---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 22703"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "22703"
heading: "Purposes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/22703"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Rail Programs"
  - "Part B — Assistance"
  - "Chapter 227 — State Rail Plans"
---

# §22703. Purposes

- (a) **Purposes.—** The purposes of a [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3) rail plan are as follows:
  - (1) To set forth [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3) policy involving freight and passenger rail transportation, including commuter rail operations, in the [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3).
  - (2) To establish the period covered by the [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3) rail plan.
  - (3) To present priorities and strategies to enhance rail service in the [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3) that benefits the public.
  - (4) To serve as the basis for Federal and [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3) rail investments within the [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3).
- (b) **Coordination.—** A [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3) rail plan shall be coordinated with other [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3) transportation planning goals and programs, including the plan required under [section 135 of title 23](/usc/23/135.md), and set forth rail transportation’s role within the [State](/usc/49/22701.md?p=3) transportation system.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–432, div. B, title III, § 303(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4948.)