FRA Announces Outreach Meetings for its National Rail Plan

The Federal Railroad Administration has announced the dates and locations of public outreach meetings to solicit input for the development of the first National Rail Plan. A final version of the plan is scheduled to be released by September 15, 2010.

FRA states that the NRP will be composed of three principal components:

1. A review of the current rail system and how it serves the U.S. This will include a summary of the rail system of each state based upon state rail plans and from other sources, etc.
2. Consideration of issues and policies that can ensure that the U.S. rail system is truly considered in surface transportation discussions about moving people and freight.
3. A recommendation of programs, policies, and investments that will be required so the U.S. can be served with a transportation system that is safe and efficient.

Meetings Scheduled from May 19 -- June 4 in Five Different Regions

The moderated outreach meetings¹ will be held in five different regions and are open to the public. The dates and locations are:

May 19 -- Kansas City, MO

May 20 -- Atlanta, GA

May 26 -- New York, NY

June 3 -- Salt Lake City, UT

June 4 -- Portland, OR

Due Date for Written Comments is June 5

FRA is also accepting written comments from interested individuals and organizations through a public docket that has been created for that purpose. Comments are due by June 5, 2010. Instructions on how to submit comments on the NRP are available at: www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/2236.

¹Further details, including specific event locations, can be found at http://www.fra.dot.gov/pages/481.shtml.

(See ITT”s Online Archives or 04/06/10 news, 10040645, for BP summary of FRA’s plans for the National Rail Plan and request for comments.)

FRA press release 04-10, dated 05/17/10, available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/fra0410.htm.