Railroad Competitiveness:
Federal Laws and Policies Affect Railroad Competitiveness
RCED-92-16: Published: Nov 5, 1991. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 1991.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the principal factors affecting the railroad industry's ability to compete with other transportation modes for intercity freight, focusing on how federal laws: (1) affect railroad labor costs; and (2) influence the railroads' competitive position.
GAO found that: (1) reduced federal regulation has given railroads greater freedom to competitively price their services, but as the railroads have become more competitive, so have their competitors in the trucking and barge industries; (2) the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937, the Federal Employers' Liability Act, and the Railway Labor Act of 1926, which govern railroad employee benefits and labor relations, have resulted in higher overall labor costs; (3) if railroads could reduce their labor costs, they would be in a better position to competitively price their services and compete for intercity freight; (4) publicly financed interstate highways and waterways give the trucking and barge industries a competitive price advantage over railroads, since freight railroads maintain their own rights of way with minimal federal assistance, while trucks and barges use rights of way that the public helps to fund; and (5) rail rates could become increasingly attractive compared with truck or barge rates, if all modes operated under the same labor laws and were equally responsible for their rights of way.
Oct 3, 2018
Positive Train Control:
Most Passenger Railroads Expect to Request an Extension and Substantial Work Remains Beyond 2018GAO-19-135T: Published: Oct 3, 2018. Publicly Released: Oct 3, 2018.
Sep 13, 2018
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Positive Train Control:
Most Railroads Expect to Request an Extension, and Substantial Work Remains Beyond 2018GAO-18-692T: Published: Sep 13, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 13, 2018.
Sep 5, 2018
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Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway:
Assessing Risks and Measuring Performance Could Improve Maritime TransportationGAO-18-610: Published: Sep 5, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 5, 2018.
Jul 30, 2018
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Public Transit Partnerships:
Additional Information Needed to Clarify Data Reporting and Share Best PracticesGAO-18-539: Published: Jul 30, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 2018.
Jul 26, 2018
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Aviation Security:
Basic Training Program for Transportation Security Officers Would Benefit from Performance Goals and MeasuresGAO-18-552: Published: Jul 26, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 26, 2018.
Jul 19, 2018
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Highway and Transit Projects:
Better Data Needed to Assess Changes in the Duration of Environmental ReviewsGAO-18-536: Published: Jul 19, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 19, 2018.
Jul 12, 2018
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Aviation Security:
Actions Needed to Better Identify and Track U.S.-Bound Public Charter Operations from CubaGAO-18-526: Published: Jul 12, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 12, 2018.
May 31, 2018
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Capital Investment Grants Program:
FTA Should Address Several Statutory ProvisionsGAO-18-462: Published: May 31, 2018. Publicly Released: May 31, 2018.
May 29, 2018
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Interstate Pipeline Inspections:
Additional Planning Could Help DOT Determine Appropriate Level of State ParticipationGAO-18-461: Published: May 29, 2018. Publicly Released: May 29, 2018.
May 24, 2018
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Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems:
FAA Should Improve Its Management of Safety RisksGAO-18-110: Published: May 24, 2018. Publicly Released: May 24, 2018.
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