FRA Legislation & Regulations

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Project Sponsors need to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), other federal laws, and executive orders.  This section lists environmental regulations likely to be covered under FRA’s environmental review process. FRA and Project Sponsors partner with natural, cultural, and historic resource agencies to meet the requirements of additional considerations and must establish realistic timeframes for the environmental review of rail projects.

Environment

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires Federal agencies to account for the environmental impacts of Federal-government actions. NEPA established a national environmental policy and provides a framework for environmental planning and decision-making by...

Data & Resources

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) provides transportation data on a variety of transportation modes, including rail. Below are a few selected data sets from BTS.

Amtrak Financial and Planning Reforms

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015 included several provisions intended to improve the transparency and management of Amtrak funding, target federal investments in rail infrastructure and state of good repair needs, and enhance project planning and coordination....

Amtrak

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (better known as Amtrak) is a for-profit corporation that operates intercity passenger rail services in 46 states and the District of Columbia, in addition to serving as a contractor in various capacities for several commuter rail agencies. [Rail...

Rail Network Development

The mission of FRA is to enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods for a strong America, now and in the future. FRA accomplishes this mission primarily through issuance, implementation, and enforcement of safety regulations; selective investment to develop the...

Why do Passenger Trains Pass Stop Signals? A Systems View