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| INTERCITY       FREIGHT AND PASSENGER RAIL:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |        |
| **Section�         2**
**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 Aexplicitly           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.
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**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.                                                                                                                 |        |
| Site         Index

Section         1.

Section         2.

Section         3.Section 4.Surface Transportation         ProgramTIFIANCPD and CBI ProgramsTransportation Enhancements         Program

Section         5.Air QualityEnergy**TEA-21         Role in Transportation and the Environment**

Section         6.�

Appendix         1.        Appendix 2.        Appendix 3.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                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