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High Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail

 

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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

 

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.

FRA recently hosted several regional Outreach Workshops to garner public comments on its plans for distributing the $8 billion for passenger rail services appropriated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Presentations from these workshops is now available online at: http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2241.

Agenda from Bedford Springs meeting, May 16, 2009.

The AASHTO Board of Directors on Monday, September 19th 2005, at its Annual meeting in Nashville Tennessee, established an Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group.

The Board approved the creation of a new Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group to spearhead the effort to achieve enactment of legislation which creates a stable structure for the development of intercity passenger rail service into the future. The resolution cites AASHTO policy on long-term intercity passenger rail legislation, and asserts that states must play a leadership role in ensuring that any solution will meet the mobility needs of passengers.

Resolution
AASHTO Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group
(Passed September 19, 2005, Nashville Tennessee)

 

Intercity Rail Addressed by AASHTO:

| INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL NEWS |

| BACKGROUND MATERIALS |

| REPORTS |

| PASSENGER MATERIAL |

| OTHER LINKS |

 

HIGH SPEED & INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL 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.

DOT 51-09
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Contact:  Jill Zuckman
Tel.:  (202) 366-4570

President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary LaHood Call for U.S. High-Speed Passenger Trains 

Vision for a New Era in Rail Entails Clean, Energy-Efficient Option for Travelers 

President Barack Obama, along with Vice President Biden and Secretary LaHood, announced a new U.S. push today to transform travel in America, creating high-speed rail lines from city to city, reducing dependence on cars and planes and spurring economic development.  

The President released a strategic plan outlining his vision for high speed rail in America. The plan identifies $8 billion provided in the ARRA and $1 billion a year for five years requested in the federal budget as a down payment to jump-start a potential world-class passenger rail system and sets the direction of transportation policy for the future.  The strategic plan will be followed by detailed guidance for state and local applicants. By late summer, the Federal Railroad Administration will begin awarding the first round of grants.

Additional funding for long-term planning and development is expected from legislation authorizing federal surface transportation programs. 

The report formalizes the identification of ten high-speed rail corridors as potential recipients of federal funding. Those lines are: California, Pacific Northwest, South Central, Gulf Coast, Chicago Hub Network, Florida, Southeast, Keystone, Empire and Northern New England. Also, opportunities exist for the Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston to compete for funds to improve the nation’s only existing high-speed rail service.

With a boost from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Obama administration launched a competitive process to drive local communities to develop their high-speed rail potential. The President, Vice President and Secretary of Transportation are urging states and local communities to put together plans for a network of 100 mile to 600 mile corridors, which will compete for the federal dollars. The merit-driven process will result in federal grants as soon as late summer 2009.

President Obama’s vision for high-speed rail mirrors that of President Eisenhower, the father of the Interstate highway system, which revolutionized the way Americans traveled. Now, high-speed rail has the potential to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, lower harmful carbon emissions, foster new economic development and give travelers more choices when it comes to moving around the country.

“My high-speed rail proposal will lead to innovations that change the way we travel in America.  We must start developing clean, energy-efficient transportation that will define our regions for centuries to come,” said President Obama.  “A major new high-speed rail line will generate many thousands of construction jobs over several years, as well as permanent jobs for rail employees and increased economic activity in the destinations these trains serve.  High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways.”

“Today, we see clearly how Recovery Act funds and the Department of Transportation are building the platform for a brighter economic future - they’re creating jobs and making life better for communities everywhere,” said Vice President Biden.  “Everyone knows railways are the best way to connect communities to each other, and as a daily rail commuter for over 35 years, this announcement is near and dear to my heart. Investing in a high-speed rail system will lower our dependence on foreign oil and the bill for a tank of gas; loosen the congestion suffocating our highways and skyways; and significantly reduce the damage we do to our planet.”

“President Obama's vision of robust, high-speed rail service offers Americans the kind of travel options that throughout our history have contributed to economic growth and enhanced quality of life,” said Secretary LaHood.  “We simply can't build the economy of the future on the transportation networks of the past.”

The plan identifies two types of projects for funding. One would create new corridors for world-class high-speed rail like the kind found in Europe and Japan. Another would involve making train service along existing rail lines incrementally faster. 

Under the plan, high-speed rail development will advance along three funding tracks:

* Individual Projects.   Providing grants to complete individual projects that are “ready to go” with completed environmental and preliminary engineering work – with an emphasis on near term job creation.  Eligible projects include acquisition, construction of or improvements to infrastructure, facilities and equipment.

* Corridor programs.  Developing entire phases or geographic sections of high-speed rail corridors that have completed corridor plans, environmental documentation and have a prioritized list of projects to help meet the corridor objectives. 

* Planning.  Entering into cooperative agreements for planning activities (including development of corridor plans and State Rail Plans) using non-American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriations funds.  This third approach is intended to help establish a structured mechanism and funding stream for future corridor development activities.

Video: http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream2&iref=lb100

 

 

DOT 25-08
Contact: Steve Kulm, Tel.: (202) 493-6024
Tuesday, February 19, 2008

New Grant Program Provides First-Ever Federal-State Funding Partnership to Improve and Expand Intercity Passenger Rail Service

For the first time ever, states will be directly eligible for federal funding to support intercity passenger rail service under a new grant program, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced today.

“We want to encourage and support the kind of state investments that are making a difference for passenger rail services,” Peters said, noting that between 1996 and 2006, ridership on state-supported intercity routes grew by a robust 88 percent, vastly outpacing the 17 percent increase on all other routes combined.

Peters explained that the $30 million capital grant program is designed to support state efforts to improve intercity passenger rail service and requires a 50-50 funding match like most other transportation investments. Projects that demonstrate an on-time performance standard of 80 percent or greater, reduce travel time, increase service frequency, or enhance service quality for intercity rail passengers will receive favorable consideration for funding, she said.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to: upgrading existing track to permit higher maximum operating speeds, adding or lengthening passing tracks to increase rail line capacity, improving track switches and signaling systems to advance reliability and safety, and purchasing new passenger rail cars to enhance the travel experience, Peters said.

“Rail passengers demand improved service and quality and this grant program will allow states to address these concerns,” said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman, highlighting that individual or multiple States working together can submit applications.

Peters stressed that creation of a federal-state funding partnership was specifically called for by the Bush Administration as part of its long standing intercity passenger rail reform effort. The Administration believes states need a larger role in deciding where and how intercity passenger rail is operated while focusing federal investments on capital projects that produce long term results.

The Federal Railroad Administration is administering this grant program and will begin accepting applications on March 18, 2008, with the expectation that awards will be made later this year. The full Notice of Funding Availability can be found at www.fra.dot.gov.

 

 

 

AASHTO
Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group Meeting

December 9 th 2005

Draft Agenda for December 9 th meeting

Friday, December 09, 2005
AASHTO Passenger-Rail Advocacy Group Meets

At a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Friday, the AASHTO Intercity Passenger-Rail Leadership Group discussed issues including the future of state-managed corridors, long-distance passenger-rail routes, and the Northeast Corridor.

The group, created within the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials by its Board of Directors in September, heard from federal and rail industry officials and set objectives. It was authorized by the board to advocate enactment of passenger-rail policy based on AASHTO policy.

"We laid the groundwork for building a consensus amongst the states, and having that consensus count when it comes to reforming intercity passenger rail," said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan, chairman of the group and also chairman of AASHTO's Standing Committee on Rail Transportation.

"Congress and the Administration have been unable to develop a viable long-term plan to sustain intercity passenger rail service, in no small part because they haven't invited the states to the table," said AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley.

"States have got to be part of the ultimate solution, and this group -- representing all 50 states as it does -- could play an important role in developing consensus around a long-term solution."

The group also heard from U.S. Department of Transportation General Counsel Jeff Rosen, who is U.S. DOT's designee on the Amtrak Board of Directors, and Chairman David Laney of the Amtrak Board of Directors.

Also addressing the 10 DOT chief executives present at the meeting were Staff Director Chris Bertram and Professional Staff Member Stephen Gardner of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine.

The panel includes the chief executive officers of state transportation departments in Maryland, Washington, California, Montana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

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BACKGROUND MATERIALS:

Monday, September 26, 2005
New Passenger-Rail Advocacy Group Created by AASHTO Board of Directors

In action at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Annual Meeting last week, AASHTO's Board of Directors endorsed an initiative to create a group of state transportation department executive officers to advocate for passenger-rail legislation on behalf of all AASHTO member states. The panel will be known as the AASHTO Intercity Passenger-Rail Leadership Group.

The chief executive officers of state transportation departments in Washington, California, Montana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York were named to the new panel. Secretary Robert Flanagan of the Maryland Department of Transportation, who also chairs AASHTO's Standing Committee on Rail Transportation, will chair the new group as well.

The group was created by adoption of a Board of Directors resolution. Its charge is to advocate for AASHTO's existing policy on passenger rail and the newly named group will work in concert with the Standing Committee on Rail Transportation and the States for Passenger Rail Coalition.

"The logjam in Washington on passenger-rail transportation is not likely to get broken unless the states elevate and strengthen their advocacy effort," said Jack Lettiere, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation and most recent past President of AASHTO. Lettiere called for creation of the new panel.

"Two years ago, AASHTO's Board approved a policy on passenger rail that is comprehensive, detailed, and takes every state's interests into account. For three years AASHTO‘s legislative Action Agenda has urged Congress and the Bush Administration to stabilize the passenger rail situation and enact a long-term policy," Lettiere said.

"Everybody thinks states are important for the future of passenger rail. But for some that means that states will pay the full cost. We want to prevent that," Lettiere said. "For others, only some states are important. For us, all states are important -- states with long-distance routes, states on the Northeast Corridor, states with state-managed passenger corridors."

Lettiere also noted that the new rail leadership group will focus on intercity passenger rail – not only on Amtrak, the largest national provider of passenger rail.

"AASHTO's policy is not tied to Amtrak in its current form. Our job is to get the federal government to do something that works for the traveling public and works for states. What happens to Amtrak should be subordinate to that objective," Lettiere said.

He said the group will meet in Washington later this year to talk with leaders in Congress and the executive branch, and others.

Resolution
AASHTO Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group
(Passed September 19, 2005, Nashville Tennessee)

Whereas AASHTO believes that intercity passenger rail service is a basic element of the nation's multimodal transportation system; and

Whereas AASHTO has called for the enactment of long-term legislation assuring that the nation's travelers will have efficient and dependable intercity passenger rail service; and

Whereas the work of AASHTO's Standing Committee on Rail Transportation and other organizations such as the States for Passenger Rail Coalition and the Council of Northeast Governors has created a strong foundation for action; and,

Whereas AASHTO's policy (R12) proposes that the long-term intercity passenger rail legislation should:

1."Ensure the level of federal responsibility necessary for sustainable financing and system integrity, quality and accountability;"

2."Establish a sound foundation for passenger rail service partnerships between the States and the federal government;"

3."Provide a stable and fiscally responsible system for funding rail passenger operating costs;"

4."Create a dedicated, sustainable source of funding for intercity rail passenger infrastructure improvements, to maintain, in partnership with the freight railroads and other stakeholders, a world class rail transportation network fueling economic growth and development;"

5."Incorporate sufficient flexibilities to enable the States to set their spending priorities and implementation timing based on their own unique circumstances, consistent with national rail transportation policy:" and,

Whereas AASHTO's legislative Action Agenda has urged Congress to provide "the funding needed for Amtrak to continue operation of current services and not interrupt vital commuter-rail services while a long-term policy for intercity passenger rail is developed and enacted;" and,

Whereas AASHTO has urged the Administration and the Congress "to provide national leadership and engage with the states to chart the course toward a long-term viable passenger rail system," and

Whereas there is a widespread conviction that states must play a leadership role in ensuring that any intercity passenger rail solution that is ultimately adopted will meet the mobility needs of 21st century passengers, Now, therefore, be it resolved that the AASHTO Board of Directors supports the establishment of the AASHTO Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group; and,

Be it further resolved that the AASHTO Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Group will spearhead the effort to achieve enactment of legislation based on AASHTO policy, satisfactory to the interests of states, which creates a stable structure for the development of intercity passenger rail service into the future; and

Be it further resolved that the Leadership Group will be chaired by the Chairman of the AASHTO Standing Committee Rail Transportation, will consist of members appointed by AASHTO's President, will be supported by the Standing Committee on Rail Transportation, will be representative of AASHTO's member departments, and will report regularly on its progress to the AASHTO Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

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AASHTO Documents:

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REPORTS:

 

2008 UPDATE – Intercity Passenger Rail Report

 

 

 

 

 

Intercity Passenger Rail Transportation
This report provides an overview of intercity passenger rail services in the United States, summarizing the characteristics of the current system, reviewing the relevant history, and projecting future plans. The report describes the approaches states have used to advance intercity passenger rail service and the lessons they have learned. Past state investments and projects of future investment are also discussed. The publication aggregates state estimates of investment needs to the national level to establish the cost of realizing the benefits of efficient and dependable intercity passenger rail service.

Freight Rail Bottom Line Report
This report describes the nation's freight-rail system and addresses the concerns about the capacity of the nation's freight transportation system, in order to keep pace with the expected growth of the economy over the next 20 years. The report shows that relatively small public investments in the nation's freight railroads can be leveraged into relatively large public benefits for the nation's highway infrastructure, highway users, and freight shippers.

 

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PASSENGER MATERIAL:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  • HOUSE Subcommittee on Railroads surveyed various current proposals for reform or restructuring of Amtrak: Hearing on Amtrak Reform Proposals September 21 St
  • HOUSE Subcommittee on Railroads explored the governance at Amtrak, including the relationship between the board of directors and the chief executive officer:
    Hearing on Current Governance Issues at Amtrak November 15 Th
  • H.R. 1630---To authorize appropriations for the benefit of Amtrak for fiscal years 2006 through 2008, and for other purposes- Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005 - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize appropriations for Amtrak for FY 2006 through 2008 for: (1) capital expenditures; (2) certain mandatory payments; and (3) Amtrak's contractual obligations for commuter and State-supported passenger rail service. H.R.1630

    Summary of HR 1630—Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2005---Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate H.R. 1630
  • Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century (Introduced in House) H.R.1631—Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century
    Appropriations
    OPERATING SUBSIDY GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION

    Amtrak ’06 Appropriations

SENATE


ADMINISTRATION


AMTRAK

  • Amtrak Strategic Reform Initiatives and FY06 Grant Request April 2005 National Railroad Passenger Corporation FY06 Grant Request

GAO

 

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LINKS & ITEMS OF INTEREST:

 

National Association of Railroad Passengers
NARP is the only national organization speaking for the users of passenger trains and rail transit.
Visit NARP here--www.narprail.org

Heritage Foundation
Visit www.heritage.org CLICK ON: Transportation

Association of American Railroads
www.aar.org See Issue Papers/Passenger Railroading

CBO Study--The Past and Future of U.S. Passenger Rail Service
Passenger Rail Report
September 2003

The State of the Nation's Intercity Rail:
How Federal Investment will Improve Travel Choice and Relieve Traffic Congestion
Read full report here: http://www.transact.org/library/decoder/rail_decoder.pdf (PDF)

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For more Information Contact

Leo Penne
Tel. 202-624-5813
E-Mail: lpenne@aashto.org

 

 

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