RURAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICTS : RESEARCH IMPROVES ROLES AND OPERATIONS IN TEXAS

In a project authorized by the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Transportation Institute studied the development of Rural Road Transportation Districts (RRTDs) and documented the status of existing RRTDs. RRTDs are districts that purchase existing non-profitable rail lines that are in danger of closing down. Many smaller rail lines are in danger of shutting down due to deregulation in the state. In the first year of the study, the Texas Transportation Institute created a guidebook for the formation and evaluation of RRTDS. It also created a geographical information system database that displayed the location of RRTDs and the state's rail network. In the second year of the study, the Texas Transportation Institute looked at new ways in which the Texas DOT could work closely with RRTDs. Researchers found that the success of RRTDs is mitigated by factors such as lack of uniformity or consistency in its activities, irregularly scheduled board meetings, and by limited state and federal funding.