§22705 Content

Summary

State rail plans must list what the rail network and services are now, how rail fits into the rest of the state's transportation, and review all rail lines (including planned high-speed corridors and unused segments). Plans must say what passenger rail service the state wants, analyze rail’s transport, economic, and environmental effects, and include a long-range program for freight and passenger investments. Plans must also describe public financing and funding sources, note rail infrastructure problems found with stakeholder input, review major intermodal connections (like ports), summarize public safety and security projects, evaluate passenger service performance and improvements, and compile high-speed rail studies and funding ideas. The long-range investment program must name any rail capital projects the State will do or support and give a detailed funding plan. Each project list must describe expected public and private benefits and explain how public funding relates to those benefits. When choosing projects, the State should consider private contributions, rail capacity and congestion, effects on roads/air/sea, regional balance, environmental impacts, economic and job effects, and expected ridership and service levels.