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Wisconsin’s

States for Passenger Rail Coalition, Inc. ANNUAL REPORT 2019 SPRC Membership and Mission

The States for Passenger Rail Coalition, Inc. (SPRC) is an alliance of 24 State and Regional Transportation Officials and Passenger Rail Authorities from across the . The Coalition Member agencies includes:

California Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) Nevada Connecticut New York North Carolina Indiana Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) Oregon -San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN) Pennsylvania Louisiana San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) Maine Vermont Virginia Michigan Washington Minnesota Wisconsin

and we would like to welcome our newest member – Southwest & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission – State of .

SPRC’s Mission is to promote the development, implementation and expansion of Intercity Passenger Rail as part of an integrated national transportation network. It accomplishes this by working together with a non-partisan approach to:

• Promote research, planning, development, implementation, operation, sustainability, and expansion of publicly supported passenger rail service throughout the United States,

• Facilitate coordination and cooperation among state officials and between the public and private sector at all levels (federal, state and local),

• Advocate and assist in the pursuit of state and federal funding to support on-going development of America’s passenger rail system, and

• Support current efforts and projects managed by state transportation departments.

The Coalition offers a centralized forum to interact with decision makers, stakeholders and advocacy groups to share information and offer direction in support of intercity passenger rail.

s4prc.org SPRC and Passenger Rail in the United States

Intercity passenger rail is a key component of our Nation’s transportation network and represents a viable, energy efficient, and economically attractive transportation option. Each day, millions of passengers travel on our network of intercity passenger rail, long distance , and . States and intercity passenger rail operating agencies are the primary entities responsible for the initiation, implementation, oversight and/or operation of intercity passenger rail service.

The SPRC Member States and Rail Authorities are a vital part of ’s three principal business lines: 1) the Long Distance trains that provide intercity passenger rail transportation on 15 routes of more than 750 miles between endpoints; 2) the State Supported trains that provide intercity passenger rail service along shorter-distance corridor routes of not more than 750 miles between endpoints; and, 3) the (NEC) service operating between , New York City, and Washington, DC.

Our members sponsor a combined 29 intercity passenger rail routes serving 296 communities across America. Last year State Supported trains carried nearly 15½ million passengers, representing over 47% of Amtrak’s total ridership, the largest source of ridership among the three Amtrak business lines. They also contributed over $750 million directly to Amtrak through passenger ticket revenue and contract payments.

1 States/ Authorities Stand Ready to Advance Passenger Rail

Clearly, the Coalition’s member agencies are well-positioned projects that receive grant awards. Please note that to advance the development, implementation and expansion the list and project costs cited above do not include many of Intercity Passenger Rail as part of an integrated national projects that are in states that are not yet SPRC Members or transportation network. To that end, significant advance projects that are in the earlier phases of planning. The most planning is taking place within the states and passenger rail current list can be found on the SPRC website at https:// authorities. tinyurl.com/SPRC-Project-List.

In an ongoing survey, SPRC Members have provided details It is important to reflect upon what such an investment in on prospective intercity passenger rail projects either ready rail would mean for the nation. Intercity passenger rail is for construction or at or near the final design stage. The an integral part of our Nation’s transportation network and Members also provided information on those projects that represents a safe, reliable, energy efficient, and economically are in the initial stages of the project development, “scoping attractive, transportation option. Completed, these projects phase” stages. could result in 65 additional daily round trips, more than

As of the time of printing, we have received project lists 30 new cities being served by passenger rail, significant from 20 of the 24 SPRC states and rail authorities. To date, improvements to nearly 60 stations, at least 150 new or our Members have identified well over 100 projects with a refurbished locomotives and passenger rail cars, and total project cost of over $12.4 billion. There are 49 “ready upgrades or closures of 350 grade crossings with safety, for funding” projects valued at close to $8.2 billion with an positive control, capacity and reliability improvements. additional 58 scoping phase projects making up over $4.2 These are significant benefits that not only provide positive billion. The lists are continually updated to reflect both the improvements for passenger rail but also for freight rail addition of new projects as they are developed and those traffic.

SYSTEM SAFETY PROGRAM = “STATES AS RAILROADS”

An ongoing issue of critical importance to the future of This rule would not absolve existing railroad operators from intercity passenger rail deals with the Federal Railroad ensuring the safety of their operations, but it would in fact Administration’s (FRA) proposed passenger rail “System add an unneeded and potentially contradictory layer of Safety Program” regulation. SPRC’s 24 Member States and oversight. The additional burdens imposed by the rule could Passenger Rail Authorities continue to voice deep concern on cause multiple States to cease supporting intercity passenger the ramifications of the adoption of a pending FRA action. rail service altogether.

In 2016, the FRA published a final rule requiring commuter While SPRC hoped the FRA would heed the advice of its and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement Member agencies, the FRA’s proposed revisions in June have a system safety program (SSP) to improve the safety of not addressed the major issue of designating the “States as their operations. In response to concerns first raised by the Railroads.” Subsequently, in August 2019, SPRC, collectively, SPRC, the FRA held the effective date of the rule in abeyance along with several of its individual Member organizations, and subsequently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking submitted detailed and well-substantiated comments to the (NPRM) on June 12, 2019. FRA. In order to consider these comments and others, the The safety and security of passengers, employees, host FRA extended its stay of the effective date of the SSP rule railroads, and our communities are our collective top until March 4, 2020.

priority. However, SPRC analyzed the final rule and While this extension allows for further discussion of this determined that it would require the States to shoulder new matter, the SPRC continues to work collaboratively with its operational and fiscal responsibilities that are well beyond Members and federal officials to ensure that appropriate their abilities, expertise, and resources. As currently drafted, language is included that will achieve the highest level the rule would force States to become railroads, impose of passenger rail safety for our nation without imposing obligations outside of the States’ statutory mandate and redundant, unworkable demands and potentially, extensive legal liability exposure that could be detrimental to States fiscal liabilities upon the States. and its citizens. 2 SPRC FAST Act Reauthorization Principles

The authorizing legislation for federal surface transportation programs, including intercity passenger rail, is set to expire in October 2020. It is imperative for Congress to enact reauthorizing legislation to build upon the success of this five-year landmark legislation. SPRC members have worked together to develop principles that we believe should be considered during the development of the next federal surface transportation bill. These principles are as follows:

• Amtrak Board members charge must include • The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety consideration of all service lines, including the interests Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program, State of Good of State-Supported and Long-Distance Routes. Repair Grant Program (SOGR), and the Restoration and • A dedicated capital funding program should be Enhancement Grant Program should be reauthorized established for intercity passenger rail. at no less than FY18 funding levels and support cross border investment. • Clear and timely mandates should be established for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) in • The eligibility of the State of Good Repair Program the award and deployment of grant programs. beyond “publicly owned assets” should be expanded to allow for funding for non-public assets with Projects with over 50% match should not automatically • the requirement that such funding results in some receive priority selection preference in the award of guaranteed level of public access (e.g., railroad slots) or discretionary grants. shared public ownership. Federal credit programs should not be counted as part of • A Long-Distance Rail Route Task Force should be the Federal financial share of projects. • established and funded as identified under PRIIA Section • A legislative resolution should be found to the issue 210. of “States as Railroads” and System Safety Program The following rail related entities should be responsibility. • reauthorized and appropriated funds necessary to • Funds for both the Amtrak National Network and the ensure the continuity of their operations: Amtrak Northeast Corridor should be reauthorized to — the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee continue efficient and effective passenger rail mobility, — the Northeast Corridor Commission recognizing that it is a national modal network, in the — the Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool same manner as the Interstate and National Highway Committee System programs. — Operation Lifesaver, Inc.

Further discussion of each of these SPRC Reauthorization Principles can be found at https://tinyurl.com/SPRCReauthorizationPrinciples.

3 SPRC MEMBER SUCCESSFUL 2019 ACTIVITIES

be required for the increase to 10 round-trips daily, but also Wisconsin Advances Improvements have independent utility to improve the existing service. to the Busy Milwaukee- Three of these projects were selected for federal grant awards in 2019. These include: Hiawatha Corridor • Final design and construction of a 2nd platform with bridge access and elevator towers at the Milwaukee Airport Rail Station (CRISI) • Final Design and construction of a signaling upgrade to Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) on a 1.8-mile segment near Milwaukee Intermodal Station (CRISI) • Acquisition of next generation single-level equipment including 6 coaches and 3 cabs to be added to the Midwest pool of new equipment, to ensure the Hiawatha is fully equipped and to increase seating capacity (Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair)

This represents a federal investment of $33.8 million, a state investment of $19.7 million, and private/local investment of $1 million that will improve reliability, accessibility, safety, reduce costs, and increase capacity.

Finally, as part of Wisconsin’s 2019-2021 biennial budget

Hiawatha Service passed in July of 2019, the legislature and Governor approved $35 million for state matching funds for future passenger Wisconsin is making progress with the expansion of rail capital improvements. This includes the pivotal frequencies on the Amtrak Hiawatha Service through an $55 million Muskego Yard freight bypass of Milwaukee incremental approach. The Milwaukee-Chicago Amtrak Intermodal Station, for which a CRISI grant application was Hiawatha Service is among the highest ridership and on- submitted in October 2019. time performing Amtrak services in the country. Ridership, revenue, and the cost recovery ratio have been increasing for the past several years. In fiscal year 2019, ridership rose Virginia’s Partnering with Private 4.5% over 2018 to a record 882,000 riders. The Hiawatha’s peak trains often experience near or over-capacity Railroads for Enhanced Passenger conditions. Rail Service The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has been working with Illinois, Amtrak, the FRA, Canadian In 2019 the Commonwealth of Virginia in partnership with Pacific Rail, and the commuter rail operator, Metra, on the freight railroad company, CSX, completed a series of increasing the number of daily round-trips on the Hiawatha rail capacity projects to improve the flow and frequency from seven (7) to ten (10) daily. This requires railroad of passenger and freight trains in the heavily congested capacity improvement projects in Wisconsin and Illinois to Richmond area. The investment of over $132 million in add passenger trains, accommodate freight and commuter state and private funds has led to more frequent passenger rail growth, and ensure all users can continue to be rail service along with significantly improved on-time- dispatched reliably. The project will require an investment of performance. over $200 million, including a third trainset. Much of the work focused on the Acca Yard, CSX’s largest Additionally, WisDOT identified several projects that could railroad yard in Virginia, which was built in the 1890s. move forward for final design and construction that would Prior to the joint investment, over 50 freight trains and 18 4 passenger trains traveled daily through the Yard, having to slow down to a crawl to pass directly through the center of this working freight yard. Moving the main railroad lines from the center to the western edge of the yard would alleviate this chokepoint. Subsequently, several miles of double track were constructed allowing both passenger and freight trains to pass around the yard. Along with the construction of new rail crossovers the public and private investments now allow trains to safely switch between the two main bypass tracks. This has led to improved network fluidity and major reductions in congestion.

Building upon the completion of the Acca Yard Bypass, Virginia was able to enter into a partnership with CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak to add a second roundtrip passenger rail service for Norfolk and optimized schedules for existing trains serving Newport News and Richmond. A third daily train is planned to begin as early as Summer 2021. AY Bypass

Connecticut’s Surpassing Expectations

In 2018, the Connecticut Department of Transportation Additionally, Amtrak, in partnership with the Connecticut introduced CTrail Hartford Line service on the Amtrak- Department of Transportation, Massachusetts Department owned rail line between New Haven, Hartford and of Transportation (MassDOT), and the Vermont Agency of Springfield. The new CTrail service along with Amtrak Transportation also operates the state supported Hartford Line service provides faster and more frequent on the Hartford Line with twice daily service between rail service in the corridor. Transit America Services, St. Albans, Vermont and Washington, DC. Based on these Inc. / Alternate Concepts Inc. and Amtrak together offer successes, in August 2019, Amtrak, in partnership with thirty-four daily Hartford Line trains. Passengers may use MassDOT, initiated The Valley Flyer. This project extended any ticket to ride any train. are the same whether select Hartford Line trains north of Springfield, MA, adding purchased through CTrail or Amtrak. stations stops in Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield and Passengers have responded positively when asked for complements the Vermonter service. feedback about the Hartford Line. Overall customer satisfaction is high with 87.6% of riders reported being satisfied with their experience. First year ridership projections were 583,500; however, these expectations were surpassed by 8.9% with a first-year ridership of over 635,000.

These impressive ridership numbers are only part of the success of the Hartford Line. The Hartford Line has spurred $430 million in transit-oriented development in Wallingford, Meriden, , Windsor, and Windsor Locks, five towns along the rail line. These new residential and commercial developments, combined with convenient rail service, help connect communities and generate economic growth while providing a strategic link to travel corridors and markets within and beyond the region.

CTrail at Wallingford Station 5 SUMMARY

The States for Passenger Rail Coalition keeps Members The States for Passenger Rail Coalition offers: informed of the latest policies, funding opportunities, and • Congressional (House and Senate) briefing materials and safety initiatives through: testimony at hearings related to key rail issues affecting • Regular News Updates Member States • Washington, DC Insider Reports • Education materials and resources on industry initiatives • Monthly Current Events Forums • Project planning and assistance for ongoing development • Peer-to-Peer Information Exchanges of Passenger Rail Service • Bi-Annual Meetings • Input regarding reauthorization of Federal Monthly Member Conference Call Meetings transportation legislation, federal grant programs, • Amtrak, and Rail Safety Initiatives The States for Passenger Rail Coalition supports the • Monitoring and reporting on Federal Railroad collective interests of Member States on issues related to Administration (FRA) and Surface Transportation Board Passenger Rail by maintaining strong working relationships (STB) activities and actions of concern to Member States with: and Rail Authorities Communication and coordination with industry Congressional Members and Capitol Hill Staff • • organizations such as AASHTO, the Northeast Corridor Amtrak • Commission, the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) • Rail Committee (SAIPRC), the Next Generation Corridor • American Association of Railroads (AAR) Equipment Pool Committee (NGEC), OneRail Coalition, • Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the Rail Passengers Association • The American Association of State Highway and • Peer-to-Peer interaction and idea exchange among Transportation Officials (AASHTO) states and passenger rail authorities

SPRC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS – 2019

Chair Treasurer Past Officer Eric J. Curtit Robert Padgette Patricia Quinn Missouri Department of Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Northern New England Passenger Transportation Authority Rail Authority

Vice Chair Secretary At-Large Member Arun Rao Raymond Hessinger Amanda Martin Wisconsin Department of New York State Department of Iowa Department of Transportation Transportation Transportation

For more information on the States for Passenger Rail Coalition, Inc., please visit us at www.s4prc.org