STATE AND FEDERAL PASSENGER AND FREIGHT SURVEY

NCRRP 07-03

Libby OgardJeannie Beckett

Survey 500 emails to AASHTO, TRB, passenger and

freight stakeholders 1500 member distribution list from American

Short Line and Regional Railroad Association Selected Class 1 and regional/short line

railroads Investment community supplemental interviews

Percent Responses by Type

Federal 7%

State, 45%Transit 8%

Freight Rail 13%

Finance Firm, 3%

Railroad Supplier , 3%

University or Associa-tion, 8%

Federal StateTransit Agency or Rail Authority Freight Rail Finance Firm Railroad Supplier University or Association

State ResponseSome States have no programs.

Amounts range between$2-$40 million

More states are moving toward multimodal funding

State Response

Grants are often preferred, easier to award then loans.

Few Dedicated Funding Programs limit grant program expansion.

Ranking of Rail Fund Objectives

State

Agency

Perspective

Program Objectives in Order of Importance

No difference between Group and State response

Economic Development is a Common Theme

Rail investment not seen as mode conversion tool

State Investments

State investment is dependent upon funding and business objectives.

Limited funding for passenger rail.

Often Legislative barriers.

Are there Institutional Restrictions for State Rail Programs?

“Can’t own rolling stock or operate railroads”

“State owns railroad but there are restrictions on what rail can do”

“Can’t lend money to private business”

“State can not own rail” “Gas tax revenues are restricted”

State’s Self Assessment of Success

“More funding needed for safety, surface and infrastructure”

“State expectations are low”

“Need funding for projects existing programs can’t meet”

“Need to establish measurements to understand progress”

Existing Program Improvements Needed

“More funding needed for Industrial Rail Service” “Rail completes with five other modes for state funding” “Grade crossing protection funding inadequate” “Funding needed for PTC mandate – especially short lines” “Without sufficient funding can’t support forgivable loan

program” “Performance measures needed” “RRIF credit risk premium is a hurdle many can’t overcome” “Need Federal formula funds for rail infrastructure”

Essential Elements of Innovative Projects

Maximum multimodal flexibility

Public-Private partnerships and better vision for the future

Responsive Stakeholder and political

support Something the Railroads

will use

Simple, streamlined, with efficient oversight

Quick access to funds A value proposition that

will incent private investment

Design Build Opportunities Something that does not

require State Transportation Funding

Website A data base if over 200 State Programs Searchable by program types Publicly Available Demonstrations available at TRB Annual

Meeting 2015

Feedback?

Examples? Attributes? Recommendation

s?

Program Eligibility?

Funding objectives?

Measurements?

Innovation Program Funding

Questions?