advertisement

---

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) recently adopted its 2006 user fee update schedule for processing various transportation financial transactions and other proceedings. Effective April 19, the 2006 update enables the board to offset expenses and reflect changes to overhead costs.

The 2006 update maintains the same 127 fee or sub-fee items from the STB’s 2005 user fee update. However, 67 items will increase, ranging from a 10 cent hike for one fee item and $1 for seven items to a $38,600 hike for processing a maximum coal case under the coal-rate guidelines and a $40,700 increase for major financial transactions. Of the 67 items, 28 will increase $100 or less and 39, by more than $100.

The 2006 update complies with a congressional directive included in the FY2006 transportation appropriations legislation that the STB raise $1.25 million in fees to cover a portion of its budget.