Friday, March 23, 2007 (Washington, DC) BTS Provides Online Transportation Planning Package. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has posted the Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP) 2000 on its Web site, providing a new source of information on commute characteristics and socio-economic data from the 2000 Census. The package provides data to support a wide range of transportation planning activities at the state and local level, and includes data for the nation, states and large metropolitan areas. CTPP 2000 is the result of a cooperative effort between the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, BTS, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, State Departments of Transportation, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Transportation Research Board. The data can be found at www.transtats.bts.gov. Contact Dave Smallen: 202-366-5568.

FHWA Invites States to Seek Grants for Projects that Improve Safety, Relieve Congestion. The Federal Highway Administration issued a Federal Register Notice this week inviting states to apply for grant awards to fund projects that offer significant highway safety and congestion relief benefits. In line with the Department’s goals to save lives and reduce traffic delays on highways, the FHWA is making available a total of $329 million in grant funds in an effort to target resources strategically to eight discretionary programs that improve safety and relieve congestion: Ferry Boat, Innovative Bridge Research and Construction, Interstate Maintenance, Public Lands Highway, Highways for Life, Transportation Community and System Preservation, Truck Parking Facilities, and Delta Region Transportation Development Program. An electronic copy of the FRN, March 22, is available at www.archives.gov. Contact Nancy Singer: 202-366-4650.

FRA Issues RRIF Loans to DM&E and RJ Corman Railroad Group

This week, the Federal Railroad Administration approved a Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan to the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) of $48.3 million to improve safety and service between Wall, South Dakota and Colony, Wyoming. Rail line improvements will be made to accommodate heavier freight cars that haul grains, ethanol, and minerals. Specifically, 134 miles of track will be upgraded, including the replacement of 60 miles of rail between Wall and Owanka, and from Whitewood to the SD-WY state line. Major bridge repairs will occur between Wasta and Owanka and near Belle Fourche, as well as the replacement of 55 track switches, the installation of 84,000 new cross ties, and the construction of a 1.5 mile siding at Midland. In addition, 93 highway-rail grade crossings will be resurfaced to provide a safer and smoother ride for roadway motorists. FRA evaluated this loan separately and independently from another, larger DM&E RRIF loan application that was recently denied by the agency.

Also, FRA approved a RRIF loan of $58.9 million to the R.J Corman Railroad Group, which operates eight short line railroads in Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Tennessee. The loan will be used to rehabilitate 24 locomotives to increase fuel efficiency, reduce diesel emissions, and improve service reliability. In addition, the railroad will purchase 200 new center-beam flat cars to move heavy materials and acquire 100 new hopper cars to transport coal. Also, a portion of the loan will be used to refinance existing debt incurred for the purchase of railroad property, facilities, rail cars, and heavy maintenance equipment. Most of the company’s railroads are the sole provider of rail service to their customers such as industrial manufacturers and distributors of raw materials. Contact: Steve Kulm (202) 493-6024.

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