Some may wish to comment on this to the STB. Of course, most railroad managements are still trying to tear up trackage instead of finding ways to utilize it, as are most trail advocates..

-----------------------------***-----------------------------
From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C.
-----------------------------***-----------------------------

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced today that the agency
will
hold an April 11, 2007 public hearing to examine issues related to
railroad
traffic forecasts and infrastructure requirements.


Specifically, the STB will conduct the public hearing as a forum for
interested persons to provide views and information about:
rail-freight
traffic forecasts; the extent of capacity constraints and the ability
of
railroads to meet rising demand; the infrastructure investment needed
to
ensure that the Nation's freight-rail system continues to operate in
an
efficient and reliable manner; possible solutions to the challenges
presented by growing rail traffic and limited capacity; and the
potential
role of public-private partnerships and innovative financing tools in
meeting these challenges.


In announcing the April 11 hearing, STB Chairman Charles D. Nottingham
stated:

"Our Nation's freight-rail system will be relied upon to handle
significant increases in traffic in the years ahead. This hearing
should
shed light on whether current plans and investments are adequate to
meet
rail capacity demands, and, if not, what new policies and strategies
need
to be implemented."


The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11, in the 1st
Floor hearing room at the STB's new headquarters at 395 E Street,
S.W.,
Washington, D.C.


The STB scheduled the April 11 hearing in a Notice in the proceeding
entitled Rail Capacity and Infrastructure Requirements, STB Ex Parte
No.
671, issued today, Tuesday, March 6, 2007. That decision is available
for
viewing and downloading via the agency's Web site at
http://www.stb.dot.gov. A printed copy of the STB's decision also is
available by contacting ASAP Document Solutions, 9332 Annapolis Rd.,
Suite
103, Lanham, MD 20706, telephone (202) 306-4004, or via
asapdc@verizon.net
.