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Committee Detail

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”


STB - 84702 - Passenger Rail Advisory Committee - Agency Authority
Hide Section - GENERAL INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee NamePassenger Rail Advisory CommitteeAgency NameSurface Transportation Board
Fiscal Year2025Committee Number84702
Original Establishment Date11/29/2023Committee StatusChartered
Actual Termination Date Committee URLhttps://www.stb.gov/resources/stakeholder-commi...
Actual Merged Date Presidential Appointments*No
New Committee This FYNoMax Number of Members*unlimited
Terminated This FY Designated Fed Officer Position Title*DFO
Merged This FY Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date11/29/2023Designated Federal Officer First Name*Brian
Date Of Renewal Charter11/29/2025Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date Designated Federal Officer Last Name*O'Boyle
Exempt From Renewal*NoDesignated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination AuthorityDesignated Federal Officer Phone*202-245-0364
Establishment Authority*Agency AuthorityDesignated Federal Officer Fax*202-245-0456
Specific Establishment Authority*Establishment of the Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, STB Ex Parte No. 774Designated Federal Officer Email*brian.oboyle@stb.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*11/29/2023
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary CmteNot Applicable
Committee Type*Continuing
Presidential*No
Committee Function*National Policy Issue Advisory Board
Hide Section - RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*Continue
Legislation to Terminate RequiredNot Applicable
Legislation StatusNot Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*The committee will consider the issues impacting the development and operation of railroad passenger services across the United States, including solutions for reducing rail congestion and improving efficiency; the use by passenger rail operators of facilities and infrastructure owned by freight rail carriers, including on-time performance issues associated with that use; and the general need for passenger rail nationwide and its impacts on the public, the communities served by passenger rail, and the environment.
How is membership balanced?*The PRAC shall consist of approximately 18 voting members, who will be appointed to serve as representative members (excluding governmental representatives). There shall be a balanced representation of individuals knowledgeable regarding passenger rail transportation, freight rail transportation, commuter rail operations, and transportation and public policy. The PRAC shall include no fewer than: 2 representatives from Amtrak; 2 representatives from commuter rail operators whose operations use facilities owned and/or utilized by Amtrak, other intercity passenger rail operators, or common carrier rail freight operators (with limits ensuring geographic diversity within PRAC’s membership); 2 representative from an intercity passenger rail operator other than Amtrak; 1 representative from a State that funds intercity passenger rail (with limits ensuring geographic diversity); 1 representative from a State in which the intercity passenger rail stations are served only by long-distance trains (i.e., passenger trains serving the entirety of routes of more than 750 miles between endpoints) (with limits ensuring geographic diversity); 2 representatives from Class I railroad operators; 1 representative from Class II or Class III railroad operators; 1 representative from an organized rail labor association; 2 representatives from rail passenger advocacy organizations; 1 representative from a rail shipper advocacy organization or an individual shipper; and 3 at-large representatives with other relevant experience (where such experience could include but is not limited to: designing or building of passenger rail equipment or infrastructure; providing passenger rail analytic or consulting services; transportation planning; and transportation-related public policy work). All voting members of the Committee shall serve on the Committee in a representative capacity on behalf of their respective industry or stakeholder group.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*The committee will meet at least twice a year, and it will advise the Board on the important on-going issues relating to the cooperation between the freight railroads and passenger rail.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*Gaining broad advice requires including a significant number of different stakeholder interests. In advising the Board on the important and broad issues related to the cooperation between the freight railroads and passenger rail, this large and diverse group would likely come under FACA in any case.
Why close or partially close meetings?The committee meetings will be open to the public.
Recommendation RemarksThe committee did not meet in FY 2024. The inaugural meeting of the committee will be held on October 9, 2024.
Hide Section - PERFORMANCE MEASURES

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*NoAction Reorganize Priorities*No
Outcome Trust In GovernmentYesAction Reallocate ResourcesNo
Outcome Major Policy ChangesNoAction Issued New RegulationsNo
Outcome Advance In Scientific ResearchNoAction Proposed LegislationNo
Outcome Effective Grant MakingNoAction Approved Grants Or Other PaymentsNo
Outcome Improved Service DeliveryYesAction OtherNo
Outcome Increased Customer SatisfactionYesAction CommentNot Applicable
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg RequirementsNoGrants Review*No
Outcome OtherNoNumber Of Grants Reviewed 
Outcome CommentNot ApplicableNumber Of Grants Recommended 
Cost Savings*Unable to DetermineDollar Value Of Grants Recommended 
Cost Savings CommentNot ApplicableGrants Review Comment
Number Of Recommendations*0Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*Yes
Number Of Recommendations CommentThe committee did not meet in FY 2024. The inaugural meeting of the committee will be held on October 9, 2024.Access Agency WebsiteYes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*0.00%Access Committee WebsiteYes
% of Recs Fully Implemented CommentAccess GSA FACA WebsiteYes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*0.00%Access PublicationsNo
% of Recs Partially Implemented CommentAccess OtherNo
Agency Feedback*Not ApplicableAccess CommentAll materials relating to PRAC are available on the PRAC webpage that is part of the Surface Transportation Board website at: https://www.stb.gov/resources/stakeholder-committees/prac/
Agency Feedback Comment*The committee has not made recommendations or taken any action yet.Narrative Description*The committee will consist of stakeholders representing different passenger rail interests, including Amtrak, intercity passenger rail operators, commuter rail operators, freight railroads, railroad labor, state DOT officials, passenger rail advocacy groups, shippers, and contractors. The committee will consider the issues impacting the development and operation of railroad passenger services across the United States and ideas for resolving such issues.
Hide Section - COSTS

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members* 1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY* 
2. Payments to Federal Members* 2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY* 
3. Payments to Federal Staff* 3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff* 
4. Payments to Consultants* 4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY* 
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs* 5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY* 
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members* 6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members* 
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff* 7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY* 
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants* 8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY* 
10. Other Costs 10. Est. Other Costs Next FY* 
11. Total Costs$0.0011. Est. Total Next FY*$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified2/25/2025 9:18 AMEst. Fed Staff Support Next FY* 
Federal Staff Support (FTE)* Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks  
Hide Section - Interest Areas

Interest Areas

Category
Area
Applied Science
Statistics
Business
Business and Domestic Commerce
Industry
Small Business
Government
Federal Government
State Government
Transportation
Mass Transit
Railroads
Hide Section - MEMBERS,MEETINGS AND ADVISORY REPORTS

MEMBERS,MEETINGS AND ADVISORY REPORTS

To View all the members, meetings and advisory reports for this committee please click here
Hide Section - SUBCOMMITTEES

SUBCOMMITTEES

Committee

Subcommittees

 
ActionCommittee System IDSubcommittee NameFiscal Year
 COM-046358Current State Subcommittee2025
 COM-046357Expansion of Service Subcommittee2025
 COM-046356Joint Operations Subcommittee2025
 COM-046359Liability Subcommittee2025
Hide Section - CHARTERS AND RELATED DOCS

CHARTERS AND RELATED DOCS

No Documents Found
Hide Section - DATA FROM PREVIOUS YEARS

DATA FROM PREVIOUS YEARS

Committee

Data from Previous Years

 
ActionCommittee System IDCommittee NameFiscal Year
 COM-045363Passenger Rail Advisory Committee2024