[Federal Register: April 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 64)]
[Notices]
[Page 17203-17204]
[DOCID:fr05ap10-116]

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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<PHONE_NUMBER>, 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

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