Rail Plan Update.Indd
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Alabama Department of Transportation Bureau of Multimodal Transportation Prepared By Alabama Department of Transportation 2008 Alabama Rail Plan Alabama Department of Transportation Bureau of Modal Programs Rail Section 2008 Alabama Rail Plan Produced By BURK-KLEINPETER, INC. Engineers, Architects, Planners, and Environmental Scientists 4176 Canal Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70119 In Association With Parsons Transportation Group 1133 15th Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC20005-2701 December 2008 Alabama Department of Transportation 2008 Alabama Rail Plan Update Table of Contents 2008 Alabama Rail Plan Update Page Title Page Table of Contents.................................................................................................................................. i List of Figures ii.................................................................................................................................. iv List of Tables iii .................................................................................................................................. v Executive Summary ................................................................................................. ES.1 Chapter 1: Introduction Purpose and Authority ...................................................................................................................... 1.1 General Trends in the Rail Industry.................................................................................................. 1.3 Mergers and Acquisitions ..................................................................................................... 1.3 Abandonments ...................................................................................................................... 1.4 Increasing the Weight of the Standard 100-Ton Rail Car..................................................... 1.5 Federal Rail Assistance Programs .................................................................................................... 1.6 SAFETEA-LU ...................................................................................................................... 1.6 Rail Planning in Alabama ................................................................................................................. 1.9 Rail Safety............................................................................................................................. 1.9 Quiet Zones......................................................................................................................... 1.10 Rails to Trails...................................................................................................................... 1.11 Regional and Municipal Rail Planning............................................................................... 1.16 Freight Rail Plans................................................................................................................ 1.29 Implications for the State of Alabama ............................................................................................ 1.29 Chapter 2: Alabama Railroad Inventory General Overview ............................................................................................................................. 2.1 Classification of Railroads................................................................................................................ 2.1 Class I Railroad..................................................................................................................... 2.4 Class II/Regional Railroad.................................................................................................... 2.4 Class III/Local Railroad........................................................................................................ 2.4 Class I Railroads in Alabama............................................................................................................ 2.5 Alabama’s Regional Railroad........................................................................................................... 2.6 Alabama’s Local Linehaul Railroads................................................................................................ 2.6 Alabama’s Local Switching and Terminal Railroads ....................................................................... 2.9 Alabama’s Unclassified Railroads.................................................................................................. 2.10 Chapter 3: Line Density and Usage Overall Rail Freight Traffic in Alabama........................................................................................... 3.1 December 2008 i Alabama Department of Transportation 2008 Alabama Rail Plan Update Rail Traffic Originated and Terminated in Alabama............................................................ 3.2 Intrastate Rail Traffic............................................................................................................ 3.3 Traffic Volume by Geographic Area .................................................................................... 3.3 Overhead Traffic................................................................................................................... 3.4 Traffic Density on Major Line Segments ......................................................................................... 3.5 Class I Railroad Light Density Line Segments ................................................................................ 3.8 Norfolk Southern.................................................................................................................. 3.8 CSXT ................................................................................................................................... 3.9 Traffic Density on Non-Class I Line Segments................................................................................ 3.9 Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks............................................................................ 3.11 Chapter 4: Abandonments Abandonments between 1971 and 1992 ........................................................................................... 4.2 Abandonments between 1992 and 2001 ........................................................................................... 4.4 Abandonments between 2002 and 2008 ........................................................................................... 4.6 Rate of Abandonments...................................................................................................................... 4.8 Chapter 5: Intermodal Facilities Intermodal Methods.......................................................................................................................... 5.1 Trailer on Flatcar (TOFC)..................................................................................................... 5.1 Container on Flatcar (COFC)................................................................................................ 5.1 Intermodal Facilities ......................................................................................................................... 5.3 Inland Container Terminals .................................................................................................. 5.3 Maritime Container Terminals.............................................................................................. 5.3 Equipment............................................................................................................................. 5.3 Transportation Providers................................................................................................................... 5.4 Third and Fourth Party Logistics Services............................................................................ 5.4 The American “Land Bridge”............................................................................................... 5.4 Intermodal Facilities in Alabama...................................................................................................... 5.4 Port of Mobile....................................................................................................................... 5.4 Huntsville International Intermodal Center ..........................................................................5.10 Chapter 6: Passenger Rail Overview of Passenger Rail Service in the U.S................................................................................ 6.1 Mass Transit (Light Rail)...................................................................................................... 6.1 Heavy Rail Transit (Urban and Commuter).......................................................................... 6.1 Commuter Railroad (Primary and Auxilary) ........................................................................ 6.2 Intercity Service.................................................................................................................... 6.2 Passenger Rail Service in Alabama ................................................................................................ 6.11 Mass Transit (Light Rail) in Alabama ................................................................................ 6.11 Heavy Rail Transit and Commuter Railroad ...................................................................... 6.11 Intercity Service.................................................................................................................. 6.12 December 2008 ii