STB case status webpage has been introduced by the Surface Transportation Board to show case progress and make board activity easier to track.

STB case status webpage adds case tracking
Surface Transportation Board Chair Patrick Fuchs
Photo – stb.gov

The new case status page turns recent periodic updates on pending adjudicatory proceedings into a regular process. Patrick Fuchs became STB Chair early last year. He had already begun issuing those updates. It marked the first such practice since the agency was created. According to the Surface Transportation Board⁠, the webpage covers all pending proceedings. Also, it includes estimated decision dates when possible. The page will be refreshed each week.

Surface Transportation Board case status

For each case, the page shows the proceeding status. It also shows the date when the next action is expected. Some recently submitted filings may not appear right away. The same applies to cases still in the record-building stage. Still, once a proceeding moves to board review, the STB said it will aim to provide timing estimates. Officials added that updates will usually be made on Wednesdays.

Fuchs said:

“With the launch of the case status page, we’re giving the public clearer visibility into our work and setting more predictable expectations for board actions, helping the marketplace plan with greater confidence and supporting the continued growth of the U.S. economy,”

Wider STB transparency efforts

The webpage is part of a wider transparency push at the board. In addition, the STB introduced a beta version of its Open Data Portal⁠ in May. It allows users to export data by carrier and across different time periods. Separately, the agency has also made recent improvements to its website search function.