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to choose multi-modal services for their trip making, thereby decreasing improvements, redevelopment strategies, and implementation plans that
congestion, increasing mobility and promoting sustainability. enable cities to take fully realize transportation investments in their city, and
also pursue regional and state funding opportunities and technical support. The
overall goal of the vision plans is to develop plans that reduce GHGs and VMTs.
RAIL AND SUSTAINABILITY
While there is no doubt that rail stations spur economic development and TOD,
Passenger rail reduces SOV trips, thereby significantly reducing VMT, air it is critical that multi-modal connectivity exist at these stations. This includes
pollution and GHG emissions. In the SCAG region, and throughout California transit and first/last mile facilities. As noted earlier, currently there are varying
and the nation, passenger rail boardings are generally increasing year levels of connectivity to our existing rail stations. Current and future rail stations
over year, as discussed in the Existing Conditions section of this report. As should provide timed transit schedules to arriving and departing trains, so
more capital improvements are implemented, speed and service levels will that passengers have ample time to make the connection. Local, express and
increase and at the same time an increasing population and travel demand BRT/BRT Light transit should connect with rail where appropriate. Rail stations
will cause our capacity-constrained freeways, highways and airports to should also have bike share and other active transportation facilities for those
become more congested.
who wish to access the stations by biking and walking.
Climate change planning should be incorporated into our region’s rail planning
and asset management efforts. While our region does not have the same
topographical vulnerabilities to flooding as the East Coast, much of our rail REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
system, especially the LOSSAN Corridor, runs along the coast on sandstone
bluffs that could be significantly affected by erosion from sea level rise. Also, FEDERAL
excessive heat can cause rail buckling, and there are forecasts for significantly
higher numbers of days with highs over 95 degrees. This high heat can also The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is an agency in the United
cause problems for air conditioning units on passenger cars. States Department of Transportation (DOT), created by the Department of
Transportation Act of 1966. The purpose of FRA is to promulgate and enforce
rail safety regulations, administer railroad assistance programs, conduct
RAIL AND LAND USE research and development in support of improved railroad safety and

Rail investment and the economic investment returns it brings are well national rail transportation policy, provide for the rehabilitation of Northeast
established and documented. Many passenger rail stations in our region have Corridor rail passenger service, and consolidate government support of rail
seen significant transit oriented development (TOD), and many stations have transportation activities. All passenger and freight rail travel in the United States
TOD projects under development. As speed and service levels grow on our on the national interconnected rail infrastructure is subject to regulation by
existing system, as well as congestion on our roadways, TOD will become all the the FRA. FRA regulates public and intercity rail services, but does not regulate
more attractive for our residents. With the delivery of California High-Speed Rail “closed” railways that operate exclusively on private property, such as a rail
(CA HSR), station area planning and its TOD potential could reach a new level in system between buildings at a steel mill, nor does it regulate subways, light rail
terms of investment and attractiveness. or elevated intra-city passenger rail systems that do not connect to any public
rail networks. Most notably, the FRA enforces safety regulations, such as speed
In 2018, SCAG partnered with five cities to develop high-quality transit limits and requirements for safety features such as positive train control (PTC).
area (HQTA) Vision Plans. The Vision Plans identified active transportation

Connect SoCal 3 Passenger Rail