STRATEGIES TO FACILITATE JOINT USE OF RAIL RIGHTS-OF-WAY

The article discusses two key issues related to shared use of rail rights-of-way by transit systems and freight railroads; safety issues associated with selection of passenger rail rolling stock; compensation, cost and liability issues that will be raised by the involved freight railroads. The article summarizes the Federal Railroad Administration's position on equipment safety issues and concludes that there is not always sufficient attention and consideration given to equipment safety issues in the early stages of system planning. The article identifies the key issues that will be raised by freight railroads and concludes that transit system will be more successful in negotiating shared use agreements if they recognize and are well prepared to address those issues.