On Friday the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released the Preliminary National Rail Plan, which is meant to address the country’s rail needs.
The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 directed the administrator of the FRA to develop a Preliminary National Rail Plan, and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 set the framework for the development of high-speed rail in the U.S. The preliminary plan is a first step in both processes.
Its goals are to improve safety, foster livable communities, increase the economic competitiveness of the U.S. and to promote sustainable transportation. It was developed with the awareness of the transportation needs of both passengers and freight.
The plan sets forth the FRA’s proposed approach to developing the long-range National Rail Plan. Though the plan does not offer specific recommendations, it identifies a number of issues the agency believes should be considered. The FRA welcomes input from states and transportation stakeholders on these issues.
The 33-page document covers the objectives for rail as part of a national transportation system, the need for a national rail plan, the importance of state rail plans in developing the long-range national rail plan, the framework for a national rail plan and outreach strategy to develop the national rail plan.
The federal government is currently deciding how and where to invest in an efficient, high-speed, intercity, passenger rail network, which would consist of 100- to 600-mile intercity corridors that connect communities across the country.
“The U.S. has a dwindling pool of expertise in the field of passenger rail and a lack of manufacturing capability,” the report says. “But future investment in passenger rail could lead to a resurgence of this industry and require new technologically advanced systems.”
According to the report, benefits of rail include enhanced safety, better fuel efficiency than trucks and cars, the creation of livable communities through the mitigation of urban congestion and efficient land use, and supported economic growth through reduced logistics costs and the improvement of regional interconnectivity.
From December 2009 to February 2010, the FRA will host a series of live web conferences to assist in the development of the National Rail Plan. It will also host several regional meetings in March through May of 2010 with key stakeholders. (The public outreach schedule has yet to be announced.)
