[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17203-17204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7543]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

[Docket No. FRA-2010-0020]


National Rail Plan

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Request for comments and establishment of public docket.

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SUMMARY: This notice requests public comment for input into the 
development of the long-range National Rail Plan (NRP) through an open 
docket. In addition, the notice presents the overall plan design, 
Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) goals in preparing the NRP, and 
issues that are expected to be addressed. This is FRA's first NRP. 
Public comments are solicited on the plan design, long-term goals of 
the NRP, and policy issues and questions noted below.

DATES: Public comments on this notice are due no later than 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.

ADDRESSES: Public comments. To ensure that comments are not entered 
into the docket more than once, please submit comments, identified by 
docket number [FRA-2010-0020], by only one of the following methods:
     Web site: The U.S. Government electronic docket site is 
http://www.regulations.gov. Go to this Web site and follow the 
instructions for submitting comments into docket number [FRA-2010-
0020];
     Mail: Mail comments to U.S. Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, MS-30, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590;
     Hand delivery or courier: Bring comments to the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket 
Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 
20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    Instructions for submitting public comments: The agency name 
(Federal Railroad Administration) and the docket number [FRA-2010-0020] 
for this notice must be submitted with any comments. If comments are 
submitted by mail or by hand, please submit two copies of the comments. 
For confirmation that the FRA has received the comments, a self-
addressed stamped postcard must be included. Note that all comments 
received by any method will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, and 
will be available to Internet users. The Department's complete Privacy 
Act Statement is available for review in the Federal Register published 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or by visiting http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joel Palley, Office of Railroad 
Policy and Development, at (202)493-6409, Department of Transportation, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: 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. That plan was submitted to Congress on 
October 15, 2009. (That plan is available at http://www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/RailPlanPrelim10-15.pdf.) The Preliminary 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. In short, it is designed to create a 
springboard for further discussion.
    Following on this theme, FRA invites comment and discussion from 
parties interested in the development of a comprehensive NRP. Only 
through participation of all levels of government, carriers, shippers, 
commuter and passenger groups, rail labor, communities, and other 
stakeholders can FRA develop a complete and

[[Page 17204]]

effective NRP. No specific format is required.
    Plan Design: Both freight and passenger rail play a significant 
role in meeting the transportation needs of the U.S. economy. As the 
economy has expanded, rail in conjunction with the other modes and 
their infrastructure, which includes highway, waterway, pipeline, and 
air, work together to provide a cohesive network to deliver 
transportation services to customers. The efficiencies of this network 
have improved over the past decades and transportation customers have 
sought to lower transportation costs and those costs associated with 
transportation. The regulatory climate has also played a significant 
role in fueling those transportation improvements and subsequent 
efficiencies.
    In addition to its role in meeting the needs of passenger and 
freight customers, rail is also proving that it can assist in meeting 
many of the nation's safety, energy, and environmental goals. And along 
with improved and new opportunities for intercity passenger and high-
speed rail service, rail can help in reducing congestion in major 
corridors that have witnessed diminishing transportation capacity from 
evermore use.
    The NRP will be composed of three principal components. These will 
include: First, a review of the current rail system and how it serves 
the nation. This will also include a summary of the rail system of each 
state based upon state rail plans and from other sources. This 
component will also look at projected demographic and traffic trends so 
an evaluation can be made with regard to future demand and needs for 
rail. This will lead into the second component of the plan; 
consideration of issues and policies that can ensure that the nation's 
rail system is truly considered in surface transportation discussions 
about moving people and goods. The third component of the plan will be 
a recommendation of programs, policies, and investments that will be 
required so the nation can be served with a transportation system that 
is safe and efficient.
    In sum, the NRP must consider rail's increasing role in meeting the 
strategic goals of the nation and must provide a long-range outlook for 
programs and investments that can improve corridors and connections for 
passenger and freight use. Those goals include: Improving safety; 
improving fuel economy; fostering livable communities; increasing the 
competitiveness of the United States; better understanding and 
integrating the unique economics of the rail industry; helping to 
bolster the domestic passenger rail industry and create jobs; 
developing passenger high-speed rail; improving freight rail.
    Policy Questions and Comments: As noted above in the plan design, 
the second component of the NRP will consider a broad array of issues 
and address a number of policy questions. In addition to comments on 
the plan design, FRA is soliciting responses from interested parties on 
these issues and questions, which are noted below:
    1. What strategies are appropriate for funding freight 
transportation investments? What strategies are appropriate for funding 
passenger rail and high-speed passenger rail investments? How do we 
find sustainable sources of funding among Federal/State/Local/private 
sectors for passenger operations? How do we better assess the public 
benefits of railroad infrastructure improvements?
    2. When assessing opportunities and challenges for implementing 
passenger rail service on freight rail lines and rights-of-way, what 
are the issues and concerns of infrastructure access and liability 
(owner vs. user)? In shared use rights-of-way (freight and passenger 
use), what are the best examples of access agreements with freight 
railroads? How can rail corridor development for passenger service be 
balanced with freight railroad service requirements to assure that 
freight service will not be impeded?
    3. What are the issues that should be considered with Governance, 
such as roles and responsibilities, including national leadership as 
well as those of State, and local governments? What is the proper 
framework for multi-State/regional agreements when corridors extend 
beyond the boundaries of a single State?
    4. What issues should be considered in network design and network 
development (corridors and connectivity)? What role should rail play? 
What modal issues arise --cooperation vs. competition? What are the 
best approaches to assess system performance? Should national standards 
be considered?
    5. Identify areas where transportation safety can continue to 
improve (include technological and operational changes)? What 
consideration should be given to equipment improvement? What are the 
issues in joint freight and passenger use of track/corridors?
    6. What issues should be addressed to continue and advance the rail 
system to effectively meet defense, emergency, and security 
transportation requirements?
    7. What are the land use issues that must be considered in making 
transportation infrastructure investments? How can rail promote livable 
communities?
    8. What opportunities does rail provide to improve energy use and 
the environment (include both technological and operational changes)?
    9. What are the opportunities and challenges for professional 
capacity building--passenger and freight? What are the challenges 
facing the nation in developing a labor force to meet the needs of a 
highly technical rail network considering implementation of high-speed 
rail and technological advances such as positive train control and 
electronically controlled pneumatic brakes?
    10. When making infrastructure investments, how can project 
delivery be expedited and costs controlled?

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2010.
Karen J. Rae,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-7543 Filed 4-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P