Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan

Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan Final Report February 2010 Minnesota Department of Transportation Transportation Building 395 John Ireland Boulevard Saint Paul, MN 55155 February 9, 2010 Dear Citizens of Minnesota, I am pleased to share with you this adopted Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan. This plan is the result of extensive collaboration during the past year between the Minnesota Department of Transportation and citizens, stakeholders and partners throughout Minnesota. I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate in our outreach meetings and provide comments and suggestions on the draft plan. The Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan establishes a vision for rail in Minnesota. A vibrant freight rail system, together with a comprehensive passenger rail system, will help ensure Minnesota economic competitiveness and quality of life. As the state's transportation leader, Mn/DOT embraces its responsibility to uphold the vision and policies presented in this plan. The success of Minnesota's transportation system depends on the coordinated efforts of many public and private providers, and the policies and strategies outlined in this plan provide the framework for our joint efforts. Mn/DOT will continue to look for opportunities to involve citizens, stakeholders and partners in the implementation of this plan and in future investment and policy decisions. Together, we can realize the shared vision of a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system. Sincerely, Thomas K. Sorel Commissioner An Equal Opportunity Employer Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan final report Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan prepared for Minnesota Department of Transportation prepared by Cambridge Systematics, Inc. with Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc. TKDA, Inc. January 2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... ES-1 Vision for Rail...................................................................................................................... ES-2 System Costs ..................................................................................................................... ES-5 Passenger Rail Performance and Benefits ......................................................................... ES-6 Rail System Development and Funding Responsibilities .................................................... ES-7 Other Societal Benefits .................................................................................................... ES-10 1 Overview and Vision ........................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Background and Purpose of Study .......................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Freight Rail System Vision ......................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Passenger Rail Vision ............................................................................................... 1-5 1.4 Categories of Passenger Rail .................................................................................. 1-6 1.5 Investment Needs ................................................................................................... 1-6 1.6 Management Approach ...................................................................................... 1-17 1.7 Financing .............................................................................................................. 1-18 1.8 Stakeholder and Public Outreach ......................................................................... 1-23 2 Existing Rail System ............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Railroad Industry Organization and Investment Strategies ....................................... 2-1 2.2 Composition of Minnesota’s Freight Railroad Industry ............................................. 2-1 2.3 Freight Rail Industry Environment ............................................................................. 2-8 2.4 What’s Next for the Freight Rail Industry? ............................................................... 2-13 2.5 Freight Rail Investment and Financing Practices ................................................... 2-16 2.6 Value of Rail Industry to Minnesota ........................................................................ 2-16 2.7 Passenger Rail ....................................................................................................... 2-18 3 Forecasts ............................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Minnesota Economic Overview .............................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Freight Demand in Minnesota ................................................................................. 3-8 3.3 Passenger Demand .............................................................................................. 3-24 4 Investment Needs .............................................................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Methodology .......................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Freight-Only Corridor Needs .................................................................................. 4-10 4.3 Shared Freight and Passenger Rail Corridors ......................................................... 4-25 4.4 High-Speed Rail Passenger Service Needs ............................................................ 4-36 4.5 Cost of Project Implementation ............................................................................ 4-41 5 Performance Assessment ................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Passenger Evaluation .............................................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Freight Evaluation .................................................................................................. 5-13 5.3 Benefits and Costs of the Program ........................................................................ 5-18 6 Institutional Relationships .................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 Minnesota Agency Organization and Rail Program ................................................ 6-2 6.2 Minnesota Public Rail Programs .............................................................................. 6-8 6.3 Rail Agency Organization and Programs in Other States ....................................... 6-17 6.4 Management Plan for Minnesota ......................................................................... 6-27 i Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan 7 Financial Program .............................................................................................................. 7-1 7.1 Federal Funding ...................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Financial Plan ......................................................................................................... 7-4 A List of Outreach Activities and Committees ....................................................................... A-1 ii Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan List of Tables Table ES.1 Annual Passenger Rail Systemwide Performance Measures ................................... ES-8 Table 1.1 Ridership Forecasts Results 2030 Annual Trips with Most Favorable Variables Tested ...................................................................................................... 1-9 Table 1.2 Annual Passenger Rail Systemwide Performance Measures (Annual) – Phase I ..... 1-16 Table 1.3 Freight System Costs, Public and Private Shares Including Contingencies ($millions) ...................................................................... 1-21 Table 1.4 Total Possible Annual Costs, State Rail Plan ($millions) ........................................... 1-23 Table 2.1 Freight Railroads Operating in Minnesota ................................................................ 2-3 Table 2.2 Typical Sources of Funding of Rail Operations and Infrastructure .......................... 2-16 Table 3.1 Estimated Annual Demand from/to Twin Cities for 2005........................................ 3-27 Table 3.2 Projected 2030 Rail Demand to/from Twin Cities and Selected Cities – Base Case ................................................................................. 3-28 Table 3.3 Projected 2030 Rail Demand to/from Twin Cities and Selected Cities – Best Case ................................................................................... 3-29 Table 3.4 Forecast Rail Mode Share Other City Pairs – 15 Trains/Day ................................... 3-30 Table 4.1 Initial Screening, Data Evaluation ............................................................................ 4-3 Table 4.2 Cost Assumptions for Freight Rail ............................................................................. 4-8 Table 4.3 Cost Assumptions for Passenger Rail ......................................................................

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