Arnav Rao
Transportation Policy Analyst
655 15th Street NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20005Arnav Rao is a Transportation Policy Analyst at the Open Markets Institute, where he researches the business practices and public policies shaping maritime trade and transportation. Before joining the institute, he worked for U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Jon Ossoff and former U.S. Representative Carolyn Bourdeaux, as well as in government affairs at Tesla, Union Pacific Railroad, and Zoox. Raised near Atlanta, Rao earned a B.S. in Public Policy with a minor in Law, Science, and Technology from Georgia Tech.
Topics
Appearances (1)
2026-09-22
Transportation Analyst Says UP-NS Merger Would Harm Shippers and CommunitiesIn the latest episode of the Powering America Podcast, transportation policy analyst Arnav Rao from the Open Markets Institute discusses the potential impact of the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads. Rao argues that the merger could harm shippers and communities by consolidating market power, increasing freight traffic, and exacerbating issues related to pricing and service reliability. He emphasizes the importance of a strong rail system for industrial growth and environmental sustainability in the United States.
Notable quotes
“Even if we have a single line service, there's no guarantee that the railroad would pass those efficiencies on to shippers.”
“Farmers' grain silos really feel the pinch from those increased costs.”
“With trucking, shippers are able to really get a fine-grained, here's where my shipment is, here's when it's coming.”
“Union Pacific accounts for more blocked crossing reports than all of the other Class I railroads combined.”
“A strong rail system is really important for industrial revival.”
“Rising fuel costs ostensibly should be a favor for railroads, right? Trucks consume way more fuel than railroads do.”