FARE Act

This legislation mandates the Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board to establish an advisory committee on rail electrification . The primary purpose of this committee is to thoroughly study and provide recommendations concerning the various barriers hindering rail electrification, including identifying necessary research and development to overcome these challenges. The committee's membership will be carefully balanced, drawing representatives from key interested parties such as passenger and freight railroads, electric utilities, electric and rail equipment manufacturers, state governments, and relevant federal agencies. This diverse composition aims to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the issues. Furthermore, the bill requires the Chairman to submit a detailed report to specific Congressional committees every two years, outlining the committee's findings and recommendations. This reporting mechanism ensures ongoing oversight and progress tracking. The advisory committee is slated to operate for a period of 10 years from the date of the Act's enactment, after which it will be terminated.