Impact of the Rail Grants Program

The New Jersey Rail Freight Assistance Program awards approximately $10 million annually in grants to freight rail operators for construction and improvement projects. The purpose of the rail investments is to promote and sustain economic development and maintain a balanced transportation system where rail is more economically viable than other transportation systems. However, the New Jersey Rail Freight Assistance Program (hereinafter the “rail grants program”) does not currently evaluate the impact of the grants after they have been awarded. No study has been conducted to evaluate the long-term impact of the program on the state’s transportation goals. New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is now studying the past performance of the program to learn its effects on the NJ economy and transportation system to potentially modify the rail grants program. The research team recommends improvements to the NJDOT’s program and selection methodology based on the findings of the research presented this report. This report compiles information from the literature, similar rail grant programs of other departments of transportation (DOTs), and other sources to comprehensively analyze and report on the economic,, traffic, and external impacts of the rail grants program. Several methodologies are reviewed and discussed throughout this analysis. Finally, the research team provides recommendations for improvements to NJDOT’s program and application selection methodology

• Record URL:
  http://www.nj.gov/transportation/business/research/reports/FHWA-NJ-2015-002.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://www.nj.gov/transportation/business/research/reports/FHWA-NJ-2015-002-TB.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  Rutgers University

  ,    

  New Jersey Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 600
  Trenton, NJ  United States  08625

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Ozbay, Kaan
  • Iyer, Shrisan
  • Mehta, Pankti
  • Allen, W Bruce
  • Nassif, Hani
  • Puniello, Orin
  • Robins, Martin E
  • Weiner, Marc
• Publication Date: 2015-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 92p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Economic benefits; Freight transportation; Grant aid; Investments; Railroad transportation; Short line railroads
• Identifier Terms: New Jersey Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01650007
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-NJ-2015-002
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 30 2017 5:15PM