever attended.

I am honored to have earned the respect and ear of congressional leaders and staff.

In March 2011 I was the only private-sector invitee to a U.S. House Railroad Subcommittee Staff Workshop exploring ways to improve the Federal RA RRIF loan program.
On February 17, 2011, I 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, I spoke before the Surface Transportation Board on the 25th anniversary of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980.

I have found that our common sense message, based on whole-system thinking, resonates across the political spectrum.

Some representative acknowledgments of our efforts:

On April 5th, 2024 I received the President’s Award from the Transportation Research Forum.
I received thank you letters from Republican House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf and Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller’s Chief of Staff.
In 2003 I contributed to Washington State produce shippers by designing and writing important elements of the Washington State Produce Railcar Pool Act as passed by the 2003 state legislature.
In 1999 I worked with the Federal Railroad Administration to eliminate audited financial statement requirements for Class II and III railroads from the Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing Act (RRIF loan program).
In November of 1997 I was responsible for having freight rail projects made eligible in H.R.115 – the National Infrastructure Development Act.

I have had several academic collaborators over the years to help bring focus to the pressing matters of our time:

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 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,” on December 5, 2023.
The Transportation Research Forum honored Michael with its 2024 annual President’s Award.
Michael serves on the Industry Advisory Board of the six-university consortium, Center for Freight Transportation and Efficient & Resilient Supply Chains

He has contributed to improving public policy by meeting with staff or leaders of 69 U.S. Senate and 195 U.S. House offices.

In March of 2011, Michael was the only private sector invitee to a U.S. House Railroad Subcommittee Staff Workshop to explore ways to improve the FRA RRIF loan program.
On February 17, 2011, 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, he spoke before the Surface Transportation Board on the 25th anniversary of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980.

Representative acknowledgments of these efforts:

Thank you letters from Republican House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf and 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 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 Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing Act (RRIF loan program).
In November of 1997 he was responsible for making freight rail projects eligible in H.R.115, the National Infrastructure Development Act.

Michael‘s writing has been published in many transportation industry journals:

Our Founder

Micha﻿el Sussman

Michael Sussman