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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by PNWRMNM Dave, I am disappointed that you have not described how you would do open access and what yur ground rules would be. If you are going to advocate a revolution you need a vision of the end product, not just BURN, BABY, BURN. [/quote] I did spell it out, and I guess I'll have to do it again, including but not limited to: 1. Separate infrastructure companies from the rolling stock/freight services companies, either by the railroads doing so voluntarily or by action of antitrust regulators. In the mean time I would ban any taxpayer aid going to a proprietary railroad, and make it clear such aid will only acrue with an open access regime. I would also start an immediate federal pollcy of constructing public open access rail links that will connect with at least two or more current proprietary rail lines, using the Corps of Engineers, state DOT's with pro-rail approaches, and regional transporation authorities 2. Allow the infrastructure companies to form public private partnerships with state and local governments for the purpose of getting those governments to shoulder a share of the burden of track maintenance and capacity expansions 3. Any open access right of way would be exempted from property taxes 4. The owners of rail right of ways would be granted transferable tax credits similar to the current short line tax credit, to encourage expedient track maintenance and improvements, as long as rail users have access to competitve rates 5. Each infrastructure company will be responsible for outlining the caveats for use of it's lines, whether it be mandatory cab signals, a minimum payment per slot, differential pricing of slots based on time of day/week/year, maximum allowable axle loadings, or whatever else may come to fruition as being necessary for optimal functionality. 6. If the Canadian and/or Mexican railroads are not similarly opened up, those railroads will be restricted from using the American rail grid. It's not a complete list, but it's a start.
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