[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 69 (Monday, April 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16914-16915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8317]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Ex Parte 680 (Sub-No. 1)]


Supplemental Report to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board on 
Capacity and Infrastructure Investment

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board seeks written public comments 
on the independent study prepared by Christensen Associates, Inc., 
entitled Supplemental Report to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board 
on Capacity and Infrastructure Investment, released on April 8, 2009 
(Report). This report supplements an earlier report by Christensen 
Associates, released in November 2008, A Study of Competition in the 
U.S. Freight Railroad Industry and Analysis of Proposals That Might 
Enhance Competition.

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 8, 2009. Replies to comments 
are due by May 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments and replies may be submitted either via the Board's 
e-filing format or in traditional paper format. Any person using e-
filing should attach a document and otherwise comply with the 
instructions at the E-FILING link on the Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov. Any person submitting a filing in the traditional 
paper format should send an original and 10 copies referring to STB Ex 
Parte No. 680 (Sub-No. 1) to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Strafford, (202) 245-0356. 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at: (800) 877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In September 2007, the Board awarded a 
contract to Christensen Associates to conduct an independent study that 
provides a comprehensive analysis of a wide range of issues including 
competition, capacity, and the interplay between the two. After the 
study was released, the Board held a public meeting on November 6, 
2008, with Christensen Associates to discuss it.
    In August 2008, to supplement this study, the Board called for an 
analysis of long-term forecasts of freight rail demand, particularly 
the U.S. Department of Transportation's Freight Analysis Framework 
(FAF). The Board requested a review of FAF and augmentation of FAF to 
permit greater incentive-based responses by economic agents and to test 
the sensitivity of FAF to key inputs, such as fuel prices and rates.
    The Report compares the FAF commodity flow forecasts to other 
macroeconomic and commodity-specific forecasts to develop alternative 
forecast scenarios of future freight rail volumes. The Report also 
analyzes the 2007 Cambridge Systematics study that used the FAF 
commodity flow forecasts to

[[Page 16915]]

estimate the amount of infrastructure investment needed to meet the 
projected demand for rail service through 2035. The Report further 
discusses the role of public involvement in railroad infrastructure 
investment.
    The Board has made this supplemental report available to the public 
via its Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov, and now seeks public comments 
and replies from all interested persons.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Decided: April 8, 2009.

    By the Board, Anne K. Quinlan, Acting Secretary.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. E9-8317 Filed 4-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P