D.O.T. SECRETARY ANNOUNCES FUNDING TO IMPROVE
INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL
RICHMOND, Va. - As Americans continue a historic cut back on driving
and turn to other forms of transportation like rail and transit, a new approach
to funding intercity passenger rail projects will lead to improved service
and better on-time performance across the country, announced U.S. Transportation
Secretary Mary E. Peters today.
The Secretary released new data today [Sep.30] indicating that Americans
drove 3.6 percent less, or 9.6 billion miles fewer, in July 2008 than July
2007. Since last November, Americans have driven 62.6 billion miles less
than they did over the same nine-month period last year. Meanwhile, she
said, transit ridership is up 11 percent, and in July, Amtrak carried more
passengers than in any single month in its history.
"At a time when transit and rail are seeing record growth, the very
way we finance these systems is at risk. That is because our transit investments
come from the same source as our highway investments federal gas taxes,"
Secretary Peters said. "Federal transportation policies that rely almost
exclusively on gas taxes are failing our state and local governments."
So as part of a new plan to improve intercity passenger rail service
nationwide, the Secretary announced the Department is providing $30-million
to match local investments in 15 rail capacity projects across the country.
These federal-state partnerships will support projects designed to cut delays
and expand capacity on existing intercity passenger rail routes and help
provide new services where none exist today.
Until now, she said, there has been no way for states to qualify for
federal funds to match local investments in rail capacity as all federal
funds have gone directly to Amtrak.
But, the Secretary warned, comprehensive reform is needed across the
transportation system. In July, the Secretary unveiled a new proposal to
reform and target transportation investments where they can best reduce
congestion and improve infrastructure, while beginning to move away from
relying exclusively on unstable gas taxes to finance transportation in the
future.
"A few weeks ago, we saw the folly of our antiquated federal transportation
policies when the highway trust fund almost ran out of money. If we don't
evolve our policies, we will leave a sad legacy of old roads, crowded highways,
and unfulfilled transit ambitions," Secretary Peters said.
The 15 intercity passenger rail grants the Department is awarding will
support planning and construction projects in Arizona, California, Illinois,
Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,
and Wisconsin. Projects include:
Arizona: EIS Tucson to Phoenix, $1-million
- Description: The planning study would conduct a Phase I EIS for new
intercity passenger rail service in the Sun Corridor between Phoenix and
Tucson (140 miles). The service would operate trains at speeds up to 125
mph with as many as 15 stations. New track would be needed, existing tracks
upgraded, and improved made at many public and private highway-rail grade
crossings. The Phase I EIS will complete a majority of the environmental
analysis necessary for project development and result in a selection of
alternatives for further design and feasibility studies.
- Benefits: There is no daily, punctual rail service in this corridor
today (the unreliable Amtrak Sunset Limited is tri-weekly). Modern rail
service is projected to carry approximately 1.2 million passengers annually.
This service could ultimately interlink with commuter rail programs.
California: San Joaquin Corridor 4.5-mile double tracking, Kings
Park, $5-million
- Description: The project involves the conversion of 4.5 miles of running
side track to a second main line, construction of side tracks, the addition
of two #24 crossovers and other turnout improvements, as well as related
signal and highway crossing improvements. Completion of the project will
result in 9.5 miles of continuous double track that will allow trains to
pass each other at maximum track speed of 79 mph. This location has been
identified as one of the worst congestion points in the corridor and a
priority for capacity enhancement on the BNSF sections of the San Joaquin
service route operated by Amtrak.
- Benefits: The project would connect existing sections of double track.
With the recently completed Shirley to Hanford project to the north, the
Kings Park project would result in a continuous 9.5 mile section of double
main track. Operations analysis indicates that the project would reduce
Amtrak train delays by 5 hours per week and increase average speeds of
the San Joaquin service by 1.3 percent.
Illinois : Installation of Centralized Traffic Control and Cab Signals
from Joliet to Mazonia, $1.55-million
- Description: Replace the existing Automatic Block System (ABS) with
a Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) and Cab Signal system on a 24.7 mile
segment on the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed rail corridor from Joliet
to Mazonia (Dwight).
- Benefits: Project will upgrade train operations from Joliet to Mazonia
on the Chicago to Springfield/St. Louis corridor with centralized train
control technology and cab signals to improve the safety and reliability
of train service between Chicago and Joliet. The upgraded signal system
will provide for a 30 minute reduction in delays, currently experienced
with operations over the existing signal system. Project will also upgrade
circuitry at grade crossings along this route. Ultimately, the installation
of CTC and cab signal technology will enable Amtrak to increase train speeds
up to 110 mph in sections of this corridor capable of supporting high speed
operations.
Illinois : Installation of Cab Signal Technology from Mazonia to Ridgeley
(Springfield) $1.85-million
- Description: Install Cab Signal system and Advance Activation System
on 118.4 route miles between Mazonia (Dwight) and Ridgley (Springfield)
on the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed rail corridor.
- Benefits: Enables the State and Amtrak to increase train speeds to
80 and 110 mph in sections of this corridor capable of supporting high
speed operations, providing for a 24-minute reduction in travel time through
this segment. Includes the installation of an Advance Activation System
for safer operation of high speed trains through grade crossings and supports
cab signal technology already installed on UP freight locomotives.
Maine: Portland Area Track Improvments, $500,000
- Description: The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA)
proposes to undertake a state-of-good-repair track improvement project
on rail lines owned by Pan Am Railways in the Portland, ME area. These
include tracks extending from the Portland station to the layover facility,
including a wye. The only passenger service using these tracks is the State-supported
Downeaster service, which currently operates at five freqencies per day.
A portion of the track to be improved is not currently used for revenue
operations, and the wye is now out of service for turning of passenger
train consists.
- Benefits: The quantified anticipated benefits relate primarily to the
renewed ability to turn locomotives and trainsets on the wye, a procedure
which the applicant regards as necessary when locomotives are bad-ordered.
The applicant also asserts that the current inability to do this requires
that a protect locomotive be held in reserve in Portland, and that the
net present value of the cost of the protect locomotive over the 15-year
life of the proposed improvements would be $6.5-million. Prior to submitting
the application, however, the applicant told the FRA that the long-term
intent of the project would be to accommodate an extension of Downeaster
service to Brunswick, which would use the improved track for revenue movements.
Minnesota: PEIS Twin Cities to Duluth High-Speed Rail, $1.1-million
- Description: The planning study is to to prepare a Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (PEIS) for new passenger rail service from Minneapolis
to Duluth where there is currently none. The PEIS would address proposed
rail infrastructure improvements to support high speed rail service up
to 110 mph along the BNSF line, for a distance of about 150 miles. A feasibility
study was completed for the proposed service that describes a range of
rail improvements from conventional 79 mph service to 110 mph service requiring
a full train control system. Capital improvements are estimated to range
from $75 to $400-million (2006 dollars).
- Benefits: Completion of the PEIS would advance the project to be ready
for implementation steps. A PEIS would set the stage for discrete capital
projects that could be completed over time as the service is introduced
and expanded. The proposed project would introduce intercity passenger
rail service where there is none today. In 2009 a commuter rail service
is planned to start along the Minneapolis end of the route and both services
would terminate at the same station and connect with transit.
Missouri: Siding Extension, St. Louis-Kansas City, $3.3-million
- Description: Missouri DOT proposes the construction of one 9,000 ft.
passing track (near California, MO), and completion of preliminary engineering
for a second (in Knob Noster, MO), on Union Pacific's (UP) Sedalia subdivision
between Jefferson City and Kansas City, to be used by the State-supported
Mules and Anne Rutledge services (two frequencies per day). These new tracks
would eliminate two existing 20-plus mile gaps between passing tracks on
a primarily unidirectional line.
- Benefits: The applicant states that completion of these projects would
eliminate up to an average of 6 minutes of delay per train due primarily
to freight train interference. These estimates are supported by an extensive
simulation study performed by the University of Missouri which identified
capital investment projects which would improve OTP on the cross-Missouri
route.
New York: Albany Station Track and Signal Improvements, $1.25-million
- Description: New York State DOT proposes to perform full engineering
of a significant multiphased reconfiguration of the interlockings in and
around Albany-Rensselaer Station. The station serves the Empire Service,
Lake Shore Limited, Ethan Allen Express, and the State-supported (north
of Albany) Adirondack. The proposed project includes installing a station
track on the currently-unused east face of the east island platform, the
addition of pocket tracks, and the reconfiguration of the Post Road connection
used by the Boston section of the Lake Shore Limited.
- Benefits: The full implementation of the reconfiguration will allow
for improved speeds approaching and departing the station resulting from
the improvement of signal aspects through the installation of track circuits
and the realignment of tracks to allow for non-diverging moves to and from
the inboard island platform faces. The project represents the first comprehensive
reconfigurations of one of the busier station interlocking in the U.S.
since the time it was first cobbled together in the late 1960s.
Ohio:Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati Planning and Alternatives Analysis,
$62,500
- Description: Ohio has contracted with Amtrak to assess the feasibility
of initiating a start-up service of two round trips per day between Cleveland
and Columbus and possibly to Cincinnati (which together define the "3C
corridor"). The planning project would complement the Amtrak assessment
and advance the analysis of alternative 3C routes and station locations
that will most effectively serve the corridor - both in the short-term
and the long-term. The tasks include: program management, coordination
with Amtrak and oversight of Amtrak train operations analysis; drafting
purpose and need; and long term alternative route analysis.
- Benefits: The planning objectives are to support the state initiative
for start-up service in the short term by conducting short-term/long-term
planning analysis of 3C corridor requirements. This will help to align
any short-term actions with the long-term needs, planning and environmental
documentation. It is expected that the project would: 1.) Support a State-supported
Amtrak startup service; 2). Advance the conceptual engineering and analysis
of alternative routes and station sites and facilities; and 3.) Clarify
a long-term corridor development strategy.
Vermont: Vermonter Route One-Mile Rail Replacement/Bridge Redeckings,
$450,000
- Description: The Vermont Agency of Transportation proposes a state-of-good-repair
project to replace one mile of rail and redeck four bridges on the slow-order-laden
New England Central Railroad (NECR) route of the State-supported Vermonter,
which operates at one frequency per day each way.
- Benefits: The applicant states that the proposed project is anticipated
to result in the reduction of 12 minutes of slow-order delay per train.
Vermont: Ethan Allen Route - 2-Mile Track Reconstruction,$581,775
- Description: The Vermont Agency of Transportation proposes a state-of-good-repair
project to rebuild 2 miles of slow-order-laden track on the Clarendon and
Pittsford Railroad near Rutland, VT, on the route of the State-supported
Ethan Allen Express, which operates at one frequency per day each way.
The project involves the installation of continuous welded rail, 2000 new
ties, and renewal of the roadbed.
- Benefits: The applicant states that the proposed project is anticipated
to result in the reduction of 10 minutes of slow order delay per train.
However, the project location's proximity to the Rutland Yard limits and
Rutland station calls into question whether speeds could fully attain the
levels projected in the application.
Virginia: Third Track south of Fredericksburg, $2-million
- Description: Construction of a third track south of Fredericksburg
Station in Spotsylvania County. Project includes the rehabilitation of
3.1 miles of existing track (currently used as a siding) to serve as a
third track for passing. Components of the project include an upgrade to
the subgrade, track structure, and interlockings, as well as the removal
an obsolete industrial siding. FRA funding of this project would support
an offset project to design the AM interlocking near Richmond Main Street
Station, with a potential extension of the design from the Main Street
Station through Acca Yard to the Staples Mill Station.
- Benefits: Projected improvements include increased reliability, reduced
delays and improved OTP (by 4 percent) to 80 percent. Project will provide
the only location where a passenger train can over-take another train without
opposition between Richmond and Alexandria.
Washington: Point Defiance Bypass (D-M Street Tacoma), $6-million
- Description: This project will provide for preliminary engineering,
environmental review, and right of way acquisition for the 1.2 mile D to
M street segment of the 19.5 mile Point Defiance Bypass project from Tacoma
to Nisqually. The D to M street segment will include new track and signal
systems on a realigned right-of-way in Tacoma, including a grade-separated
railroad crossing at Pacific Avenue. Ultimately, the Point Defiance Bypass
Project will redirect intercity passenger trains between Tacoma and Nisqually
from the circuitous BNSF freight line along the coast to a passenger oriented
inland route.
- Benefits: The new routing will enable WSDOT to operate two additional
round trip Cascades trains from Portland to Seattle and SoundTransit's
Sounder to extend service to Lakewood. The project will reduce travel time
by 6 minutes between Portland and Seattle as well as avoid freight traffic
interference through two single-track tunnels and port activities along
the current route. Ultimately, Amtrak services will relocate to the newly
constructed Freighthouse Square station in Tacoma providing direct access
to SoundTransit's Sounder commuter rail, and Link light rail to downtown
Tacoma.
Wisconsin: Chicago-Milwaukee Welded Rail (17.85 mi), $5-million
- Description: The project will install 17.85 miles of continuously-welded
rail (CWR) in the Canadian Pacific right-of-way between Milwaukee and the
IL/WI state line, replacing the last sections of remaining jointed rail
on the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor. Project will include replacement of
ties and other related track materials, where necessary, as well as the
reprogramming of grade crossings for higher speeds.
- Benefits: CWR will increase the reliability of passenger trains on
the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor by increasing speeds (from 70 to79 mph on
downgraded jointed track), reducing travel time (by 1.7 minutes), and eliminating
delays and slow orders associated with ongoing maintenance of jointed rail
(by up to 70 percent or 4 minutes per 1000 train miles for jointed track).
These improvements will insure a greater on-time arrival into Metra territory,
avoiding a potential 10-20 minute delay into Chicago. In addition, CWR
will provide enhanced ride quality for Amtrak passengers and equipment.
Wisconsin: Midwest Regional Rail Initiative* (MWRRI) Alternatives Analysis
and Planning (Phase 7) $297,000
- Description: Continued planning for the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative
(MWRRI) including alternatives analysis, updating MWRRI system costs, equipment,
train control and operational plans, and the preparation of public outreach
materials. The project covers some program management, updating South of
the Lake alternatives analysis between Chicago, IL and Porter, IN, and
preliminary alternatives analysis in other corridors.
- Benefits: This planning work is intended continue the MWRRI on a path
toward implementation by updating and refining key MWRRI plan elements
and public information materials and completing corridor alternatives analysis
work called for in the FRA Rail Corridor Transportation Plan Guidance Manual
and required to meet the requirements of the federal NEPA process for the
preparation of a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for route
selection in MWRRI corridors. *MWRRI is a coalition of states and Wisconsin
serves as the administer of program funds.
[U.S. Department of Transportation, 9-30-08]
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