AASHTO - Freight Transportation Network

Chair
Eugene A. Conti, Jr.
Secretary of Transportation
North Carolina DOT

Vice Chair
Bill Bronte
Chief – Office of Rail
CalTrans

Liaison
Leo Penne
AASHTO

Passenger Rail
Shayne Gill
AASHTO

Freight Rail
Chris Smith
AASHTO

WELCOME to the Standing Committee on Rail Transportation

The Standing Committee on Rail Transportation shall: review, evaluate, and recommend transportation legislation; exchange technical information and policy positions on railroad matters; evaluate, comment upon, and suggest revision to Federal regulations; reach a common viewpoint of the States on rail policies and problems; gather information and investigate railroad concerns; provide technical expertise and management training for State railroad connected agencies; provide public information on rail transportation matters; cooperate and coordinate activities with transportation users and the railroad industry; take a forward-looking view of and disseminate rail progress; and encourage research necessary to reach these goals.

FRA-AASHTO October 16, 2009 – Conference Call

The FRA conducted a call with state DOT's regarding the release today, October 16, 2009, of the Preliminary National Rail Plan. The Federal Railroad Administration was directed by the passage of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 to develop a Preliminary national Rail Plan to address the rail needs of the nation and to assist States in the development of their State rail plans in order to ensure the consistency between the State rail plans and the National Rail Plan. The Audio for the call can be obtained by clicking the following link – with the passcode – FRA

AUDIO
Passcode: FRA

NATIONAL PRELIMINARY RAIL PLAN

FRA-AASHTO September 30, 2009 – Conference Call

Click here to listen to the recording from the call.

FRA-AASHTO August 18, 2009 – Conference Call

The FRA conducted another call in what has become a bi-weekly series of conference calls with State DOT’s regarding application questions for the various Tracks of funding for both ARRA funds and FY 09 Appropriations.

33 States and the District of Columbia (34) joined FRA and AASHTO on the call. Paul Nissenbaum, Director of the Office of Freight and Passenger Programs led the call and had a team of FRA Staff participating as well that included Mark Yachmetz, Deputy Administrator Karen Rae, Peter Schwartz and others.

States and AASHTO partners included: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin – CONEG, NNEPR, Capitol Corridors and the California High Speed Rail Authority.

Click here to listen to the Audio File of the call.

AASHTO-FRA Conference Call Audio

On Monday, July 20th, 2009, AASHTO Members and FRA participated in a conference call. Click here to listen to an Audio File from this Conference Call.

On July 1st, 2009, AASHTO Members and FRA participated in a Q&A regarding Pre-Application and Application procedures relating to the $8 billion in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail. Click here to listen to an Audio File from this Conference Call.

Federal Railroad Administration – SCORT Conference Call – AUDIO

The Federal Railroad Administration on June 17th, 2009 held a conference call with the Standing Committee on Rail Transportation (SCORT). SCORT is chaired by Secretary Gene Conti of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

State Rail Agencies throughout the U.S.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, FUNDING

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation conducted a survey compiling input from other states as to how public rail programs at the state level are structured, the governance of that structure and the funding conduits of which rail related programs and projects are funded. Including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, 52 surveys were sent with 41 responses received by the close of the comment period.

Read full report here: The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation- Survey Findings (PDF) | To read more State Initiatives

Reports and Studies

AAR Sponsorship of AASHTO's Freight Rail
Executive Summary report

This Executive summary report is offered as a framework for decision-making for those in both the public and private sectors who are responsible for making investments in transportation infrastructure. We are delighted that AAR sponsorship of this report will make the substance of the report available to a much wider audience and we are confident that it will advance the discussion about how to maintain and strengthen the nation’s freight transportation system. The original full report was wholly the responsibility of AASHTO. This printing of the executive summary was made possible by the sponsorship of the AAR.

News

NEW! The Federal Railroad Administration has posted the Pre-Application Form for ARRA High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail funding to its website. This form and the Interim Guidance can be accessed via http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2243.

S. 294 – Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007

Introduced by Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) and former Senator Lott (R-MS), S. 294 passed the United States Senate on October 30, 2007. The legislation focuses on reform, accountability, adequate funding for intercity passenger rail and passenger rail service improvements. For fiscal year 2007, a record 25.8 million passengers rode Amtrak. With the increased congestion on our nation’s highways and at our airports, reforming and funding for intercity passenger rail is critical.

More NEWS »