R.L. Banks & Associates, Inc.

RLBA COMPLETES PENNSYLVANIA'S COMPREHENSIVE RAIL FREIGHT STUDY AND STATE RAIL PLAN

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is recognized as a leader in railroad infrastructure and operations planning, preservation and promotion. In an effort to keep the Commonwealth fully apprised of its changing rail transportation network, the agency selected RLBA to perform a state-of-the-art rail freight inventory and assessment to facilitate an update to the Comprehensive Rail Freight Study and State Rail Plan.

The report covered a broad range of topics designed to assess the Keystone state's freight rail system, evaluate related planning by Pennsylvania's Metropolitan Planning Organizations and describe assistance funding options. Included in the study was a survey of forecast maintenance and capital expenditures and a line-by-line census of traffic, number of bridges and capability to handle 286,000-pound railcars. Railroads also were surveyed to determine their concerns regarding at-grade highway-railroad crossings and other issues.

An especially important part of the study was development of a "white paper" of railroad subjects meriting Commonwealth attention. RLBA addressed Pennsylvania's excellent Rail Freight Assistance Program, issues important to large and small railroads, rail mergers and other Surface Transportation Board jurisdiction, the next federal surface transportation authorization and the predicted future surface transportation congestion. RLBA recommended that Pennsylvania:

Consider increasing funding assistance to small railroads because of their need and important role in the state's economy;

Make its positions known on Capitol Hill with regard to reauthorization and

Take action to improve rail transportation efficiency in the Commonwealth in anticipation of the predicted considerable increase in surface traffic volume.

Study products included updating of Pennsylvania's GIS railroad data base, a new State Rail Plan and assessments of the state's most important or "strategic" rail lines and lines at risk. RLBA described the results of its 18-month study of the state's 69 freight railroads in a presentation to Pennsylvania's Secretary of Transportation and the Governor's Rail Freight Advisory Committee.