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North Dakota State Rail Plan Draft Technical Summary

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North Dakota State Rail Plan Draft Technical Summary 2040 NORTH DAKOTA STATE RAIL PLAN DRAFT TECHNICAL SUMMARY Prepared for MAY, 2017 North Dakota Department of Transportation 2040 North Dakota State Rail Plan Technical Executive Summary May 2017 The North Dakota 2040 State Rail Plan stakeholder and public participation plan is consistent with the North Dakota Department of Transportation Public and Non-Metropolitan Local Official Participation Plan for Statewide Planning and Programing Activities 2040 North Dakota State Rail Plan Contents 1. The Role of Rail in North Dakota ...................................................................................... 1 1.1 PURPOSE AND USE OF THE STATE RAIL PLAN ......................................................................................... 1 1.2 PLAN SCOPE ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 VISION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................... 1 1.3.1 North Dakota’s Rail Vision ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.3.2 North Dakota’s Rail Transportation System Goals ................................................................................. 1 1.3.3 North Dakota’s Rail Transportation System Objectives ......................................................................... 2 1.4 ROLE OF FREIGHT RAIL TRANSPORTATION IN NORTH DAKOTA .............................................................. 3 2. North Dakota’s Existing Rail System ................................................................................. 4 2.1 FREIGHT RAIL OPERATORS IN NORTH DAKOTA ....................................................................................... 4 2.2 CLASS I RAILROADS ................................................................................................................................. 5 2.2.1 BNSF Operations .................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2.2 Canadian Pacific Operations .................................................................................................................. 6 2.3 NORTH DAKOTA SHORT LINE RAILROAD PROFILES ................................................................................. 6 2.3.1 Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western Railroad (DMVW) ...................................................................... 6 2.3.2 Dakota Northern Railroad (DNRR) ......................................................................................................... 7 2.3.3 Northern Plains Railroad (NPR) .............................................................................................................. 7 2.3.4 Red River Valley & Western Railroad (RRVW) ....................................................................................... 8 2.5 PRINCIPAL LOGISTICS FACILITIES/INLAND PORTS ................................................................................... 8 2.5.1 North Dakota Port Services, Inc. ............................................................................................................ 8 2.5.2 Red River Oilfield Services ..................................................................................................................... 9 2.5.3 The Northern Plains Commerce Centre ................................................................................................. 9 2.6 FREIGHT RAIL TRAFFIC PROFILE .............................................................................................................. 9 2.6.1 Freight Rail Traffic – Directional Profile ................................................................................................. 9 2.6.2 Freight Rail Traffic -Commodity Profile ................................................................................................ 10 2.6.3 Rail Dependent Industries Outlook ...................................................................................................... 12 2.6.4 Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................... 13 2.6.5 Other Considerations ........................................................................................................................... 14 2.6.6 Overall Outlook for North Dakota Rail Freight Traffic ......................................................................... 16 2.7 INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL IN NORTH DAKOTA .................................................................................. 16 2.7.1 Ridership .............................................................................................................................................. 17 2.8 NORTH DAKOTA RAIL CROSSING PROFILE ............................................................................................ 18 2.8.1 Crossing Characteristics ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.9 RAIL TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS ............................................................. 19 2.9.1 State Of North Dakota Agencies .......................................................................................................... 19 2.9.2 State Rail Programs .............................................................................................................................. 20 2.9.3 Other Rail Safety Programs .................................................................................................................. 21 2.9.4 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness and Safety Procedures, Policies, and Regulations .......................................................................................................................................... 22 3. Freight Rail Needs and Improvements ........................................................................... 25 3.1 INSTITUTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS ......................................................................................................... 25 3.1.1 Coordination on Rail Issues .................................................................................................................. 25 3.1.2 North Dakota Rail-Related Development Activities ............................................................................. 26 3.1.3 Role/Activities of the North Dakota Public Service Commission ......................................................... 26 3.1.4 North Dakota Public Service Commission State Rail Inspection Program ........................................... 27 3.2 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS .............................................................................. 27 2040 North Dakota State Rail Plan Contents 3.2.1 Railroad risk in mitigation plans........................................................................................................... 27 3.2.2 LEPC role in response planning ............................................................................................................ 27 3.2.3 Government and railroad industry leaders working relationships ...................................................... 27 3.2.4 Improved regional emergency response planning and capabilities .................................................... 28 3.2.5 Database of federal, state, and local emergency response equipment and resources ....................... 28 3.2.6 Improved first responder staffing and capabilities in rural areas ........................................................ 28 3.2.7 Trauma care is limited in the State of North Dakota ........................................................................... 28 3.3 INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND IMPROVEMENTS – SHORT LINE RAILROADS ......................................... 28 3.3.1 State of Good Repair ............................................................................................................................ 28 3.3.2 Rail Line Load Limits ............................................................................................................................. 29 3.3.3 Short Line Railroad Needs .................................................................................................................... 30 3.4 RAIL CUSTOMER CONCERNS ................................................................................................................. 30 3.4.1 Customer Issues and Needs ................................................................................................................. 30 3.5 NATIONWIDE FREIGHT RAIL ISSUES AFFECTING NORTH DAKOTA ......................................................... 31 3.5.1 Competition and Access ...................................................................................................................... 31 3.5.2 Crew-Size Reductions .......................................................................................................................... 32 4. Rail Service and Investment Program............................................................................. 33 4.1 RAIL INVESTMENT PROGRAM ............................................................................................................... 33 4.1.1 Class I Infrastructure Program ............................................................................................................
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