Enhancing Rail Connectivity to Underserved Rural Communities

This research will identify the actions, practices, and policies needed to attract, continue or expand adequate short-line and or Class I and regional rail service to rural communities. Factors to be considered will include identification of the infrastructure needs for retaining or expanding viable rail operations, potential markets and market development approaches to support rail connectivity, beneficial operational characteristics, institutional, policy, program, and incentives that have been successfully used to attract and retain rail service. A number of factors (safety, shipping costs, roadway maintenance, pollution and congestion, business sustainability) will also be identified that offer benefits to the local communities and support livability, safety, sustainability and economic development opportunities from efficient operations of short-line railroads.