PLANNING PROCESS OVERVIEW

This section reviews the state/local planning requirements of TEA-21, outlines general requirements for public participation and describes how ISTEA and TEA-21 have expanded the transportation planning process to include intercity passenger and freight rail projects.  Many rail-related projects can be expected to emerge outside the conventional transportation planning process, which until recently focused on highway and transit projects.  Therefore, this section seeks to clarify how intercity rail and rail-related projects can be incorporated into the state and MPO planning, public participation, and application/approval process.

Process Overview

ISTEA made a number of revolutionary changes in the way the U.S. supports its transportation system, with greater federal program funding flexibility to choose between highway and transit projects.  While intercity passenger and freight rail were not given major attention in ISTEA, the expanded focus on transportation of people and goods, and the specific inclusion of freight in transportation planning requirements, offered new opportunities for consideration of intercity passenger and freight rail.

Federal Planning Support for Rail and Rail-Related Projects

TEA-21 provides federal funding for multimodal transportation planning at the state and MPO levels.  Planning studies that address intercity freight or passenger rail projects or improved access can be initiated by MPOs and states, based on recommendations from their technical advisory committees (TACs) and staff.  Private sector transportation providers, such as railroads, are encouraged to participate in planning, the foundation for project development.  Broader  membership on these TACs and participation in planning and project development helps to ensure that railroad concerns are addressed and that rail contributions and impacts are understood.

Planning Coordination

TEA-21 requires that each U.S. urbanized area with 50,000 in population adopt an official 20-year transportation plan, which must be consistent with the states 20 year transportation plan.  TEA-21 requires that these plans consider a range of transportation options designed to meet the transportation needs (both of passenger and freight) of the state including all modes and their connections. This intermodal focus, including the need to consider the role of rail freight transportation, is reflected in the list of factors that must be considered by both the statewide and metropolitan planning process.  States and MPOs must A explicitly consider, analyze, as appropriate, and reflect in planning process products . . . international border crossings and access to ports, airports, intermodal transportation facilities, major freight distribution routes  . . .@ .  The process used in developing these plans should include coordination with operators of airports, ports, rail terminals and other intermodal transportation facilities.

Participation

The regulations implementing TEA-21 planning, 23 CFR Part 450, state that private providers and users have a role in the development of both state and metropolitan plans.  Projects identified through the planning process in metropolitan areas are prioritized and programmed in metropolitan and statewide transportation improvement programs (TIPs).  These TIPs should reflect the overall transportation goals specified in the metropolitan and statewide plans and identify realistic local, state, and federal resources available to implement the programmed projects.  The consideration of rail throughout the planning process can effect balanced transportation solutions.                                  

Successful rail and rail-related projects that demonstrate significant public benefits can evolve from a cooperative effort between a rail provider and the primary planning agency for the region.  It is anticipated that the application of realistic evaluation criteria to a range of transportation projects will result in many rail and rail-related projects showing significant public benefit returns.  Such projects, generally public-private partnerships, can be attractive to local/state planning organizations, as total public dollars continue to decline.  

Project Advancement

FHWA and FTA manage program funding under TEA-21.  Therefore, similar to more traditional highway and transit proposals, applications for rail projects are made through the appropriate FHWA or FTA field office.  While it has no formal role in the approval process, FRA can help advance good, innovative rail-related projects, and welcomes the opportunity to meet with project sponsors.  While formal project requests must be made through FHWA or FTA regional offices, FRA would appreciate receiving copies of applications that contain rail elements.