1 SCORT 2010 September 21, 2010 David Valenstein Federal Railroad Administration State Rail Planning

2 State Rail Planning Topics  How to talk about state rail plans today?  What are FRA’s ideas?  What is the importance and potential for State Rail Plans?  What about State Rail Plan Applicability – PRIIA?

3 Timeline for State Rail Plan Rule Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Agency publishes initial draft or analysis Opportunity for public input Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Proposed regulatory language and justification Published in Federal Register Public responds to proposed rule days Final regulatory language Responds to comments Accompanied by report to Congress and Comptroller General Published in Federal Register Minimum 60 days after publication Process for developing and issuing Federal regulations ANPRMNPRM Public Comment Final Rule Effective Date

4 Approach to State Rail Planning 4 System Integration Goals Incorporates PRIIA requirements and objectives Logical Interrelationships – National – State – Corridor – Project Rail Service and Investment Program  Vision  Rail Planning Studies and Initiatives  Programming Investments 3 1 2

5 State Rail Plans 5 FRA Outline 2010 Preliminary State Rail Plan Outline Rail System Description and Identification of Need Passenger and Freight Plans and Investment Proposals Rail Service and Investment Program  Vision  Passenger Element (Goals, Financing, Operating Plan Metrics, Public and Private Benefits)  Freight Element (Goals, Financing, Economic Effects, Public Investment vs. Benefits)  Rail Planning Studies and Initiatives  Passenger and Freight Rail Capital Project Lists (Short and Long Range) 3 1 2

6 State Rail Plan Table of Contents  Summary  Chapter 1 – State’s Transportation System  Chapter 2 – Existing State Rail System  Chapter 3 – Passenger Rail Improvements and Investments  Chapter 4 – Freight Rail Improvements and Investments  Chapter 5 – State’s Rail Service and Investment Program  Chapter 6 – Coordination and Review FRA Rail Plan Outline

7 Chapter 1 – State’s Transportation System Identify the state's goals for multimodal system Describe the role of rail within multimodal system Describe current freight and passenger rail initiatives FRA Rail Plan Outline 3 1 2

8 Chapter 2 – Existing State Rail System Describe the existing freight and passenger system –Rail companies, Corridors, Termini, Stations, etc. Describe…  Current rail system performance and operating objectives  Describe performance shortfalls and needs Discuss…  Institutional structure of the state’s rail program  Safety and security programs  General economic and environmental effects of rail operations FRA Rail Plan Outline

9 Chapter 3 – Passenger Rail Improvements and Investments Summarize all passenger rail proposals under consideration for both commuter and intercity markets  Organized by corridor  How proposals meet needs identified in chapter 2  Costs, timing, phasing  Funding  Public and private benefit FRA Rail Plan Outline

10 Chapter 4 – Freight Rail Improvements and Investments Summarize all freight proposals under consideration  Organized by railroad company and corridor  Address how proposals address needs identified in chapter 2  Capital costs, timing, phasing and funding  Public and private benefits FRA Rail Plan Outline

11 Chapter 5 – State’s Rail Service and Investment Program State’s vision of rail and how it relates to national rail plan and regional plans. Short and long range plans for passenger and freight rail  detailed with 5 and 20-year project lists. –financing plan, service plan, as well as public and private benefits. Institutional needs (rail agencies, legislation, and programs) Expected overall short and long range rail program outcomes: –Overall state transportation (all modes) –Rail capacity, congestion, and safety –Energy & environmental –economic and employment conditions –distribution of benefits to communities in terms of livability FRA Rail Plan Outline

12 Chapter 6 – Coordination and Review Describe the public and agency participation  Approach  How interested parties participated in the plan development  How their recommendations were addressed in process  How rail planning is coordinated with other state transportation planning and programs, including Section 135 of Title 23. FRA Rail Plan Outline

13 Questions: How should overlapping freight and passenger programs and projects be considered and presented? By corridor? In a separate chapter? What is the relationship of the rail project lists to the STIP and TIP? Should some aspects of state rail planning be continuous? What guidance is needed and from who? AASHTO? FRA? State Rail Plans