Railroad Regulations
To read about railroad companies in Hampton Roads, see: Railroads in Hampton Roads
To read about coal terminals in Hampton Roads and how they are are regulated, see:Coal Terminals in the Port of Virginia and Federal and State Terminal Permits
Surface Transportation Board
Role and Jurisdiction
The Surface Transportation Board is the federal agency that is charged with the economic regulation of various modes of surface transportation, primarily freight rail. It has jurisdiction over railroad rate, practice, and service issues and rail restructuring transactions, including mergers, line sales, line construction, and line abandonments. The STB also has jurisdiction over certain passenger rail matters, the intercity bus industry, non-energy pipelines, household goods carriers’ tariffs, and rate regulation of marine freight shipping involving the United States and other U.S. territories and possessions.[1]
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Federal Railroad Administration
Role
- Regulations—creation, revision, and enforcement
- Inspections, accident investigations, safety audits, technical assistance, and data collection and analysis
- Outreach to and partnerships with state and local governments and other stakeholders
- Research and development into safety technologies
FRA also promotes the development of the freight, passenger, and commuter rail network through grant programs.
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- ↑ About STB. Surface Transportation Board. 2025.