HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrans 2013-03-26 Item 4D - Discussion - Washington State Rail PlanThe Washington State Rail Plan
Kerri Woehler
Rail Planning & Strategic Assessment Manager
Ron Pate
Acting Cascade Rail Corridor
Director
Washington State
�` Department of Transportation
Lynn Peterson Steve Reinmuth
Secretary of Transportation Chief of Staff
South County Area Transportation Board (SCATBd)
SeaTac, Washington
March 19, 2013
What is the Purpose of the State Rail Plan?
• Fulfills federal and state
requirements.
• Provides an integrated plan for
freight and passenger rail, including
5- and 20 -year funding strategies,
that meets federal and state
requirements.
• Builds on previous plans and guides
future efforts.
• Serves as a strategic blueprint for
future public investment in the state's
rail transportation system.
giWashington State
Department of Transportation
Years of collaborative, consistent
planning and substantial state
investment prepared WSDOT to
compete for and ultimately secure
nearly $800 million in federal funds
for passenger rail improvements.
It's time to be thinking about what's
next for freight and passenger rail.
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Plan Methodology
• Establish the vision: What are we trying to accomplish?
• Identify strengths and challenges: In what ways are we achieving the
vision? What obstacles are keeping us from getting there?
• Develop options: What strategies/projects will help us overcome the
obstacles?
• Evaluate and prioritize: How well do the strategies/projects work? What are
the advantages and disadvantages? How much do they cost? In what ways
do the strategies/projects support the vision?
• Create recommended implementation plan: How do we implement the
changes to achieve our vision?
WIWashington State
Department of Transportation
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State Rail Plan Timeline
Spring 2012 Summer 2012 FaII 2012 Winter 2013 Spring 2013 Summer 2013 Fall 2013
Final Approval of
Detailed work Plan
from FRA
Vision, goals and objectives
Rail system inventory:
baseline EDnditians and future forecast
Advisory committee meeting
Public workshops
Washington State
f% Department of Transportation
Rail system needs and
opportunities
Improvement
options:
capital projects,
funding programs,
operating procedures
and policy changes
Advisory committee
meeting
Plan recommendations
Implementation plan
Advisory EOM mHee meeting
Draft
State Rail Plan
Feedback during
formal comment
period:
letter, email,
online comment
form
Public open house
Final
State
Rail
Plan
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Stakeholder Feedback -
Freight and Passenger Rail
• Improve the efficiency and reliability of existing rail services
• Improve connections between rail and other modes
• Strengthen rail as a competitive and environmentally -friendly transportation
option
• Maintain infrastructure in a state of good repair
• Prevent loss of rail right-of-way
• Encourage compatible land use development near rail infrastructure
• Enhance safety on the rail and at at -grade crossings
• Preserve and expand facilities and services to accommodate future
demands
• Develop inter -agency and public-private partnerships
• Consider cost effectiveness and return on investment of public investments
and monitor success
• Achieve financial sustainability
Washington State
�Jr Department of Transportation
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Freight Rail in Washington State
Class I Railroads: BNSF and UP
• Privately -owned enterprises
• Fund their own system
improvements
• Own the majority of the rail
infrastructure
• Occasionally partner with the
public sector on capital projects
(grade crossings, etc.)
Shortline railroads:
• 23 throughout Washington
• Mixture of private & public
ownership
Washington State
Department of Transportation
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Long Distance - Coast Starlight and Empire Builder=1
Passenger Rail in Washington State
Daily
Service Sponsors Roundtrips
Coast Starlight: Seattle to LA. Amtrak 1
Em pire Builder: Seattle to Chicago Amtrak 1
Intercity Passenger Rail—Amtrak Cascades
Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. WSDOT 2
Seattle to Portland, OR WSDOT, ODOT, Amtrak 4
Portland to Eugene ODOT 2
Regional/Commuter—Sounder
Seattle to Everett Sound Transit
Seattle to Tacom of Lakewood Sound Transit
rrWashington State
ir Department of Transportation
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Amtrak Cascades Cost Sharing
2011-2013, based on subsidy
Passenger Rail Investment and
Improvement Act (PRIIA)of 2008
• One Amtrak Cascades train
between Seattle and Portland is
currently funded by federal Amtrak
dollars.
• Starting in October 2013,
Washington and Oregon must
absorb those costs
• WSDOT is working with Oregon to
develop an implementation
strategy.
6 Washington State
Department of Transportation
Starting in October 2013,
Amtrak's contribution to
subsidies will be $0.
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High -Speed Rail Capital Investments
• Federal high-speed rail funds - $794.9 million
ARRA = American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
• Supports overall program goal of more frequent and
reliable Amtrak Cascades service
— Two additional round trips between Seattle and
Portland, for a total of six
— Improved on-time performance to 88%
— 10 -minute schedule reduction between Seattle -Portland
• 20 projects in Washington building additional rail -line
capacity and upgrading tracks, safety features,
utilities, signals, passenger stations and advanced
warning systems
• Supports an estimated 2600 skilled construction and
operating jobs for railroad crews and regional
contractors
6 Washington State
Department of Transportation
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Washington's Rail System Today
Strengths:
• Provides good mobility for existing train
volumes
• Extensive network connects citizens
and industry
• Supports industries that contribute
$106 billion to GDP and support 1.2
million jobs
• Most fuel-efficient mode and produces
the least amount of carbon
Challenges:
• Bottlenecks, constraints and access
issues on Class 1 system
• Delays and reliability concerns
• Deferred maintenance degrading level
of service on shortline railroads
• Access to national and global markets
• Meeting future demand
• Maintaining a safe rail system
Alllik
Washington State
VA, Department of Transportation
Washington State Rail System
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"Category B:
Rail's Role in Economic
, Development
• .
Three Categories of Needs
Category A:
Rail Operations and Infrastructure
L Needs
Category C:
Rail System Priorities and Goals
rAiWashington State
Department of Transportation
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Rail Operations and Infrastructure Needs
• Address Constraints to Ensure Capacity Meets Future Demand
• Preserve Existing Rail Capacity and Infrastructure
• Enhance the Efficiency and Reliability of Existing Services
Tonnage (in millions)
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Aggregate Freight Rail Commodity
Flows; 2010 and 2035
2010 2035
►
Washington State
Department of Transportation
• Local Flows
Outbound Flows
• Through Flows
• Inbound Flows
Active and Abandoned Rail Lines
(Abandoned Lines Shown in Orange)
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Rail's Role in Economic Development
• Support Economic Development by
Providing Access to People and
Industry
• Preserve Access to Global Markets
by Ensuring Access to Washington's
Ports
6 Washington State
Department of Transportation
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Rail System Priorities and Goals
• Prioritize Cost -Effective
Investments into the State's
Rail System
• Strengthen Rail as an
Environmentally and
Community -Friendly Mode of
Transportation
• Continue to Support Safe and
Secure Passenger and
Freight Rail Movement
6 Washington State
Department of Transportation
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Next Steps in Plan Development
• Identify and evaluate responses
to needs: capital projects,
operational improvements,
program and policy changes.
• Recommend priority actions to
achieve vision and goals; create
an implementation plan.
• Release draft Washington State
Rail Plan for public review and
comment in Summer 2013.
• Publish final Washington State
Rail Plan in December 2013.
6 Washington State
Department of Transportation
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Plan Implementation
• Incorporate results into State
Freight Plan and Washington
Transportation Plan.
• Continue collaborative planning
with stakeholders and partners
to refine and focus investment
priorities.
• Initiate scoping and project
development to prepare for
future funding opportunities.
Washington State
Department of Transportation
-„WSDOT /"► Oregon
JL Department
o/ Transportation
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New Stop Evaluation for Amtrak Cascades -
Auburn
Washington State
Wi Department of Transportation
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Current Status
• Communities continue to approach WSDOT with requests for
new station stops.
• We do not anticipate service changes before capital program
completion in 2017.
• We are developing criteria for decision-making to incorporate
into our future planning and respond to requests from
communities in a timely manner.
• We anticipate that future service decisions will be weighed
heavily on financial requirements.
• The results of the feasibility study, including a recommended
policy for considering new station stops, will be incorporated into
the state rail plan.
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Department of Transportation
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Considerations for New Stops
Operational
feasibility
Customer
demand
Station
suitability
Can the stop be added or changed without negative
impacts on travel time and on-time reliability?
What is the potential market demand for the stop? Does
addition of the stop positively affect the market size for
the Cascades service?
What infrastructure changes would be required to
accommodate Amtrak Cascades service? What are the
risks and opportunities?
Interconnectivity How would the stop improve multi -modal connectivity
benefits and reduce vehicle miles traveled?
Financial
viability
What level of ridership is needed to cover costs?
6 Washington State
Department of Transportation
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Contact Information
For more information please contact:
Kerri Woehler
Rail Planning and Strategic Assessment Manager
(360) 705-6902
woehlek@wsdot.wa.gov
giWashington State
Department of Transportation
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