Railroads have been a vital presence in American transportation for nearly 200 years moving both passengers and freight efficiently and effectively. Freight railroads in the United States are mostly owned by private companies, who maintain and operate their own networks. Passenger systems, whether through Amtrak or various commuter railroads, require public assistance and either operate on their own track or pay to use freight railroad-owned track.

Introducing Policy Change: The Case of Knives on Planes

Apr 26, 2013
Last month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) unveiled a plan to permit some items that had been previously banned back...

Three New Visionary Ideas for the President

Mar 26, 2013
When President Obama gave his State of the Union speech to Congress last month, the transportation community reaction was mixed....

An Incomplete Agenda for the Nation’s Transportation System

Feb 26, 2013 | Carter Templeton
BY ERIC PETERSON Transportation Policy Consultant, Former Deputy Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration at the U.S. Department...

Transportation Policy Resolutions for the New Year

Jan 26, 2013
2013 promises to be an eventful year for federal policy-making. The entire tax code and virtually all domestic spending programs...

2012 Transportation Weekly Archive Index

Dec 31, 2012 | Jeff Davis
2012 Transportation Weekly Archive Index   January 2012   January 18, 2012 issue January 27, 2012 update January 30, 2012...

2011 Transportation Weekly Archive Index

Dec 31, 2011 | Jeff Davis
2011 Transportation Weekly Archive Index   January 2011   January 3, 2011 update January 19, 2011 issue January 31, 2011...

2010 Transportation Weekly Archive Index

Dec 31, 2010 | Jeff Davis
2010 Transportation Weekly Archive Index   January 2010   January 5, 2010 issue January 21, 2010 issue January 26, 2010...

Intermodal: Moving Freight in a Global Economy

May 11, 2010 | ENO CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION
Intermodal Transportation: Moving Freight in a Global Economy is a comprehensive textbook that offers an overview of the history and...

2009 Transportation Weekly Archive Index

Dec 31, 2009 | Jeff Davis
2009 Transportation Weekly Archive   January 2009 January 13, 2009 issue – CBO releases dismal new budget forecast; Stimulus bill...

Safer Railroading: A Guide Toward Targeted Safety Policy

Railroads are among the safest modes of transportation for workers, riders, and the public. Strong federal standards for railroad track and operations, technological investments like positive train control, and communities’ infrastructure improvements have yielded significant gains. But most of these gains have plateaued and in some cases safety trends are moving in the wrong direction. A new strategy and framework is needed to address the most significant safety issues facing railroads. This report explores trends in railroad safety data and actionable recommendations for federal, state, local, and private sector actors to make a demonstrable improvement in railroad safety.