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 does the Railway Association focus on?

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?

Our events are posted on our website, visit our calendar on the Events page to learn more and purchase tickets.

How do I become a member?

Memberships are available on our website, visit Become A Member to purchase your membership today!

What programs are available for students?

RASC offers a variety of networking opportunities, site visits, and events which student members can attend at a heavily discounted rate. Please visit our College Program to learn more.

How do I Apply for a scholarship?

Scholarships are available for undergraduate and graduate students attending a college in southern California. Applications open at the start of each calendar year and close in the summer. For more information please see our Scholarships page.

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 is required to apply. For more information please see our Scholarships page.

How do I volunteer at an event or join the RASC Board?

There are many opportunities to volunteer with RASC or join a committee! Learn more about how to get involved by navigating to our Volunteer page.

Any other questions?

Please send us a message via our Contact Form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.