FARE Act

This bill would set up a federal advisory group to speed up rail electrification. The Surface Transportation Board would create a committee to study what’s getting in the way and to recommend solutions, including needed research and development. The group must send a report to Congress two years after the law takes effect and then every two years after that, and the committee would shut down 10 years after the law begins.

Key points

• Who’s involved: passenger and freight railroads, electric utilities, makers of electric and rail equipment, state governments, and federal agencies would all have a seat at the table.
• What changes: a new advisory committee studies barriers to rail electrification and offers recommendations to Congress.
• When: first report due 2 years after enactment, then every 2 years; the committee ends after 10 years.