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FRA Requests Comments on National Rail Plan

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a notice requesting public comments on the development of the long-range National Rail Plan (NRP) through an open docket.

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In addition, the notice presents the overall plan design, FRA'S goals in preparing the NRP, and issues that are expected to be addressed.

Comments are due by June 4, 2010. However, since Congress has requested the completed plan by September 15, 2010, an aggressive timeline and schedule has been undertaken. For comments to be considered during the critical stages of plan development, they should be received no later than May 3, 2010.

NRP to be Composed of Three Principal Components

The NRP will be composed of three principal components:

  1. A review of the current rail system and how it serves the U.S. This will include a summary of the rail system of each state based upon state rail plans and from other sources, etc.
  2. Consideration of issues and policies that can ensure that the U.S. rail system is truly considered in surface transportation discussions about moving people and freight.
  3. A recommendation of programs, policies, and investments that will be required so the U.S. can be served with a transportation system that is safe and efficient.

The NRP must consider rail's increasing role in meeting the strategic goals of the U.S. and must provide a long-range outlook for programs and investments that can improve corridors and connections for passenger and freight use.

FRA Also Requests Comments on Funding Freight Transport and Other Issues

In addition to comments on the plan's development, FRA is soliciting responses to a number of questions, including strategies for funding freight transportation investments and issues for developing a labor force to meet the needs of a highly technical rail network.

FRA Required by Law to Develop NRP

The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires that the FRA develop a NRP. Prior to the development of the NRP, PRIIA also directed the FRA to develop a Preliminary National Rail Plan, which was submitted to Congress on October 15, 2009.

The Preliminary National Rail Plan laid the groundwork for developing policies to improve the U.S. transportation system and was developed in consultation with state and local government officials, the railroad industry, and other stakeholders. The Preliminary Plan set forth FRA's proposed approach to developing the long-range NRP, including goals and objectives for the greater inclusion of rail in the national transportation system. Although the Preliminary Plan did not generally offer specific recommendations, it did identify a number of issues that FRA believes should be considered in formulating the NRP.

FRA notice (D/N FRA-2010-0020, FR Pub 04/05/10) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-7543.pdf

Preliminary Plan (dated October 2009) available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/RailPlanPrelim10-15.pdf