This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. The nation¿s seven largest rail transit agencies deliver over three billion passenger trips each year, relying on over 6,000 miles of track, 1,700 passenger stations and 15,000 rail vehicles to do so. These services, and the infrastructure and rolling stock that support them, are critical to the transportation needs and quality of life of the communities they serve. But, this infrastructure is aging and the level of reinvestment is insufficient to address a growing backlog of deferred investment needs. This study assesses the level of capital investment required to maintain a state of good repair for the nation¿s seven largest rail transit operators. The study also considers past levels of Fed. funding support as well as potential changes to the current Fed. program.

Although transit service is generally safe, recent high-profile accidents on several large rail transit systems notably the June 2009 collision in Washington, D.C., that resulted in nine fatalities and 52 injuries have raised concerns. The Fed. Transit Admin. (FTA) oversees state agencies that directly oversee rail transit agencies' safety practices. FTA also provides assistance to transit agencies, such as funding and training, to enhance safety. This report determined: (1) the challenges the largest rail transit systems face in ensuring safety; and (2) the extent to which assistance provided by FTA addresses these challenges. The author visited eight large rail transit systems and their respective state oversight agencies. Illus. This is a print on demand report.

Provided is an overview of the Nation's transportation system which identifies future investments required to maintain and develop its infrastructure. The contents of this study were used in support of the National Transportation Policy Statement, issued by the Department of Transportation during March 1990. It is organized around a framework in which transportation is viewed as an integral part of our socioeconomic system. The future development of transportation will be influenced by the same factors affecting the rest of the system, namely, demographic changes, the future course of the economy, the energy supply, and preservation of the environment.

This Conditions and Performance (C&P) report is intended to provide decision makers with an objective appraisal of the physical conditions, operational performances, and financing mechanisms of highways, bridges, and transit systems based both on the current state of these systems and on the projected future state of these systems under a set of alternative future investment scenarios. This report offers a comprehensive, data-driven background to support the development and evaluation of legislative, program, and budget options at all levels of government. This report consolidates conditions, performance, and financial data provided by States, local governments, and mass transit operators to provide a national-level summary. Illus.