A National Survey of Commuter Rail Policy

This research situates commuter rail systems in the context of rail systems at-large, compiles a complete and definitive list of U.S. commuter rail systems, profiles each system and establishes a 'new start' and 'legacy' classification system for commuter rail. Examining new start commuter rail, specifically the acquisition of right-of-way on shared-corridors and the relationship between system design and urban form, provides a means of tracing the policy mobility and system development of contemporary commuter rail. The authors highlight the current state of commuter rail, the historical acquisition of legacy commuter rail systems by public transit agencies and the establishment of contemporary new start commuter rail projects. This overview includes profiles of all 26 operational US commuter rail systems. These profiles examine the vital statistics and demographics of each system.