American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association was formed in 1997, as the result of a merger between the American Railway Engineering Association, American Railway Bridge & Building Association, Roadmasters & Maintenance-of-Way Association and the Communications & Signals division of the Association of American Railroads. AREMA's membership includes a diverse group of railway and transit engineers, consultants, contractors, suppliers, academia, federal and state governmental employees and others for the development and advancement of both technical and practical knowledge and recommended practices pertaining to the design, construction and maintenance of railway infrastructure.