Oig High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Best Practice Public Benefits Report

In the past, federal involvement in the development of intercity passenger rail has historically been quite limited. This has changed considerably in the past several years, beginning with the passage of important legislation such as the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) and the Rail Safety Improvement Act (RSIA) in 2008, and continuing with President Obama’s announcement of a High-Speed Rail Vision in April 2009. Federal funding is now available for the development of high-speed and intercity passenger rail (HSIPR), including an initial $8 billion in grant funds made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), as well as other passenger rail development funds made available under the federal budget and PRIIA. This report addresses some of the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) plans and decisions.