A METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF RAILROAD ABANDONMENT ON RURAL COMMUNITIES

Through deregulation, the railroad industry has rationalized its services across the nation. Since 1980, this has led to over 53,097 km (33,000 mi) of abandoned rail line in the United States. While this has improved the efficiency and financial viability of rail carriers, it has adversely affected some rural communities. These effects include an increased cost of shipping, increased highway damage, reduced business volume, and diminished economic development opportunities. This study attempted to formulate a consistent method of measuring and quantifying these impacts. Previous impact assessment techniques have been inconsistent in their theory and have relied on biased and unsubstantiated evidence and testimony. The proposed method takes different aspects of individual assessment techniques and quantifies the results in application to a railroad abandonment. The method was tested using a previous abandonment as a case study.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=335
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This report was prepared with funds provided by the United States Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108
• Authors:
  • Honeyman, J
• Publication Date: 1995-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 84 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Case studies; Deregulation; Economic impacts; Methodology; Quantitative analysis; Railroad equipment industry; Railroad tracks; Rural areas
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00715418
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC Report No. 95-48
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 29 1996 12:00AM