Especially in recent years our practice has increasingly involved public agencies and contractors providing passenger-related services. The resurgent interest in passenger rail transportation has resulted in many state and local governments undertaking both capital and operational “public/private partnership” projects.
Fletcher & Sippel attorneys have represented several state Departments of Transportation and a number of local governments in pursuing both passenger and freight projects to acquire and operate lines of railroads. We have represented contract operators of commuter services in both their operations and their bidding to obtain operating contracts. In the course of these representations, we have developed expertise in government contracting and transit funding issues and programs. We have also represented governmental bodies in connection with disputes with freight railroads and Amtrak.