August 10, 2026
Built to Last: Why Rail Construction Demands Perfection
Originally published in Construction Perspectives, Rail Track & Structures (RT&S) Magazine, August 2026
Unlike other infrastructure projects, rail demands a level of precision where a single miscalculation can have cascading effects on safety and operations for decades — a reality that sets the rail sector apart in the world of civil engineering.
Clayton Gilliland, President of Stacy Witbeck, was recently interviewed by Chief Editor David Lester on his perspectives around today's construction industry, and how it's rising to meet these rigorous standards through advanced technology and uncompromising quality control.
Improving Operational Efficiency in Project Delivery
Many of our projects use alternative delivery formats, which include a pre-construction phase. During this phase, we collaborate with our clients to jointly develop the project. This is where we work tirelessly to drive efficiency into the work by challenging the project layout, clarifying requirements, and bringing operational talent to bear through our “Build Teams.” This helps ensure the planning sets us up to operate efficiently once the job launches. On the jobsite, we are also more thoroughly using platforms that manage workflow and improve administrative efficiency.
Investing in Sustainability
Our sustainability investments focus on two areas: strengthening our people and internal systems, and building sustainable practices into the projects we deliver. We are tracking Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, training employees through LEED, Envision, and related programs, and reducing waste through recycling, scrap recovery, material reuse, and smarter purchasing. On our projects, we prioritize land reuse, responsible material sourcing, and onsite recycling of steel, concrete, and asphalt. When possible, we reuse nearby soils and incorporate natural materials uncovered during excavation into the final design, reducing hauling, cost, and environmental impact.
Importance of Safety in Company Culture
There is no more honorable effort than ensuring your teammate returns home healthy every day. We’re proud to be part of an industry that continuously works to improve safe working conditions and influence personal behavior to prevent injuries. These efforts have broad benefits across our organization and the industry, improving morale and efficiency through work planning, teaching fundamental leadership skills, and engaging employees at all levels. A company’s safety program and performance are primary indicators of its culture, revealing the organizations you want to work with, regardless of the arrangement.
Continuous Improvement at Stacy Witbeck
CREW360 is a continuous improvement initiative launched in 2020 that has transformed our approach to engagement across all levels of our organization, particularly in safety and operational leadership. It leverages frontline leadership and craft input to challenge and improve every aspect of our program and operations over time.
Key aspects of the program include positive perception, visible commitment from executives, and active participation by middle management. This year, we are revisiting the original intent of the program to revitalize it while also challenging our program requirements to streamline the process and eliminate superfluous activities. We want to avoid overloading supervisors with excessive daily tasks that can create inefficiencies and take away from their core work.
Thoughts on Federal Funding for Projects
We are laser-focused on balancing our portfolio. We have a long history of delivering excellent results on transit-related megaprojects, and we would like to supplement those with smaller, faster-moving projects that help smooth our financial performance and benefit our organization by providing valuable training grounds for younger team members. We are looking for small and mid-size projects in our established regions to help fill the gaps as larger projects develop.
Many of our projects serve public clients and depend on federal funding. That process has always moved slowly, but it has become more difficult. Uncertainty around federal infrastructure funding remains our biggest concern. It affects our ability to plan accurately and execute the work.
CIG investments support American jobs, strengthen supply chains, modernize aging infrastructure, and improve transportation networks that millions rely on every day. These projects take years of planning, public engagement, and coordination among federal, state, and local partners. Advancing projects that have met program requirements shows a federal commitment to predictable, transparent, and accountable infrastructure investment.
On behalf of the industry, our employees, their families, and their communities, we have two key requests: continue funding the CIG program to move America forward and create opportunities for working Americans; and remove barriers for projects that have remained in the CIG program for extended periods without a clear path forward.
