Texas Rail Advocates

What Texas Rail Advocates does

Texas Rail Advocates (TRA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grassroots organization incorporated in Texas in 2000 to educate the public and private sector on the benefits of freight and passenger rail. Its stated mission is to facilitate Texas' economic growth by advancing rail service as a carrier of both freight and passengers, and it operates primarily in Texas and the broader Southwest region. The organization was originally formed around the South Central High Speed Rail Corridor and has since broadened its scope to encompass both freight and passenger rail policy advocacy across Texas.

TRA does not develop technology products. Its core "product" is the annual Southwestern Rail Conference, now in its 22nd year (scheduled May 18-19, 2026 at the Hurst Conference Center in Texas), which functions as the premier all-rail convening in the region for transportation planners, government affairs professionals, rail industry executives, and policymakers. Secondary offerings include a rail news archive (1,973 posts across 198 pages since 2015), an email newsletter (the TRA Database), a factoid/FAQ resource, and direct advocacy campaigns targeting state legislators, TxDOT, NCTCOG, FRA, the Surface Transportation Board, and transit agencies such as DART and the Austin Transit Partnership.

The business model is a classic nonprofit revenue mix: tiered paid conference registrations ($299 Extra Early Bird, $349 Full 2-Day, $449 Last-minute), corporate sponsorships from rail industry players (Union Pacific, Siemens, Alstom, Stadler, HDR, ARUP, Sundt, Huitt-Zollars, The TGB Group, Horrocks, Stahl, DTR, plus TSLRRA as co-host), and tax-deductible voluntary contributions from private citizens and the business community. The organization is governed entirely by a volunteer Board of Directors with a single paid operations role (registrar/bookkeeper), and it maintains public board meetings, a Get Involved / volunteer pipeline, and a contact infrastructure operated by President Peter LeCody and Conference Registrar Taylor Sharpe.

Name

Texas Rail Advocates

Legal name

Texas Rail Advocates

Website

https://texasrailadvocates.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Texas Rail Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that educates and advocates for freight and passenger rail development in Texas and the Southwest, serving policymakers, transit agencies, and the rail industry through the annual Southwestern Rail Conference and policy outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Policy Advocacy & Lobbying Organizations (EDADADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN)

Keywords

• Rail advocacy
• Freight rail
• Passenger rail
• Rail policy
• Transportation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Registrations: Registration fees for the annual Southwestern Rail Conference provide primary revenue. Registration tiers include Extra Early Bird ($299), Full 2-Day ($349), and Last-minute ($449).
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from rail industry companies including Union Pacific, Siemens, Alstom, HDR, and others for the annual conference and organizational support.
3. Donations and Contributions: Voluntary contributions from private citizens and the business community. TRA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization; financial contributions are tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Texas Rail Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grassroots organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas that advocates for the development and expansion of freight and passenger rail in Texas and the broader Southwest. The organization advances its mission through public education, stakeholder engagement with policymakers and rail industry leaders, and the production of events such as the annual Southwestern Rail Conference, now in its 22nd year as of 2026.

Product overview

Texas Rail Advocates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grassroots organization founded in 2000 that focuses on education and advocacy for freight and passenger rail development in Texas and the Southwest. The organization does not offer software products or technology services. Its primary offerings include organizing the annual Southwestern Rail Conference, publishing news and educational content about rail issues, advocating for rail-friendly legislation, and providing a newsletter for members and the public. The organization serves as a resource for connecting public and private sector stakeholders interested in advancing rail infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Southwestern Rail Conference: Annual all-rail conference highlighting important freight and passenger rail projects and developments held yearly in Texas, currently in its 22nd year (2026).

Products and services

• Southwestern Rail Conference
• Rail Advocacy and Policy Engagement
• Public Rail Education Content

Quantifiable outcome

• TRA advocates for state funding mechanism that could unlock $19 billion in federal rail funds over the past decade that Texas has missed out on
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Union Pacific RailroadcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Conference sponsor and key freight rail partner. Union Pacific supports the Southwestern Rail Conference as a premier sponsor, demonstrating commitment to rail advocacy in Texas and the Southwest.
• Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (TSLRRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Co-hosts annual conference activities with TRA, including joint networking events. Both organizations advocate for short line and regional rail development in Texas.
• SiemensmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Conference sponsor and supplier of rail equipment including locomotives for Trinity Railway Express and Stadler trains for DART.
• AlstommajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Conference sponsor and major rail equipment manufacturer with presence in Texas rail projects.
• ARUPmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Conference sponsor and engineering consultancy providing rail planning and design services.
• HDRmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Conference sponsor and engineering firm involved in rail infrastructure projects.
• Huitt-ZollarsmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Conference sponsor providing architecture and engineering services for rail projects including DART Silver Line.
• StadlermajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Conference sponsor and train manufacturer supplying light rail vehicles for Austin Transit Partnership and FLIRT vehicles for DART Silver Line.
• SundtmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 May 2026Conference sponsor and construction company involved in rail projects including Austin Rail Constructors partnership.
• AmtrakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRA advocates for expanded Amtrak service in Texas including Texas Eagle, Heartland Flyer, and Sunset Limited routes. Works with Amtrak on corridor development and service expansion.
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner. TRA advocates for TxDOT Rail Division funding and participates in Texas Rail Plan updates as a stakeholder in freight and passenger rail discussions.
• Rail Passengers AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational rail advocacy organization. TRA Board member W. Bruce Ashton serves as Rail Passenger Association Liaison, coordinating national and state-level advocacy efforts.
• North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning organization for Dallas-Fort Worth area. Supports DFW High Speed Rail Commission and coordinates on regional rail planning including Silver Line and TEXRail.
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency regulating railroads. FRA officials speak at Southwestern Rail Conference and TRA advocates for federal rail programs including IIJA funding.
• Surface Transportation Board (STB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency regulating surface transportation. STB board members speak at Southwestern Rail Conference on rail industry oversight matters.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Public Transportation Association (APTA): National trade association representing public transit agencies and businesses. Comparable as a rail/transit policy advocate and convening body, though broader in scope than TRA's Texas/Southwest focus.

Direct peers

• Empire State Passengers Association: New York-based nonprofit advocating for passenger rail. Comparable as a state-level rail advocacy organization with similar grassroots organizing, newsletter, and policy-tracking motions.
• US High Speed Rail Association: National advocacy organization promoting high-speed rail development. Comparable in mission to promote rail expansion through public education and policy advocacy; overlapping rail industry sponsor base.
• High Speed Rail Alliance: National nonprofit advocating for high-speed and intercity passenger rail in the U.S. Closely comparable as a rail-focused education and advocacy organization with similar grassroots/community-led GTM motion.
• Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (TSLRRA): Texas-based industry association representing short line and regional railroads. Comparable as a Texas-focused rail organization with overlapping conference and advocacy activities; TRA co-hosts conference activities with TSLRRA.
• Rail Passengers Association: National passenger rail advocacy organization that lobbies for expanded Amtrak service and represents rail passengers. Most directly comparable as a grassroots advocacy nonprofit; TRA already partners with them via the Rail Passenger Association Liaison role.
• RailPAC (Rail Passenger Association of California): California-based nonprofit advocating for improved passenger rail service. Comparable as a state-level rail advocacy organization with similar focus on Amtrak corridor expansion and grassroots policy engagement.
• All Aboard Ohio: Ohio-based nonprofit advocating for passenger and freight rail development. Strongly comparable as a state-level rail advocacy organization with similar newsletter, conference, and direct legislator outreach motions.
• Colorado Rail Passenger Association: Colorado-based nonprofit advocating for passenger rail expansion. Comparable as a state-level rail advocacy org focused on Amtrak corridor development and engaging policymakers.
• Midwest High Speed Rail Association: Regional nonprofit advocating for high-speed and conventional passenger rail in the Midwest. Comparable as a regional rail advocacy org with stakeholder events and policy education focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TXRailAdvocate
• Facebookfacebook.com/txrailadvocate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-rail-advocates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Texas Rail Advocates