Synthesis of Information Related to Highway Problems. Topic 37-10. Preserving Freight and Passenger Rail Corridors and Service

As rail carriers streamline their networks, many low density lines have been/are being sold, leased or abandoned. Several states and localities have programs which provide direct or indirect financial support to keep the line open. Preserving rail service may provide great benefits to the public because it reduces highway congestion, improves safety, saves fuel, provides economic benefits, and is environmentally friendly. For the corridors and rail line connectors which have been sold, leased or abandoned particularly over the last 25 years, some strategies have been successful in building sustainable freight volumes and/or instituting passenger service. This is especially important now because of current capacity constraints and expected large future increases in transportation demand. A synthesis is needed at this time to raise awareness about overcoming institutional barriers, improving public perceptions, identifying conditions for success/failure and potential funding strategies, and quantifying direct and indirect benefits.

• Record URL:
  http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=102

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $2900.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-05, Topic

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Project Managers:

  Vlasak, Donna

• Performing Organizations:

  TranSystems Corporation

  ,   United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Simpson, David

• Start Date: 20051101
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20060228
• Source Data: RiP Project 11624

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Corridors; Freight and passenger traffic; Freight service; Highway corridors; Rail (Railroads); Research projects; Safety; Traffic congestion
• Identifier Terms: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01462979
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-05, Topic
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:14PM