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Freight Rail Day - 2011 Harrisburg, PA May, 2012 Anne Canby, Director The OneRail Coalition a project of the Surface Transportation Partnership www.onerail.org 1707 L St NW, Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20036 202-466-2641. The OneRail Coalition
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Freight Rail Day - 2011Harrisburg, PAMay, 2012Anne Canby, Director The OneRail Coalitiona project of the Surface Transportation Partnershipwww.onerail.org1707 L St NW, Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20036202-466-2641 The OneRail Coalition Integrating Rail into the Nation’s Transportation System
Why a Rail coalition? • Elevate the visibility of rail as a key part of the nation’s transportation system • Bring all rail interests together to speak with one voice • Integrate rail into national, state, and regional transportation policies, programs, and plans
Value of OneRail • OneRail brings passenger and freight rail stakeholders together for the first time. • The coalition supports freight and passenger rail policies to: • Building trust among the members • Identify benefits for each member • Organized & managed as a project of the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership (STPP)
■ OneRail Focus • ■ Visibility • Expand visibility of rail as a key component of nation’s transportation system • Build a central hub for rail information (www.onerail.org) • Develop short research/message pieces to tell the ‘rail’ story • ■ Outreach • Reach out to target audiences to build support for rail • Expand understanding of rail issues (capacity, shared use, safety, etc.) • ■ Policy • Develop consensus on key policy issues • Assist OneRail members in advocacy efforts re: policy positions on national legislation – surface authorization, appropriations
OneRail Goals • Shape national surface transportation policies, programs and funding to support freight and passenger rail as a key component in transport system • Leverage public & private funding for rail (Amtrak, HSIR, freight)
OneRail Principles • The U.S. should enact policies and programs that expandpublic and private investment in freight rail infrastructure • The nation’s passenger rail network must be strengthened and expanded by encouraging the development of safe, affordable commuter and intercity train optionsfor all Americans
Create domestic jobsand spur long-term economic growth through investment in our nation’s passenger and freight rail infrastructure • An ongoing dedicated fundingsource is necessary to support intercity passenger rail
High Performance Passenger Rail Projects underway in five mega-regions representing 65% of the U.S. population
Some Major Recent and Current Corridor and Terminal Projects - Freight RR ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS SLIDE 3 CorridorTerminal BNSF CSX FEC NS UP Source: AAR
U.S. Rail Supply Industry 1,758 facilities
■ Key Elements of Administration’s Authorization Proposal • ■ Six year $476 billion program • ■ $47 billion high speed/performance rail program • Core express, regional and emerging corridors • ■ Create a Transportation Trust Fund with 3 sub-accounts - rail, transit, highway all with contract authority • $3 billion to expand TIFIA loan program • ■Paying for the proposal • $231 billion from the Overseas Contingency Operations fund • $261 in existing Highway Trust Fund revenue
Key Authorization Issues for OneRail • Section 130 rail‐highway grade crossing safety program • Flexibility for State DOTs to invest in freight rail, maritime, or intermodal projects • Projects of National & Regional Significance (PNRS) program • Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program • Rail planning provisions • Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) • Project expediting provisions • Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for operating intercity passenger rail service • Transit and parking commuter benefits parity; and • Alaska Railroad FTA formula funds • University Transportation Centers (UTC) program
Forging a truly integrated rail agenda • Define a clear sense of desired outcomes & value for each partner • Strong integrated rail network for freight and passenger • Build trust among the players • Establish a stable funding resource(s) • Public capital • Be willing to find ways to make ‘it’ work • Identify the benefits for all ‘partners’ as well as national policy • Increase rail share of freight and passenger • Identify political support/allies • Industry suppliers, labor, users
Rail Community Participation • Support OneRail policies in surface and other federal legislation • Help educate a range of audiences about rail’s advantages and benefits • Outreach to state constituencies to build support for rail • Help communicate the OneRail message • Participate in internal coalition discussions • Thoughts & Questions? www.onerail.org