Dates and locations of public outreach meetings to solicit input toward the development of the nation's first National Rail Plan were announced on Monday by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The National Rail Plan will lay out a coordinated vision for future development of the nation's freight and passenger rail networks. A final version of the plan is set to be released by Sept. 15, 2010.

"The development of the National Rail Plan must be a collaborative effort," said FRA Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. "We want to work with states, communities, businesses, transportation experts and the public to make sure our future transportation needs are met."

The moderated sessions will be held in five different regions and are open to media and the public. The schedule is as follows:

• 19 May - Kansas City, Mo.

• 20 May - Atlanta

• 26 May - New York

• 3 June - Salt Lake City

•  4 June - Portland, Ore.

For further details, click here.

In addition to the outreach events, FRA is accepting written comments from interested individuals and organizations through a public docket that has been created for that purpose.  Instructions on how to submit comments on the National Rail Plan are available here.