TEXAS RURAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICTS: NEW ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS

The first year of this project found that several factors have prevented Texas Rural Rail Transportation Districts (RRTDs) from meeting their full potential. This report covers research activities that have been undertaken during a second year of study as an extension to the original project. Instead of looking back at what has historically happened with the state's RRTDs, the research summarized in this report explores the impacts that RRTDs may have on the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT's) statewide transportation planning responsibilities in the future. The three main topics discussed in this report include: development of a framework through which TxDOT may work more effectively with RRTDs; development of initial evaluation criteria or factors for abandoned rail corridors that TxDOT can use during the public hearing process for its rulemaking requirements under Senate Bill 406 of the 77th Legislature; and evaluation of the implications that increased formation of single-county RRTDs for economic development purposes may have on TxDOT's planning needs for rail and other transportation modes.