FRA is soliciting and encouraging the submission of proposals to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain a high-speed rail (HSR) system. Section 11308 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Public Law 114-94 (December 4, 2015), requires the Department of Transportation to “issue a request for proposals for projects for the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a high-speed passenger rail system operating within a high-speed rail corridor.”

The Federal Railroad Administration is encouraging interested parties to submit proposals that meet the requirements outlined in this request for proposals (RFP). Based on the proposals received, the Department of Transportation may establish commissions to further review and develop proposals. No Federal funding is associated with this provision and Congress prohibited in the FAST Act any Federal agency from taking subsequent actions to further “implement, establish, facilitate, or otherwise act upon any proposals” submitted under this RFP – other than the actions described in this notice – without “explicit statutory authority” to be subsequently provided by Congress.

(Source: FRA)