Surface Transportation Board


Overview: The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is charged with promoting substantive and procedural regulatory reform in the economic regulation of surface transportation, and with providing an efficient and effective forum for the resolution of disputes and the facilitation of appropriate business transactions. In the performance of its functions, the STB seeks to resolve matters brought before it fairly and expeditiously through the use of its regulatory exemption authority, the streamlining of the decisional process, and the consistent application of legal and equitable principles. The STB continues to strive to develop, through rulemakings and case disposition, new and better ways to analyze unique and complex problems, to reach fully justified decisions more quickly, and to reduce the costs associated with regulatory oversight.

Surface Transportation Board Budget
(Dollars In Millions)
  2002 Actual 2003 1/ Request
2004 1/ Request
Salaries & Expenses 18 19 20
TOTAL 18 19 20
1/ Excludes estimated accrual payments for civil service retirement and health benefits.

FY 2004 Budget

The FY 2004 budget request for the STB totals $19.5 million, to be financed by appropriation and the offsetting collection of user fees. The STB, established in 1996 pursuant to the ICC Termination Act of 1995, is responsible for the economic regulation of the rail industry and the transportation of commodities by pipeline other than oil and gas. The STB is also responsible for certain non-licensing regulation of motor and water carriers.