High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail SPEEDLINES MARCH 2017 ISSUE #20

Most Americans agree that our roads, bridges, public transit systems, air and sea ports and water infrastructure are critical national assets that drive growth, jobs, safety, and global competitiveness. What we can’t seem to agree on is how to pay for badly needed maintenance and repairs. It’s time to stop thinking about infrastructure as a problem, but as an opportunity for bipartisan agreement to invest wisely and carefully in our most critical needs, while eliminating wasteful spending. 2 CONTENTS SPEEDLINES MAGAZINE

3 LETTER FROM OUR COMMITTEE CHAIR

4 NOVEMBER RAIL FORUM: Looks at Pathway Forward

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Rail Forum sponsored by APTA’s Intercity and High-Speed Passenger Rail Committee, bringing together rail experts to address the challenges the industry will face in the years ahead.

ABOVE: Bilateral Agreement on High-Speed Rail was witnessed by both Prime Ministers during an annual 8 AUTONOMOUS HIGHWAY VEHICLES retreat - a significant step linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in 90 minutes. 11 CALIFORNIA GRANT APPROVAL

On the front cover: 14 STATE PROJECTS ROUND-UP

Setting the stage for transformative transportation. Trains that travel at least 200 23 VALUE CAPITAL mph may fit into the president’s plan for $1 trillion in infrastructure spending. 26 FLORIDA’S BRIGHTLINE

CHAIR: ANNA BARRY 32 SPOTLIGHT VICE CHAIR: AL ENGEL SECRETARY: JENNIFER BERGENER OFFICER AT LARGE: DAVID CAMERON 33 PHILADELPHIA MASTER PLANNING IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: PETER GERTLER The 30th Street Station District Plan has won the architecture EDITOR: WENDY WENNER industry’s most prestigious award, a 2017 Institute Honor Award for Regional PUBLISHER: AL ENGEL and Urban Design from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: KENNETH SISLAK ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: ERIC PETERSON 34 NEC FUTURE LAYOUT DESIGNER: WENDY WENNER 35 APTA’S HS&IPR RETURN ON INVESTMENT © 2011-2017 APTA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SPEEDLINES is published in cooperation with: AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION 37 WASHINGTON NOTES 1300 I Street NW, Suite 1200 East Washington, DC 20005 3

Dear HS&IPR Committee & Friends:

I appreciate the opportunity to address you in this issue of Speedlines, our Committee publication that is without parallel in APTA.

On November 30, we conducted the second annual High-Speed Rail Policy Forum (and third annual event overall) at APTA Headquarters. It was well attended with more than 100 registrants. Our program addressed theme - Getting to the Tipping Point – U. S. High Performance Intercity Passenger Rail - from several topical perspectives and points of view.

APTA Chair Doran Barnes and Acting President and CEO Richard White opened the Forum and welcomed our participants and expressed their very positive impressions on the program and the turnout. Later they told me that this Forum is the latest example of the fine work of our Committee, which is the second largest Committee in APTA.

I was pleased to open the Forum program with a Roundtable of High-Speed and Intercity Rail Leadership. It included representatives from FRA, NECC, SCORT, SAIPRC, APTA Commuter Rail CEO’s and the NEC Coalition, respectively: FRA Associate Administrator for Railroad Policy and Development Paul Nissenbaum, NECC Executive Director Mitch Warren, Jon Dees, North Carolina DOT, NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn Virginia Railway Express CEO Doug Allen, and Michael K. Friedberg of Holland & Knight. The panel gave us a well-rounded view of how all of these stakeholders perform their missions and work with each other.

In all, we produced five great sessions and a wrap-up, including the rollout of our Return on Investment (ROI) Study. See the article in this issue of Speedlines.

Your Committee leadership has been at work developing its program for the year, including the agenda for our March 12 (7:30 a.m.) Committee meeting. Our jam-packed agenda includes a Washington D.C. Advocacy Partner Roundtable and meaty discussions of NEC Future, our ROI Study and what we as Committee can do about Federal infrastructure and legislation.

As always, the Speedlines team leaders Al Engel, Ken Sislak and Wendy Wenner of Amtrak have brought you another excellent edition.

I hope you can join us for our March 12 Committee meeting in Washington. And thank you for your inter- est in the High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee. Anna M. Barry

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 4

Dear HS&IPR Committee NOVEMBER & Friends: RAIL FORUM TIPPING POINT FOR U.S. HIGH PERFORMANCE INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL

Three weeks after the High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Leadership Round November 8th elec- Table tion nearly 150 passen- ger rail consultants, executives, The first session of the policy forum featured Paul Nissenbaum, and academics gathered at the associate administrator for railroad policy and development American Public Transportation at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); Mitch Warren, Association (APTA) headquarters executive director of the Northeast Corridor Commission in Washington, D.C. to take stock (NEC Commission); Mike Friedberg, director of the Northeast of how far intercity passenger rail Corridor Coalition (NEC Coalition); Jonathan Dees represent- in the United States has come ing the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the over the past eight years, and to American Association of State Highway and Transportation forecast where it may go in the Officials’ (AASHTO) Standing committee on Rail Transportation next eight years. Convened as the third annual Rail Forum (SCORT); Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern sponsored by American Public Transportation Association New England Passenger Rail Authority, representing the (APTA) and the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail States for Passenger Coalition; and, Doug Allen, chief exec- Committee, this distinguished group of rail experts dis- utive officer of Virginia Railway Express (VRE), and vice chair cussed the ups and downs over the long road passenger of APTA’s commuter rail committee. Anna Barry moderated rail ‘s progress since the enactment of the Passenger Rail the round table discussion. Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, and addressed the perceived challenges the industry will face in the years Each of the panelists outlined briefly what their respective ahead. organizations are doing to promote the evolution of passen- ger rail service in the United States. Mr. Nissenbaum referred Following welcoming remarks from Doran Barnes, APTA’s to FRA’s transformation since 2009, when the agency was chair; Richard White, acting President and CEO; and Anna largely a safety regulatory agency, as remarkable. “Over the Barry, chair of APTA’s High-Speed and Intercity Passenger intervening years we have developed the capacity to manage Rail Committee, Al Engel, the committee’s vice chair, set the the outlay of more than $25 billion in grants for rail improve- tone and direction for the Forum. It was noted that inter- ments, and today we can handle whatever amount of funding city passenger rail is all about sustainability, that over the may come our way,” Nissenbaum said. “Partnerships among past 40 years the mode has endured four waves of evolu- multiple dimensions will be the key to getting it done.” tion, and that we are now in a wave that offers hope for more rapid development and renovation of the nation’s The NEC Commission’s Mitch Warren noted the progress passenger rail network, especially higher performing inter- his organization has made in establishing a cost allocation city passenger rail. formula and in establishing investment priorities. “The part- nership commission members have created among them- selves and the FRA is helping address the improvements needed in the corridor as well as the corridor’s $25 billion SPEEDLINES | MARCH 2017 NOVEMBER RAIL FORUM 5 backlog of maintenance projects,” Warren observed. “For never get the funding needed for the Northeast Corridor, or us it’s unite or die.” any of the other major passenger rail improvements stake- holders desire,” Friedberg said. Friedberg told forum attendees that the NEC Coalition is being organized to advocate for the funding needed in the Nissenbaum observed that perhaps the best way to win more corridor. “Members of the NEC Commission can’t lobby for congressional champions is for passenger rail advocates to the funding needed, and the FAST Act contained no new listen carefully to what others are saying, and to try to walk funding for passenger rail, so we are organizing the busi- in others’ shoes. ness community in the corridor to educate Congress and state legislatures on the funding needs and the potential Status of the Project Pipeline for Passenger Rail: Key Issues benefits of improved passenger rail service in the Northeast Corridor,” Friedberg said. Moderated by Peter Peyser, a Washington-based policy con- sultant, this session included Jeff Morales, chief executive SCORT’s Dees observed that states are building partnerships officer of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA); in order to attract more funding and financing to address Ray Chambers, executive director of the Association of their respective passenger rail interests. “States are provid- Independent Passenger Rail Operators (AIPRO); Donnie Maley, ing leadership, but more outreach is needed,” Dees said. director of planning for the NEC Commission; Justin Fox of AECOM; and, Stan Feinsod, Systra. Quinn, a frequent and well-respected passenger rail advo- cate, said that the members of States for Passenger Rail is a Peyser initiated the discussion by asking panel members to collective voice promoting state-sponsored initiatives pri- describe the challenge of presenting the state of high-speed marily focused on formalizing the strategy to support the rail in the United States and what it means to the future of state reimbursement requirements of Section 209 of the our nation to the incoming administration? Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA). Quinn said, “she sees little victory every day that Jeff Morales said he would put special emphasis on issues of are the result of the leadership and hard work of state rail increasing mobility, providing transportation alternatives, representatives.” improving air quality, and job creation.

VRE’s Allen noted that commuter rail is an important player Donnie Maley said he’d point to the Northeast Corridor Capital in efforts to advance intercity passenger rail, and that the Investment Plan, which he described as an integrated record partnerships commuter rail organizations have with host of capital project activity and aspirational proposals. He said rail companies and other intercity passenger rail stake- the plan is intended to facilitate collaboration among stake- holders are critical to future advances in the passenger rail holders, support cost allocation, establish criterion for grant service industry. eligibility, and place special emphasis on state of good repair, for which he said, “there is still a lack of commitment on the The panel went on to discuss a number of important issues part of the federal government.” and features of the current mix of private and public sector stakeholders that are providing leadership and forging the AECOM’s Fox opined that he would point to five projects collaboration that is bringing improvement to America’s around the U.S. that are making a real difference. These intercity passenger rail network. Nissenbaum said that the projects include Amtrak’s Cascade service in the Northwest, word is getting out, the pieces are coming together, but the Brightline in Florida, the Texas Central Bullet Train, the we must continue to tell the story in a way that voters and Illinois high-speed rail shared corridor between Chicago and taxpayers can appreciate. “FRA’s role in leadership has its St. Louis, and the Michigan Line between Chicago and Detroit. limits. There are others who could and must do better, but FRA will continue to do what it can to promote intermodal Ray Chambers said that the four-member AIPRO serves cooperation,” Nissenbaum said. 800,000 passengers each year. His goal is to expand inter- city and urban passenger rail service by introducing private Dees observed that there is still much work to be done to competition through public/private partnerships. Chambers help states figure out how to leverage intercity passenger said, “we need to convince Congress and the new adminis- rail to the benefit of their respective economies. tration that passenger rail is an integral element of America’s infrastructure.” Panel members urged that congressional champions are still needed, and that should be the primary advocacy goal Chambers urged that specific proposals need to be put on for all stakeholders. “Without these champions, we will SPEEDLINES | March 2017 NOVEMBER RAIL FORUM 6

Our nation’s infrastructure needs are the Acela program has helped improve Amtrak’s bottom line -- $200 million short of self sufficiency on operating costs; the tremendous, and they’re growing. best in Amtrak’s history.

-U.S. Rep. Bill Lipinski McHugh noted that many of the NEC projects are ready to go.

“They just need funding on a reliable and sustainable basis,” McHugh said. the table that open the highway trust fund to support FRA’s David Valenstein reported that over $1 billion has been the Section 209 state-supported intercity passenger rail spent preparing a variety of passenger rail projects for con- program, and promote new models for passenger rail that struction over the last six years. He said these projects repre- get private-sector operators to the table early in the process. sent more than 1 million route miles including many key NEC projects just waiting for funding. Feinsod argued there is need for a new vision that matches the scale of the need. He suggested that the PRIIA Section Valenstein noted that FAST Act reforms have helped ease the 301 capital program should be used to support state-sup- pre-construction burden by adopting the Federal Highway ported routes. He said the word “spend” should be purged Administration’s project approval process for FRA projects. He from the discussion about high-speed rail, and replaced recommended that people watch for Federal Register notices with the word “invest.” “Break the big price tag down to of proposed regulatory changes, and provide constructive com- individual projects, and find ‘the red state vision’ for high- ments to obtain desired reforms. speed rail,” Feinsod urged. Last summer, Secretary Foxx rolled out a new “Build America Passenger Rail Policy and Program Issues for 2017 and Bureau” at the Department of Transportation. It’s deputy Beyond director, Mark Polston defined the bureau’s role as a one-stop shop to help project sponsors obtain federal funding. Polston Moderated by Sharon Green, a member of the APTA board said the bureau is building an outreach component that will of directors and vice president of HDR/Sharon Greene, and screen project for eligibility. He said the bureau will oversee Sasha Page, co-chair of APTA’s real estate subcommittee and Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) principal of IMG Rebel, this session included Patrick Fuches, and Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) a professional staff member on the U.S. Senate Commerce programs, and will work to better align the departments other Committee; Joe McHugh of Amtrak; David Valenstein and credit programs to address transportation priorities. Specifically, Marlys Osterhues from the FRA; and, Mark Polston, deputy he said that applications that address new or improved passen- director of the Build America Bureau at the U.S. Department ger rail service and transit oriented development (TOD) will of Transportation. be eligible for TIFIA and RRIF consideration, and that planning and permitting will be addressed in future project agreements. Fuches reminded the audience that for the first time ever the FAST Act included a title on intercity passenger rail…”a Polston said he anticipates further reforms to the entire credit great achievement for passenger rail advocates.” He noted and grant review process, and that future projects will include that there were five key passenger rail issues addressed in multiple funding partners. the FAST Act including safety, financing, policy, route com- petition, and Amtrak financial management. He said going APTA Return on Investment Report: A Blueprint for Quantifying forward infrastructure funding would be dependent on the Economic and Social Benefits of Passenger Rail Projects decisions made by the Senate Finance Committee regard- ing tax reform, including a possible infrastructure bank, and Breaking with the policy and leadership discussions of the pre- he urged the audience to communicate with the House and vious and subsequent sessions, the forum audience received Senate appropriation committees to raise funding levels an update from Charles Quandel, Quandel Consulting; Stephen for intercity passenger rail closer to the levels authorized Schlickman, University of Illinois, Chicago; P.S. Sriraj, University in the FAST Act. of Illinois, Chicago; Glen Weisbrod, Economic Development Research Group; and, Bo Zou, University of Illinois, Chicago, on McHugh commended the congressional staff for its pro- the status and intent of the APTA-sponsored research project, fessionalism and expressed especial appreciation for the “APTA Return on Investment Report.” reforms adopted in the FAST Act that benefit Amtrak. He said over the years Amtrak made a lot of mistakes trying to achieve the unattainable goal of $0 subsidy, but that SPEEDLINES | March 2017 NOVEMBER RAIL FORUM 7

Quandel said the project, which is sponsored by a number applications. He urged attendees to do everything possible to of APTA members, is to develop a uniform methodology for get funding restored for the NCRRP. “You deserve a dynamic determining the return on investment in public infrastruc- research program that contributes as much to your industry ture. He noted that this effort is very different from tradi- as the other TRB cooperative research initiatives do to their tional cost/benefit analysis because it attempts to estab- respective modes,” Goldstein said. lish a uniform matrix for measuring a number of factors not usually covered by cost/benefit analysis. The paper is Ann Canby presented One-Rail’s latest publication, “Rail Safety anticipated to be published during 2017. in the United States.” The paper looks at safety in all modes of transportation and compares their record of safety with the Rail Research, Communications and Media rail industry, which she characterized as being 10 times safer than automobile travel. “If we were investing in safety, the The last session of the forum addressed how the intercity investment would be in rail. If people would take the train passenger rail community is currently communicating with rather than drive, there would be many fewer traffic fatali- the public and policy decision makers, and what it needs ties,” Canby said. to do going forward to ensure that its mission and objec- tives are more widely embraced. The session was moder- Railway Age editor Bill Vantuono said the evolution of the ated by Dominic Spaethling, chair of the APTA high-speed digital age has enabled his publication to reach audiences far and intercity passenger rail programs subcommittee, and beyond the rail industry, but it has also enabled a lot of writers vice president, HNTB; Peter Schwartz, FRA; Marc Willis, FRA; who don’t know or understand the industry to put out a lot of Lawrence Goldstein, Transportation Research Board; Anne misinformation about the industry. “You’d be surprised how Canby, OneRail Coalition; and, Bill Vantuono, editor-in – much of my day is spent correcting the lack of knowledge chief, Railway Age. in the media and the general public about the rail industry,” Vantuono observed. Schwartz noted that the FRA does applied research for regional planning efforts, even though in PRIIA the FRA was Marc Willis, a former news reporter and now a public affairs directed to develop a national rail plan. He said the empha- officer at the FRA, urged that rail industry representatives sis is on developing networks out of regional efforts; devel- should always “over-communicate” their message to the audi- oping a long-term vision, and using a “CONNECT” model to ences they are attempting to reach. “The public does not know see how the regional network elements might eventually the language of the industry,” Willis said. “There are lots of ways connect to other regional networks. In that regard, FRA to communicate. Use them all, and if you don’t know how to will finish the Southeast passenger rail plan by mid-2017 do it or have time to do it effectively, hire someone who does.” and the Midwest plan by the end of 2017. Willis suggested that APTA, or other interests should develop a Other FRA research efforts Schwartz identified include media guide to railroading, and that an aggressive communi- efforts to develop a robust picture on long-term rail capac- cation strategy needs to be developed and deployed on behalf ity supply and demand aimed at setting priorities and gov- of the industry. “The general public and members of Congress ernance strategies for network development. need education. There needs to be more research on railroad- ing. There needs to be more collaboration between all enti- TRB’s Goldstein discussed the National Cooperative Rail ties involved in railroading and rail research,” Willis observed. Research Program (NCRRP) that was authorized under PRIIA in 2008, and funded at $5 million under the American “Technology may be the biggest threat to the rail industry. We Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2010. The program did need tools to measure risk and uncertainty to ensure smart not receive authorization for new funding in the FAST Act. long-term investment in passenger rail,” Willis concluded.

With the available funding, the program has published Wrap-Up valuable research on passenger rail funding and financ- ing, workforce development, energy consumption com- Peter Gertler, HNTB, provided a quick concise summary of the pared to other transportation modes, intercity passen- day’s forum, suggesting that the big take away is collaboration ger rail in the context of dynamic travel markets, develop- and partnership. “We have passed the tipping point, but we ing multi-state models for planning rail service, resources must double our efforts to reach skeptics, to win new cham- and strategies for developing intrusion protection systems, pions, and build momentum to bring high-performance pas- Buy America requirements, and intercity passenger rail senger rail service throughout America,” Gertler concluded. legal issues. Goldstein characterized these research prod- ucts as valuable, hands-on tools with practical, everyday SPEEDLINES | March 2017 8 AUTONOMOUS HIGHWAY VEHICLES DISRUPTING OR ENABLING HSR TECHNOLOGY? By: Eric Peterson

Last September the actor Tom Hanks Hazan, Lang, et al speculated that based As noted in the U.S. Department of told Parade Magazine, “If I were presi- on a survey of travelers in several devel- Transportation’s recently released dent, I would make a truly great state- oped countries, including the United report, Beyond Traffic; “Population of-the-art national rail service a huge States, “it is suggested that, over time, and economic growth in metropoli- priority because of the infrastruc- at least 40% of current train passen- tan areas is fostering the development ture it would provide. So let’s just gers will come to prefer taking an AV of megaregions: networks of urban make really good rail transportation over the train….except, we expect that clusters connected not just by infra- all over our country, so we don’t have the impact on high-speed trains will be structure but by economic and social to go to O’Hare and be at the mercy relatively limited because, for the fore- relationships.” of rainstorms and backed-up flights. seeable future, high-speed trains will Why can’t we take a good train from continue to be a much faster means of The report goes on to note that; St. Louis to Denver? And have it really transportation for both medium-dis- “Most of our nation’s population only take like eight hours. Have it like it tance and long-distance trips than AVs.” growth, and an even larger share of is in Europe, where it’s cheap, efficient job growth, over the next 30 years will and fast. That’s what I’d do.” This perspective is important for reasons take place in these regional clusters of regional and national economic vital- of cities. Residents of megaregions But earlier last fall, the Boston ity, and in some ways reflective of a share mutual interests and depend Consulting Group (BCP) published a viewpoint offered by one of the most on the same critical infrastructure— perspective authored by Joël Hazan, famous railroad lawyers in American airports, ports, transit systems, and Nikolaus Lang, Peter Ulrich, Jeffrey history, Abraham Lincoln, who saw the freight corridors.” Chua, Xanthi Doubara, and Thomas value and necessity of a transcontinen- Steffens, titled, “Will Autonomous tal railroad to tie the disparate parts of In a cautionary note, the report Vehicles Derail Trains?,” suggesting vast nation together, and an answer to observes, “these regions span coun- that within the next decade or two one of the great economic and demo- ties and states which are often in com- autonomous vehicle (AV) technol- graphic challenges facing our nation petition with each other. The growth ogy would siphon ridership from all today as large portions of rural America of megaregions will require greater forms of public transportation includ- are decamping to urban centers, and regional collaboration and integration ing high-speed intercity passenger rail, economic opportunities in rural areas to ensure regions remain competitive which itself is at least a decade or two are dwindling with this migration. in a global economy.” from realizing operations in the United States. SPEEDLINES | March 2017 AUTONOMOUS HIGHWAY VEHICLES 9

This collaboration and integra- Back in the United States, the U.S. as much to improve America’s freight tion is called in modern terms, Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) rail service as they have passenger rail “agglomeration.” is looking at new technologies and their service. Notable exceptions to this situ- impacts on where and how people live ation include the California High-speed A recent article in The Economist cap- and work, and are seeing a future in Rail initiative, where overall the objec- tured the swift and massive effort the which, “Advances in mobile and informa- tive is to build “true” high-speed pas- Chinese government has made in tion technologies are allowing Americans senger rail service. But even in this sit- building a national high-speed pas- to make different travel choices. The avail- uation there are segments where high- senger rail network with the intention ability of global positioning systems (GPS) speed trains will share track with com- of promoting agglomeration for eco- has made it easier for individuals and busi- muter, slower intercity passenger rail, and nomic, social, and political reasons. nesses to find the most efficient routes freight rail services. to their destination. Increasingly, the Less than a decade ago, the Economist public has access to real-time traffic con- In a 2016 issue brief, the Congressional noted, “China had yet to connect any of ditions and public transit schedule infor- Research Service observed: its cities by bullet trains. Today, China mation, giving them more power to set has 12,500 miles of high-speed rail and change travel schedules and routes. “A challenge facing the future of the lines, more than the rest of the world Innovations in the business world that HSIPR program is the large amount of combined.” use these technologies are also chang- funding required for high-speed rail ing the way Americans access transpor- development, combined with the lack China is planning to nearly double its tation, and the way they consume goods of a dedicated funding source and the network by 2025, and with it foster and services.” funding shortages facing other federal the growth of urban communities transportation programs even with their throughout the network. Thus far, The U.S. DOT’s Beyond Traffic notes that dedicated funding sources. Another the network has produced significant Amtrak, as America’s only nationwide challenge is contending with arguments benefit for the existing, connected intercity passenger rail service, operates against intercity passenger rail.” communities. The aspiration is that in over a network of more than 21,000 route building out the network, China will miles serving more than 500 destinations Against this background, the mobility of be able to encourage migration from in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and interest to that of millennials and seniors existing urban centers to new com- three Canadian provinces. is shifting as autonomous technologies munities in the west and central – and shared mobility options emerge as less densely populated – parts of the Popular among young adults and senior the way of the future. Many see intercity country, while ensuring a timely, reli- citizens, and enhanced by e-ticketing and and high-speed passenger rail as the link able transportation linkage for travel- improved broadband access, Amtrak rid- between the first and last miles of passen- ers throughout the nation. ership has increased by more than 50 ger travel that will be served by these new percent since 1993. More than 30 million technologies. According to The Economist, the passengers traveled on Amtrak in 2015 Chinese consider bullet trains to be and it is particularly popular for trips The International Association of Public more than just a mode of transpor- between 100 and 500 miles with well over Transport (UITP), in a paper released in tation. China wants to build a “high- 85 percent of all passenger trips for jour- early January (“Autonomous vehicles: a speed rail economy.” The idea is to cap neys less than 250 miles and five percent potential game changer for urban mobil- the size of mega-cities, and achieve of trips for journeys more than 400 miles. ity”), suggests that, “autonomous vehi- the agglomeration effect with the cles are put to use in shared fleets, as help of bullet trains. China reasons While China, much of Europe and other ‘robo-taxis,’ mini-buses or in car-shared that the resulting network of large, nations are aggressively building high- fleets, they could dramatically reduce the but not oversized, cities will be easier speed rail networks, the United States is number of cars on the road by reaching to manage, plus with increased speed proceeding slowly with an incremental people and places it was too difficult to and reliability high-speed trains are passenger rail improvement program that before – plugging the first/last mile gaps expanding the pool of labor and con- has distributed approximately $11 billion and feeding into public transport trunk sumers around China’s most produc- to 158 rail improvement projects since lines.” tive cities while pushing investment 2009. Most of these projects have added and technology to poorer ones. new tracks, replaced switches and made The authors of the UITP study suggest other enhancements that have done that such a change will produce

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 TRANSPORTATION & TECHNOLOGY 10 significant amounts of induced travel seminar titled “The Virtual Automobile,” Trump Administration’s infrastructure while decreasing both the number of the presenters included Sampso program. vehicles on the nation’s streets and Heitenan, founder of MaaS Global, and highways, and reducing the amount Sharon Feigon of the Shared Mobility One aspect of this wish list is the fact of land and energy dedicated to per- Center. They discussed how Mobility as that most of the U.S. intercity passen- sonal travel. But in order to achieve a Service - platforms that provide com- ger rail system, even large portions of this vision, “cities and countries must bined mobility to their customers and the proposed higher-performing inter- actively shape the introduction of ensure the integration of shared AVs city passenger rail initiative, shares track autonomous vehicles now to prepare into a complete mobility solution in the with freight rail service. If AV technol- the authorization of driverless opera- future including intercity and high-speed ogy is applied to the rail network as it tion. An integrated effort of all author- passenger rail. is anticipated for the highway system, it ities concerned (mobility, road safety, could have dramatic impact on reduc- urban planning, traffic control, etc.) Now witnessing the new Congress and ing bottlenecks, improving through- must be put in place.” administration in the United States, one puts, and providing opportunities to can see that despite the obstacles set reduce conflicts between freight and To achieve this objective, the UITP before the passenger rail renaissance passenger service. paper suggested a two-step process. efforts of the past eight years consid- erable progress has been made in As always, the question is, and will be, The first step would be to encour- California, in the Northeast Corridor, in “how will these and other desired proj- age shared mobility by ensuring that the Chicago area, in Texas, in Florida, and ects be paid for?” Perhaps the better autonomous vehicles are shared and in the mid-Atlantic region to create new question is, “what will it cost if we don’t that people are ready for this idea passenger rail services and to improve invest in these and other important pas- of switching between collabora- existing service. Though constrained senger rail initiatives, especially high- tive modes of transport. This can be by what it considers the realities of cost speed rail? done by actively promoting all forms and space, even the FRA’s NEC Futures of shared mobility including cars, proposal shows glimmers of optimism While, as the CRS noted in its earlier and ride-sharing, and by incentiviz- over the future and viability of American cited report, “Critics assert that it ing their use through tax incentives, passenger rail, albeit short of true high- requires larger per-passenger subsidies establishing shared vehicle zones, pre- speed rail similar to China, Japan, and than other travel modes, that it is not ferred parking areas, and promotional Europe. well-suited to the economic geography campaigns. of the United States, and that near-term A list had been circulated recently that pur- technologies may provide better alter- The second step would be to ensure ported to be the Trump Administration’s natives,” this is not a matter of choos- that autonomous vehicles are inte- list of the Top 50 infrastructure projects. ing one mode of transportation over grated into “a complete mobility solu- Although the Administration has dis- another. It is about putting in place tion with high capacity public trans- avowed any connection with this list, and a mix of transportation options that port as a backbone in densely uti- it has no official standing, it is interesting provide the best possible mobility alter- lized areas to fulfill the lion’s share of to note there were five high-speed rail- natives to meet the travelers’ needs. In trips complemented by walking and related projects including the Gateway that environment, passenger demand cycling.” Project between New Jersey and New grows, needed subsidies decline, more York City; the Texas Central Railway jobs are created, the regional and This expression was recently affirmed Dallas – Houston high-speed train; the national economies grow and agglom- during the Transportation Research D.C. Union Station expansion and reha- erate, and stakeholders, including the Board’s (TRB) 2017 Annual Meeting bilitation; the Howard Street Tunnel in private sector and government policy where several standing committees, Baltimore; and the Chicago Union Station makers, become more willing to invest including the Intercity Passenger Rail redevelopment. In addition, there were in faster, more frequent, and more reli- Committee (AR010), held workshops, nearly a dozen commuter rail, subway, able mobility in the United States. sessions, and presentations on the and mass transit projects among the integration of emerging technology Top 50 infrastructure priorities. We will Tom Hanks may never become presi- with intercity and high-speed pas- have to take a wait and see posture as dent of the United States, but his aspi- senger rail. AR010 hosted a half-day to what ultimately is included in the ration for high-speed rail in the United States should become reality.

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 11 CALIFORNIA FRA REALIGNS HSR GRANT By: David Cameron

High-Speed Rail Authority: Seeks Rail system. So far the federal govern- Billions in Bonds, Issues RFQ for Early ment has provided roughly $3 billion in The funding plan for the San Francisco Train Operator, Settles Old Lawsuit and American Recovery and Reinvestment to San Jose Section was required for Fights New One, Cap and Trade Under Act (ARRA) stimulus funds and other the release of Proposition 1A money Challenge federal railroad money. As the ARRA to help fund the Peninsula Corridor funds are expiring in September 2017, Electrification Project (PCEP), which With 119 miles of active high-speed the Authority has focused on spending will electrify the Caltrain Corridor rail construction in California, it is an the federal money first before any of the and provide the necessary founda- exciting time for the California High- Proposition 1A matching bond funds. tional improvements for high-speed Speed Rail project. To keep the project rail service to San Francisco as part on schedule to complete the Valley to However, per the provisions of of the “blended system”. With the Valley (San Jose to Bakersfield) initial Proposition 1A, the Authority must approval of the funding plan, the service in 2025, the California High- provide funding plans for any usable Authority will provide about $730 Speed Rail Authority recently took segment of the system before spend- million in Proposition 1A money for three groundbreaking votes at its ing the state bond funds. These funding the electrification project. The overall December Board meeting. These votes plans include the estimated construc- PCEP cost is estimated to be about were: tion costs, identifies the funding, and $2 billion, with an additional $647 provides an assessment of projected million planned from the federal gov- 1.) Approved funding plans for the ridership and operating revenue. With ernment. However, the federal grant Central Valley and San Francisco-San the approval of the Central Valley now appears to be in doubt. Jose segments. Funding Plan, the Authority will be able to begin spending the Proposition 1A CALTRAIN PENINSULA CORRIDOR 2.) Voted to seek billions of dollars in bond funds on the construction in the ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT state bond funds that it needs to con- San Joaquin Valley. tinue construction in the San Joaquin California’s 14 member Republican Valley and on the San Francisco The Central Valley Funding Plan that Congressional delegation wrote to Peninsula. the Authority approved estimated that DOT Secretary Elaine Chao asking a total $7.8 billion will be required to that neither the $647 million grant or 3.) Authorized the issuance of a build out the first segment of high- any further monies be provided for “request for qualifications” from poten- speed rail in the San Joaquin Valley. California’s high-speed rail system. tial train-operating companies to guide The federal government has provided While not denying the grant, on the planning and earliest stages of California with about $2.4 billion in February 17, Secretary Chao put it operations for the bullet train system ARRA funds and about $0.6 billion in on hold until a full federal review of between the San Joaquin and Silicon FY10 federal railroad transportation the electrification project could be valleys. money. About $2.6 billion is expected to completed. Secretary Chao wrote come from Proposition 1A, and another to Caltrain that the grant would be FUNDING PLANS FOR THE RELEASE $2.2 billion from the state’s Greenhouse considered with President Trump’s OF PROPOSITION 1A BONDS Gas Reduction Fund. While there will upcoming 2017-2018 fiscal budget. be no revenue service until the Valley Of course, there is not a guarantee that The approval of Proposition 1A in 2008 to Valley line is complete, the initial the Caltrain money will be put in the gave the Authority a $9.9 billion bond segment in the Central Valley can be president’s overall budget, even if the to be used to match any proportion of used as a “test track” to conduct trials grant was approved. federal funds that have been pledged of high-speed trains above 200 mph. toward the California High-speed The timing of the delay in approving SPEEDLINES | March 2017 CALIFORNIASECTION HSR UPDATE NAME 12 the grant could not have been worse project’s final environmental impact limit over time. Permits to pollute are for Caltrain, which has a March 1st, report for the Fresno-to-Bakersfield auctioned quarterly to affected compa- 2017 deadline to issue full notice to section. In 2014, the county sued the nies who exceed the emissions cap or proceeds to contractors Balfour Beatty agency arguing that the environmen- to investors, who can hold onto them and Stadler Rail. Currently, both contrac- tal assessment wasn’t sufficient and for future sale to polluting companies. tors have been preparing for the start violated the California Environmental of construction under a limited notice Quality Act. However, the California Chamber to proceed, which was issued last fall. of Commerce and other businesses After March 1st, Caltrain must restart the The agreement “demonstrates the com- looking to invalidate California’s fee for bidding process for the project, result- mitment between both parties to work carbon pollution have filed an appeal ing in costly delays to construction. together to bring high-speed rail service with a state appeals court in a case to the region along with small business that could determine the future of the Electrifying and modernizing Caltrain opportunities and jobs for Central Valley program. The uncertainty surrounding will create 9,600 jobs: from power residents,” the Authority said in a press the case has already affected the market converters and transformers built in release. for pollution permits, which consistently Richmond, Va.; the electric train shells raised hundreds of millions of dollars a built in Humble, Texas; the construc- SEEKING OPERATORS year until demand plummeted in 2016. tion of the facility and manufacture of the railcars that will employ over 500 The Authority also released a Request Good news for the state is that legal pre- people in Salt Lake City; or engineering for Qualifications for early train oper- cedence is on their side. Sacramento services in San Mateo. To date, Caltrain ator services to assist with the plan- County Superior Court Judge Timothy has already spent about $150 million ning, design and management of the Frawley upheld the Cap-and-Trade on the electrification project. However, high-speed rail system. The Authority program in a 2013 ruling. Judges from Secretary Chao’s decision to delay hopes that by bringing in a private oper- the 3rd District Court of Appeal have federal funds will have potentially dev- ator now, they can provide strategies until late April to issue a decision. It astating effects on Caltrain’s electrifica- to improving the attractiveness of the is likely that lawyers on both sides will tion project. overall service while reducing operat- appeal to the California Supreme Court ing and maintenance costs. Partnering if they lose. LAWSUITS with a private sector operator is key to ensuring the success of the high-speed High-Speed Rail Construction Update The funding plans for the Central Valley rail system. and the Bay Area already have attracted Meanwhile, construction on the first litigation to stop the use of Proposition The Request for Qualifications will be fol- 119-mile segment continues in the 1A money. Previous high-speed rail lowed up with a Request for Proposals Central Valley, where work is cur- opponents, Kings County, filed a new to be released to qualified offerors in rently concentrated at nine major sites. lawsuit challenging the validity of spring 2017. The first phase of the con- Major construction projects include Assembly Bill 1889, which established tract will be a performance-based con- the building of viaducts to carry high- parameters for what constitutes a high- tract with a not-to-exceed amount of speed trains over the Fresno River, San speed rail segment that is “suitable and $30 million dollars. The Authority hopes Joaquin River, existing freight railroads, ready for high-speed train operation” to have an early train operator on board and State Route 99 in the Fresno and and set the stage for the Authority this summer. Madera areas. Other major activities to present the two above mentioned include the building of a trench for high- funding plans. Kings County believes CAP-AND-TRADE speed trains to pass underneath State the AB 1889 changes the original lan- Route 180 and the 2-mile realignment guage and meaning of Proposition 1A, A primary source of funding for the high- of State Route 99 approximately 100 while the Authority believes the law speed rail project, about $500 million feet to the west to make room for high- clarifies some aspects of the bond act a year, comes from California’s carbon speed trains entering Fresno. and its funding plans meet the require- cap-and-trade program. California’s ments of the law. “cap-and-trade” program is a central More information about ongoing and piece of a wide-ranging series of regu- upcoming construction projects can be The Authority also recently reached a lations meant to reduce the emissions of found at: http://www.hsr.ca.gov/build- settlement with Kern County that will heat-trapping gases. The state places a hsr.html dismiss the county’s litigation over the limit on emissions and reduces the cap SPEEDLINES | March 2017 13 STATE PROJECTS ROUND-UP

Contribution By: Kenneth Sislak, Justin Fox, Stephen Gazillio and Peter Voorhees

Passenger rail service continues to grow infrastructure and service improvements Tool (CONNECT) that helps analyze in popularity across the United States. including increased frequency, reliability the performance of passenger rail The numbers tell the story. More and and on-time performance. corridors and networks. In 2016, more people are riding passenger trains. FRA engaged CDM Smith and Amtrak broke another ridership record in As an advocacy organization, APTA must Steer- Davies Gleave to improve the FY2016 by carrying 31.3 million passen- keep Surface Transportation Board (STB) CONNECT tool. That work is nearing gers. This was nearly 400,000 more than members, state legislators and congres- completion and will be used in other the previous year. This is the sixth con- sional representatives informed of the multi-state planning studies. secutive year Amtrak has carried more need for improved rail passenger service. than 30 million passengers. Amtrak rid- What follows are brief discussions of the In 2016, FRA initiated the Southeast ership has grown 50 percent since 2000. how states and local communities are and Midwest multi-state regional Amtrak now covers 94 percent of its getting involved in planning and imple- planning studies. The plans will operating costs through ticket sales and menting the investments needed to unite state rail planning in these other revenues. Several Amtrak services restore and improve intercity passenger regions, foster multi-state coordi- also had record years in both ridership rail services from around the country. nation and provide a framework for and revenue including: governance and operation of inter- INTERSTATE REGIONAL PLANNING state and inter-regional passenger • Northeast Corridor regional services, service planning. The studies will The Federal Railroad Administration examine existing conditions and • Pacific Surfliner (San Diego – Los Angeles), (FRA) has taken the lead on organizing assess baseline and future market and coordinating multi-state planning opportunities. A Generalized • Capitol Corridor (San Francisco Bay efforts. As noted last year, it started with Network Vision that describes the – Sacramento), the Southwest Multi-State Rail Planning communities to be served by rail and Study and included the Northeast the corridors that link them will be • Keystone (Harrisburg – Philadelphia), Corridor Future initiative. This was part prepared along with a Service Plan of its national planning effort to develop to describe the range of train ser- • Hiawatha (Chicago - Milwaukee), a toolkit for the conceptual planning of vices (frequencies, speeds, capac- integrated passenger rail networks at ity) connecting the markets in the • California Zephyr (Chicago-Denver-San the multi-state and megaregional level network and how those services Francisco Bay) long-distance train. and to advance improvements to the would operate and interact in the Northeast Corridor. A part of the plan- network. FRA selected CH2M for the This increase in ridership and revenue ning toolkit included the development Southeast and Quetica, LLC (with is the result of strategic investments in of a CONceptual NEtwork Connections WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff) for the

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 14

Denver A-Train ribbon cutting. (Photo courtesy of RTD)

Amtrak Acela at New Haven. (Photo courtesy of Bill Lipfert)

Midwest studies. Stakeholder involve- ment and outreach is a key element of both studies.

GULF COAST PASSENGER RAIL RESTORATION safe access and better connectivity to describes the Preferred Alternative and from the station, improve conve- identified for NEC FUTURE and eval- More progress has been made on nience for riders, update facilities, and uates its service characteristics and restoring passenger rail service to leverage economic opportunity that effects on the built and natural envi- the Gulf Coast, which was lost after comes with station redevelopment. ronment. It also provides responses to Hurricane Katrina. The Southern Rail the comments received on the Tier 1 Commission (SRC) has coordinated Also in December the GCWG outlined Draft EIS during the public comment with Amtrak to study restored pas- its preferred service option: A daily, period, and provides corrections to senger service along the Gulf Coast overnight long-distance train operat- the Tier 1 Draft EIS in response to com- from Louisiana to Florida. The SRC is ing each way between New Orleans ments received. The Final Tier 1 EIS part of the Gulf Coast Working Group and Orlando that would operate as was released in December 2016 with a (GCWG), which was established by the an extension of the Chicago – New final waiting period ending in January FAST Act to outline a path that restores Orleans City of New Orleans train, with 2017. A joint venture of AECOM and passenger rail service along the Gulf through equipment from Chicago to WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff assisted the Coast. Support to achieve this goal Orlando; plus a daily, state-supported FRA in preparing the document. The has continued to grow deeper and train operating round trip between Preferred Alternative provides the stronger since last year’s SPEEDLINES New Orleans and Atmore, AL east of capacity to dramatically increase the update. Mobile. number of trains and improve the railroad’s performance. The Preferred During a meeting in December 2016 at Northeast Corridor (NEC FUTURE) Alternative focuses investment on Bay St. Louis, MS, the SRC announced the existing NEC, improving reliabil- allocations for more than $2 million in The FRA has prepared a Tier 1 Final ity by bringing it to a state of good funding through an FRA grant to 11 Environmental Impact Statement repair and eliminating chokepoints communities in Alabama, Mississippi (Tier 1 Final EIS) in compliance with that cause delays. It adds new track to and Louisiana. The funding is to be the National Environmental Policy grow the NEC to four tracks at most used for station area planning and Act (NEPA) and other applicable laws locations. Trains would operate fre- construction projects that will ensure and regulations. The Tier 1 Final EIS quently with improved connections,

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 15 greatly enhancing travel options. For (AHTD) is studying the feasibility of capital projects planned or in prog- more information on the NEC FUTURE, new passenger rail service between ress on the 351-mile Pacific Surfliner please turn to page 36 in this edition Little Rock and Memphis, which is route between San Luis Obispo, Los of SPEEDLINES. The Final Tier 1 EIS can part of FRA’s designated South Central Angeles and San Diego total $5.4 be found at: http://www.necfuture. High-Speed Rail Corridor (SCHSRC) billion. The San Joaquin service initi- com/tier1_eis/feis/ across the state. AECOM is preparing ated a seventh round trip in 2016. On the study with Cambridge Systematics. the Capitol Corridor route in the next 10 STATE UPDATES Most of the corridor follows the exist- years, planned improvements include ing Texas Eagle route. The initial phase more service between Oakland and San Alabama – The Alabama Department is exploring the feasibility of extend- Jose, as well as service expansions to of Economic and Community Affairs ing the SCHSRC designation from Roseville, Auburn and Salinas. (ADECA) completed a feasibility study Little Rock to Memphis, which would to determine the feasibility of restor- invite passenger rail investments Amtrak long distance trains the Chicago- ing passenger rail service between linking these cities with Dallas and Los Angeles Southwest Chief, Chicago- Birmingham and Montgomery in potentially San Antonio. Once a fea- Oakland California Zephyr, Los Angeles- December 2013. The study was sible alignment is identified between Seattle Coast Starlight, and Los Angeles- prepared by HDR. ADECA is now Little Rock and Memphis, the SDP will New Orleans Sunset Limited continue to looking to study the feasibility of be prepared later in 2017 for the full serve the state, along with multiple con- the Montgomery – Mobile segment service corridor. Currently, the FRA necting Thruway bus routes. of the Birmingham – Montgomery – and AHTD are reviewing the alterna- Mobile route. A consultant team will tives analysis. Colorado - In 2016, Amtrak restarted be selected later this year to assist a Colorado tradition – the Ski Train, ADECA is completing this study. California – Caltrans is completing aka the Winter Park Express, between its 2018 State Rail Plan, emphasiz- Denver and Winter Park. The train Arizona – The Arizona Passenger Rail ing network integration as part of its ceased operations is 2009. The train Study: Tucson to Phoenix began in Vision 2040. Under the 2040 Vision, provides skiers a daily round trip and 2011. On December 19, 2016, the high-speed rail will become a trunk overnight options. With the train, skiers Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact system uniting the northern, central can avoid an occasionally treacherous Statement (EIS) was completed by the and southern parts of the state, and drive on an often congested I-70 corri- Arizona Department of Transportation riders will rely increasingly on inter- dor. More than 3,300 tickets were sold (ADOT), in coordination with the city and regional commuter trains and the first day sales opened for the ski FRA. Furthermore, the FRA signed urban transit services to access the season in September. Amtrak’s Chicago- the Record of Decision (ROD) select- high-speed rail system. The California Emeryville California Zephyr and the ing the Yellow Corridor Alternative High-Speed Rail Authority is cur- Chicago-Los Angeles Southwest Chief with routing options that would be rently constructing the first operating continue to serve the state, along with further reviewed during Tier 2 project segment of its planned high-speed rail connecting Thruway buses. Projects level studies for passenger rail service system between Merced and Fresno in to improve the speed and reliability of between Tucson and Phoenix. To this the Central Valley. The construction the Southwest Chief’s route through point, no construction schedule for includes two major projects in Fresno: Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico con- the project has been determined, a trench taking trains 40-feet below tinued in 2016. The improvements were and no funding plan has been put in ground under a rail spur, a canal and funded by a $46 million federal TIGER place. ADOT and FRA were assisted State Route 180, and a half-mile-long, grant, Amtrak, BNSF and matching state by a consulting team that included 80-foot-tall elevated viaduct south of and local support. AECOM, HDR, Jacobs and WSP Parsons downtown. Brinkerhoff. Amtrak’s Chicago-Los The 23-mile electrified University of Angeles Southwest Chief and Los The three California state-supported Colorado A Line connecting Denver Angeles-New Orleans Sunset Limited corridor services – the Capitol Corridor, International Airport to downtown continue to serve the state along with the San Joaquins, and the Pacific Denver and several communities along connecting Thruway buses. Surfliners – continue under regional I-70 opened for revenue service on April managements, which are planning 22, 2016 as scheduled. The integrated Arkansas – The Arkansas State Highway improvements to enhance services passenger rail line has connections at and Transportation Department and attract new riders. For example, the renovated and expanded Denver

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 16

Amtrak Capitol Corridor (Photo courtesy of Caltrans)

Amtrak Hoosier State (Photo courtesy of InDOT)

Union Station to Amtrak and the C, E of Transportation, with 17 roundtrip Coast Railway (FEC) corridor connect- and W light rail lines, the B Line com- trains operating between New Haven ing West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale muter rail service to Westminster and Hartford, and 12 extended to and Miami, and includes three sta- and local and regional buses. Springfield. With completion of the tions and associated infrastructure Unfortunately, the new service has work to Springfield, service is planned improvements. Stations in Miami, Fort been plagued by start-up issues to be expanded to some 25 daily trains Lauderdale and West Palm Beach are in including signal timing problems at in each direction by 2030. The CTrail various phases of construction. The sta- roadway crossings. RTD and its con- Hartford Line will connect with exist- tions in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm tractor, Denver Transit Partners, con- ing Metro-North commuter rail and Beach have been topped off and inte- tinue to coordinate with the FRA to Amtrak Acela high-speed rail services rior outfitting work is well underway. resolve crossing timing issues along on the New Haven Line to New York MiamiCentral has been under construc- the University of Colorado A Line. and on the Northeast Corridor to New tion since the beginning of 2015 and The FRA has extended the opera- London and Boston. Once the entire the iconic V shaped supports are being tional waiver through April 30, 2017 line is upgraded from New Haven to erected. All three of Brightline’s South to provide additional time to resolve Springfield, there will be 25 round Florida stations have been designed by the technical issues. trips a day, with ridership increasing Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) to over 1 million riders a year accord- in association with Zyscovich Architects, Connecticut - Work continues for ing to Connecticut DOT. an integrated urban design, architec- the 2018 completion of the state’s ture, and interior design firm headquar- $693 million New Haven, Hartford, Florida – All Aboard Florida’s tered in downtown Miami. AECOM is and Springfield rail project – now “Brightline” branded project is nearing providing full track design services called the CTrail Hartford Line completion and has begun testing its to install approximately 130 miles of (Hartford Line). Double tracking new trains getting ready for a sched- mainline track along the north-south and station upgrades are underway uled service launch later this year. corridor from Indian River/St. Lucie between New Haven and Hartford, The first of five trainsets (named County Line (MP 233.4) to Miami (MP and design work has begun to BrightBlue) began dynamic testing 365.1). The addition of the double extend the double tracking through on January 19 on a nine-mile stretch track along this portion of the corri- to Springfield. In 2018, the new of track between Park Place in West dor requires roadway modifications Hartford Line service will consist Palm Beach and Central Boulevard at 260 existing grade crossings, signal of both expanded Amtrak service in Lantana. The initial Phase I of the work, and structural/bridge improve- and new regional trains operated new passenger rail service is located ments. Grade crossing appliances by the Connecticut Department along the 66.5 miles of the Florida East have been relocated and/or replaced

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 17

Idaho - The Pioneer Restoration to accommodate the new passenger for FRA and GDOT. The Tier 1 Draft EIS Organization continues to advo- track. These modifications require is scheduled to be released for public cate for a restoration of the former completion of the Grade Crossing review in early 2017 with a Final EIS/ Amtrak Pioneer serving Denver, Assessment Review process in coor- ROD scheduled for later this year or Boise and Seattle. The train ceased dination with All Aboard Florida, the early 2018. operations in 1997. Amtrak’s Empire Florida Department of Transportation Builder continues to serve the state, (FDOT), and other stakeholders to The Columbus Consolidated along with Thruway buses to Salt confirm planned work appropriately Government (CCG) completed its Lake City and the Pacific Northwest. addresses all requirements and is Columbus to Atlanta High-Speed Rail integrated into an approved traffic Feasibility Study in February 2014. The Illinois – The Illinois High-Speed control plan. Be sure to checkout the $350,000 study began in March 2013 Rail Project between Chicago and Brightline feature story on Page 29 of and was prepared by HNTB Corporation St. Louis is nearing completion. this issue. under an on-call contract with GDOT. The $2 billion project is enabling This study explored the relative fea- higher-speed operations of up to Georgia – The Georgia Department sibility of high-speed passenger rail 110 MPH between Joliet and East of Transportation (GDOT) is studying between Columbus and Atlanta based St. Louis. The final project element, two passenger rail corridors. The FRA, on revenues, operating ratios, finan- the Springfield Rail Improvements GDOT, and the Tennessee Department cial performance and social impacts. Project, will establish a quiet zone of Transportation (TDOT) prepared a Over the 10-month study period, two through the city and provide safety Tier I Environmental Impact Statement representative routes and three high- and local access enhancements. The (EIS) to evaluate the general corri- speed rail technologies were identi- City has contracted with Hanson dor-level environmental and related fied and examined. Utilizing socioeco- Professional Services Inc. for these impacts of constructing and oper- nomic and transportation data, stake- improvements valued at $25 million. ating proposed high-speed ground holder input, and forecasting and plan- Independent station improve- transportation (HSGT) service within ning tools, the study team developed ments continue in the corridor. One an approximately 140-mile corridor operating plans, ridership forecasts, example, the new Alton Regional between Atlanta and Chattanooga. operations and maintenance cost esti- MultiModal Transportation Center, The FRA released the Tier 1 Draft EIS mates, and capital cost estimates for is scheduled for completion in the on October 7, 2016 after nearly six each alternative. The study concluded first half of 2017. years of technical analysis and col- the new passenger rail service may be laboration with various federal, state, feasible, but an environmental assess- In January, the City of Chicago and and local agencies and the public. The ment would be needed before plans the US Department of Transportation Tier 1 EIS public and agency review could move forward. HNTB presented (USDOT) Build America Bureau and comment period closed on Columbus Council with an update on entered an Emerging Projects December 31, 2016. Currently, AECOM the project during a council meeting Agreement (EmPA) regarding is actively working on a combined in December 2016, where local and Chicago Union Station. The goal Final EIS/Record of Decision (ROD). It state supporters were present. It was of the agreement is to identify $1 is expected FRA will issue the ROD on reported FRA assured study sponsors billion to modernize Chicago’s main the Tier 1 EIS by early summer 2017. that funding would be available for rail hub and redevelop the sur- the environmental assessment. It was rounding area. Last July, Arup was In addition, GDOT is preparing the also reported there could be opportu- awarded a $6 million contract for Atlanta to Charlotte Passenger Rail nities for private-public partnerships. station design and engineering. Corridor Investment Plan (PRCIP). This Moving forward, the CCG will begin is an extension of the Southeast High- working on both immediate and long- Quandel Consultants was selected Speed Rail Corridor (SEHSR), which is term next steps for successful imple- by IDOT as Program Manager to under development from Charlotte to mentation. These include incorporat- advance a proposed passenger Washington, D.C. The extension from ing the study into the Georgia State Rail rail service between Chicago and Charlotte, would travel southeast Plan, preparing for the next planning Moline / Quad Cities. Preliminary through portions of South Carolina and environmental assessments, and Engineering was completed in 2016 and into Atlanta. Currently, a Tier 1 identifying funding/financing strate- with support from AECOM. Draft EIS is being prepared by HNTB gies for implementation.

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 18

The Midwest High-Speed Rail chef, Wi-Fi and dome-car seating. This expressed skepticism about passenger Association continues to advocate will be replaced by Amtrak equipment rail service and were instead express- for regional rail improvements and a and train attendant crews. Amtrak has ing interest in examining Hyperloop framework for next-generation high- indicated a willingness to continue options. speed rail in the Midwest. Its signa- Wi-Fi services and provide Business ture concept is the CrossRail program Class service. Iowa – A Final Environmental Impact of interrelated projects in Chicago, Statement (EIS) was signed for the from the O’Hare International Airport Five years ago the City of Fort Wayne Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha (ORD) vicinity to the Southeast Loop. and the Northeast Indiana Rail Regional Passenger Rail System In February, Mayor Rahm Emanuel Passenger Association (NIPRA) spon- Planning Study by the FRA on May again stated his support for a similar sored a feasibility study for new pas- 24, 2013. FRA executed a Record of project: an express rail connec- senger rail service between Chicago Decision (ROD) on August 2, 2013. HDR tion between O’Hare and the Loop. - Fort Wayne - Columbus. The study and HNTB prepared the environmental Related concepts developed by WSP conducted by TEMS concluded that documentation for FRA and Iowa DOT. | Parsons Brinckerhoff under its 2016 the new passenger rail service would No action has been taken to advance contract have not yet been released. have a positive financial and eco- this project since then. nomic impact and represented a Indiana – Ms. Venetta Keefe was sound investment. Since that study Another feasibility study of passen- recently promoted to Rail Program concluded in December 2012, the City ger rail service between Iowa City and Manager for Indiana DOT (InDOT) of Fort Wayne and other stakeholders North Liberty was undertaken in 2016. replacing Mike Riley who retired launched a funding raising campaign The study is being spearheaded by the after many years of faithful service. to pay for a Passenger Rail Corridor Iowa DOT and Cedar Rapids and Iowa The July 2015 issue of SPEEDLINES Investment Plan (PRCIP) including a City Railway (CRANDIC). Other stake- contained an article written by Ms. Tier I environmental assessment and holders included Johnson County, Keefe discussing their innovative Service Development Plan. It was esti- Iowa City, Coralville and the University public/private partnership involv- mated the cost of the PRCIP would be of Iowa all provided funding. This is ing Iowa Pacific managing the in excess of $3 million. The City of Phase 2 of on-going research over Hoosier State service on the 196- Fort Wayne and other stakeholders, passenger rail service in Eastern Iowa. mile corridor between Indianapolis including Lima, Ohio raised approxi- Phase 1 estimated the cost for establish- and Chicago. The Hoosier State runs mately $500,000 toward the $3 million ing Cedar Rapids to Iowa City service at four days per week with stops in goal. FRA approved the City and other between $250 million and $500 million, Crawfordsville, Lafayette, Rensselaer stakeholders to initiate a public out- with annual operating costs of approx- and Dyer. Amtrak’s long-distance reach and alternatives analysis study imately $5.6 to $6.7 million. Earlier Cardinal train makes those stops to advance the PRCIP. NIPRA selected studies were done in 1994 and 2006 by the other three days per week. The HNTB to manage public and stake- Wilbur Smith Associates and R.L. Banks Iowa Pacific Railway had furnished holder outreach and prepare the & Associates. rolling stock and on-board service alternatives analysis. This element personnel. The train was operated of the study effort is expected to be Louisiana - The Southern Rail by Amtrak and the service was sub- completed by September 2017. The Commission released a Governor’s sidized by Indiana. Iowa Pacific has project sponsors and stakeholders briefing book on passenger rail oppor- operated the Hoosier State since July are anticipating raising additional tunities between Louisiana’s two largest 2015. However, just recently InDOT state and federal funding to pay for cities: New Orleans and Baton Rouge and Iowa Pacific mutually agreed the balance of the PRCIP. The Midwest (September 2015). The recommended to terminate the Hoosier State Ohio Regional Planning Commission proposed passenger rail service start- service contract early. The agree- (MORPC) in Columbus has expressed up suggested operating two round trip ment with Iowa Pacific would only interest in raising the necessary funds trains a day with the goal of increasing remain in effect through February to extend the study area from Lima to trips, speed and ridership incremen- 2017. Amtrak will take over opera- Columbus, Ohio. Several other Ohio tally. The rail passenger service would tion of the Hoosier State on March communities have agreed to fund connect an 80-mile corridor, represent- 1, 2017. Iowa Pacific increased rider- some initial data collection for their ing more than 2.2 million people and ship on the line by introducing a host portion of the study. Up to now, local nearly 1 million Louisiana jobs. The line of amenities, including an on-board community leaders in Columbus have is projected to serve 210,000 riders per

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 19

year and would require both capital and parts of the station. The finalists for the conducted the alternatives analysis and operating funding support. This study high-profile redevelopment site include feasibility study to examine the oppor- was completed by Transportation for several well-known Baltimore firms, one tunities and impacts of more frequent America and the Center for Planning of the country’s largest minority-owned and higher speed intercity passen- Excellence. While no funding has real estate firms, and a company the rail- ger rail service on two major rail cor- been identified for operations, corri- road has been working with on the rede- ridors known as the Inland Route and dor planning continues to be active. velopment around Philadelphia’s 30th the Boston to Montreal Route. HDR, Baton Rouge, Gonzales and LaPlace Street Station. The finalists are: AECOM and Fitzgerald Halliday assisted will split $375,000 from an FRA grant MassDOT in preparing the environmen- to start station area planning for the • Penn Station Partners, which is led tal assessment. Baton Rouge – New Orleans service. by Baltimore’s Beatty Development Local governments have put up addi- Group, the developer of Harbor Point. MassDOT is now conducting a state- tional money for station design and The team also includes Armada Hoffler wide rail plan, which is expected to be development. Properties, a frequent Beatty partner, complete in the Fall of 2017. The state and Bill Struever’s Cross Street Partners. rail plan is being developed to help Maine – The Downeaster rail service Amtrak previously tapped Beatty in 2013 guide the future of rail system invest- celebrated its fifteenth year of service to create a master plan for the station. ments as well as freight, commuter and on December 15, 2017. The 145- passenger rail services across the state. mile regional passenger train service • Peebles-AZ Baltimore Penn, which The plan outlines the Commonwealth’s is managed by the Northern New is led by the Peebles Corp., a private 20-year vision and four year plan for the England Passenger Rail Authority company based in Florida that is one statewide rail system, describes the pol- (NNEPRA), which was created by the of the nation’s largest minority owned icies and planning goals for the state rail State of Maine. The service is operated development, with projects that include network, the existing rail system, future by Amtrak. Named for the Down East a major transit-oriented project in trends, proposed improvements, and region of Maine, the train runs from Boston and a Washington office build- the state investment program. HDR is North Station in Boston, Massachusetts ing that includes Amtrak offices. It is preparing the State Rail Plan with assis- to Brunswick, Maine, with 10 interme- working with Baltimore’s AZ Group, tance from AECOM. diate stops. The train operates five New York investment management firm daily round trips between Portland MacFarlane Partners and Baltimore’s Michigan – MDOT continues to advance and Boston, two of which continue to Williams Jackson Ewing and Marks, the capital improvements program Brunswick. Since its inception, more Thomas Architects. along the state-supported Amtrak than 46,000 Downeaster trains have Wolverine service between Pontiac, operated, transporting more than six • Brandywine Realty Trust, a real Detroit and Chicago with program million passengers an equivalent of estate investment trust headquar- management assistance from Quandel nearly 500 million passenger miles. A tered in Pennsylvania, which has been Consultants. These improvements, $13 million 60,000 square-foot layover working on the station master plan in totaling $254.5 million, expand the facility in Brunswick opened in October Philadelphia. The team led by the firm territory in Michigan where trains can 2016, allowing the overnight servic- includes Baltimore architecture firm operate at up to 110 miles per hour. A ing of Downeaster passenger trains. A Ayers Saint Gross, Baltimore’s Pinkard major milestone will come to the corri- study of a proposed Downeaster exten- Properties, Bethesda’s Clark Construction dor in 2017: the completion of the ARRA- sion to Lewiston – Auburn is expected and Madison Marquette. funded track and signal improvements to be launched in 2017. between Dearborn and Kalamazoo. A Massachusetts – The Northern New Tier 1 Draft EIS for further improvements Maryland – Amtrak selected three teams England Intercity Rail Initiative’s environ- in the corridor was released for public to compete to lead the redevelopment mental assessment study was submit- review in 2014. The Tier 1 Draft EIS was of Baltimore’s Penn Station and other ted in mid-2016 and received a Finding led by the State of Michigan with assis- nearby properties owned by it. Amtrak of No Significant Impact (FONSI) from tance from HNTB. FRA is now leading plans to choose a master developer in the FRA. MassDOT and the Vermont the study. There is no advertised date summer 2017 to create a master plan Agency of Transportation, in collab- for a Record of Decision and comple- and lead design, construction and man- oration with the Connecticut DOT, tion of a more detailed Tier II analysis of agement of the properties and non-rail

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 20

the corridor.. MDOT is also negotiating restore the Gulf Coast service between Service. The state provides about $8 with host railroads between Dearborn New Orleans and Jacksonville, which million annually to operate the Missouri and Pontiac for service expansion to was suspended after Hurricane Katrina. River Runner. Missouri received more Detroit and points north. Amtrak dis- This is the service that would also stop than $53 million in federal grants for patching along the entire MDOT own- in Biloxi and Mobile and would continue improvements on the route segment ership portion (between Kalamazoo and to Orlando as the preferred alternative. between St. Louis and Kansas City. Dearborn) is anticipated within the cal- The service originates in Chicago as part Amtrak ridership in Missouri has endar year. But, the majority of improve- of the City of New Orleans with thruway grown 46 percent in the last five ments needed to increase service from service to Orlando. years. Recommendations to improve 3 to 10 daily round trips are required in Missouri’s passenger rail service further Indiana near the gateway to Chicago. Mississippi also has explored four other are part of a greater plan to improve potential new passenger rail services travel within the Midwest region and Minnesota – The Northern Lights Express plus several suggested thruway motor are outlined in the State Rail Plan pre- (NLX), described last year, is a proposed coach services as part of its state rail pared by HNTB. Missouri is participat- passenger rail project along BNSF track- planning process. If implemented, ing in the Midwest NextGen equipment age between Minneapolis and Duluth. potentially there could be seven dis- procurement for new locomotives and The project is envisioned as operating tinct rail services in Mississippi including passenger rail equipment assigned to at a top speed of 90 MPH. The FRA and the two existing Amtrak services. Two the Missouri River Runner service. Minnesota DOT (MnDOT) in cooperation of the five new services – New Orleans- with the Minneapolis-Duluth/Superior Meridian-Birmingham-Atlanta and New Nevada – Xpress West and the Los Passenger Rail Alliance and Wisconsin Orleans-Jackson-Memphis – would Angeles commuter rail service pro- Department of Transportation, be on existing Amtrak routes, where vider Metrolink have executed a expects to release a Tier 2 Project Level they would provide multiple frequen- Memorandum of Understanding to Environmental Assessment (EA) for cies daily at Mississippi stations. Two coordinate with each other on the the project this spring. The Tier 2 EA, more – Meridian-Jackson-Shreveport- development of phased high-speed developed with assistance from HNTB, Fort Worth and Jackson-Hattiesburg- rail service between Anaheim and Las addresses specific elements outside the Gulfport/Biloxi – would be on totally Vegas. Amtrak’s Chicago-Emeryville scope of the 2013 Tier 1 EA. The antici- new routes, providing rail service in California Zephyr continues to serve the pated cost to implement the NLX project parts of Mississippi that have not seen state, along with connecting Thruway is estimated to be approximately $500 - a passenger train in decades. The fifth buses. 600 million. If fully funded, Final Design service is the aforementioned restora- and Construction can be completed tion of Gulf Coast service. New Hampshire – The New Hampshire within two years. legislature voted on March 10, The line between New Orleans and 2016 to reject the Department of Work on the proposed 100-mile Atlanta via Meridian and Hattiesburg Transportation’s (NHDOT) $4 million Rochester - Twin Cities Rail Corridor (Zip would use the current Amtrak Crescent proposed planning effort to proceed Rail) was suspended in January 2016. route. As noted, a feasibility study was with permitting and preliminary engi- WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff prepared the completed in 2006. This passenger neering to establish new passen- scoping report before work was sus- rail project is still in the State Rail Plan ger rail service between Boston and pended by MnDOT. despite not identifying how this project Concord, NH, with a potential exten- will be paid for. The Amtrak inspection sion to Montreal. A state Senate vote Mississippi – Mississippi is a member- trip generated great excitement and two months later upheld the House state of the Southern Rail Commission, enthusiastic support for the restoration vote, despite polls showing more than which has envisioned a high speed rail of passenger rail service between New 70 percent of residents supporting service operating along the Gulf Coast. Orleans and Atlanta. the rail. The rail plan was part of the The Gulf Coast Corridor runs from Capitol Corridor study, which evaluated Houston to Atlanta. Another segment Missouri - Amtrak service is provided in a diverse set of rail and bus options for of the Corridor travels east from New Missouri on two long distance routes – improving connectivity in the corridor Orleans through Biloxi and finally Mobile. the Southwest Chief and Texas Eagle - by leveraging existing transportation Mississippi as part of the SRC and GCWG and two state-supported routes - the infrastructure and integrating transpor- has begun the planning necessary to Missouri River Runner and Lincoln tation and land use planning. The study

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 21

found the need for passenger rail service Cost: $6.25 billion. economic growth is dependent on has been growing for decades along the the region’s mass transit system to 73-mile corridor. The critical project devel- • Alternative 125: New, separate 247- continue to transport a diverse work- opment phase was the next logical step in mile rail corridor, including sections force across the Hudson. A new the NH Capitol Corridor rail plan. It con- of elevated track, with limited stops development company that will be sisted of developing a detailed financial where passengers would transfer to known as the Gateway Development plan, engineering, and preparation of local trains. Top speeds, 125 mph. Cost: Corporation will be established funding applications for submission to $14.71 billion. to oversee the Gateway Program. the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Participating agencies include Port and FRA. Governor Christopher Sununu, • A sixth alternative is a No Build option. Authority of New York and New Jersey, elected in November 2016, ran on a plat- New Jersey Transit and Amtrak. form that did not consider the rail project The alternatives were developed to a priority. “When we have real infrastruc- offer ways to improve on-time perfor- Amtrak has embarked on prelimi- ture priorities and needs that can help mance and reliability resulting from nary engineering for the Hudson the 700,000 people a day that drive on investments in this 463-mile rail corri- Tunnel project, a critical first step in those roads, why should we be spending dor between New York City and Buffalo/ the overall Gateway Program. AECOM $300 million for a train so maybe we can Niagara Falls. as part of a joint venture with WSP send a couple thousand people to work Parsons Brinckerhoff and STV, is con- in Boston?” Sununu said in an interview The Gateway Program is a proposed set ducting the engineering effort under with the Concord Monitor editorial board of strategic rail infrastructure improve- contract to Amtrak. Environmental last fall. ments designed to improve current ser- studies in support of the NEPA process vices and create new capacity that will are underway for the new two track New York – New York’s plans to strengthen allow the doubling of passenger trains tunnel under the Hudson River in its rail passenger system by providing running under the Hudson River. The parallel with the preliminary engi- higher speed passenger rail within the program will increase track, tunnel, neering. AKRF under contract to Empire Corridor between Buffalo and bridge, and station capacity, eventually New Jersey Transit is preparing the New York City are moving forward, albeit creating four mainline tracks between EIS documentation for FRA. The new more slowly than originally planned. Newark, NJ, and Penn Station, New York, tunnel will improve rail service reli- Completion of the $4 million New York including a new, two-track Hudson River ability into Penn Station New York and State DOT study of options for faster pas- tunnel. Initial findings on the economic permit rehabilitation of the existing senger trains across Upstate New York has benefits of investment in the Gateway North River Tunnels that were seri- been extended to September 30, 2017 – Program were presented December ously damaged by flooding during public comments on the final environ- 12, 2016 by Amtrak’s Executive Vice Hurricane Sandy. Portal Bridge over mental impact statement ended April 30, President, Stephen Gardner. AECOM the Hackensack River in New Jersey, 2014. The final report is expected to select and WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff assisted another element of the Gateway one alternative from the five they received Amtrak in preparing the Benefit- Cost Program, is gearing up for construc- comments on. These include: Analysis (BCA). The analysis showed a tion. This two track fixed bridge will B/C ratio ranging between 2.16 and be constructed at an elevation which • Alternative 90A: New locomotives and 3.87, demonstrating favorable benefits will eliminate the need for the existing passenger cars, station and track improve- generated by the investment. Benefits movable bridge and improve reliabil- ments, and raised top speeds to 90 mph. highlighted in the analysis included ity and eliminate service disruptions Cost estimate: $1.66 billion. reduced travel time, and travel cost, associated with opening the naviga- emission reductions, safety, cutbacks tion channel for river traffic. • Alternative 90B: More than 300 miles of in highway congestion, travel reliabil- track dedicated to passenger trains, plus ity and reduced in-vehicle crowding, as Plans to convert the historic James all Alternative 90A improvements. Cost: examples. The report concluded that A. Farley Post Office into a world- $5.58 billion. Gateway is a project of national eco- class transportation hub continued nomic significance – without the Penn to make news. In September 2016, • Alternative 110: All 90A improvements Station/trans-Hudson linkage, the Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plus 325 miles of new dedicated passen- entire NEC rail system would be severed the selection of a developer/builder ger track and a top speed of 110 mph. and fragmented and that continued team of Related Companies, Vornado

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 22

Realty LP and Skanska AB to rede- the improvements. Along with new GoTriangle and numerous stakehold- velop the Farley Building, creat- equipment and increased frequencies ers. Total cost of Phase 1 is approxi- ing a new 255,000 square foot the other improvements are designed mately $60.1 million. Over $43.3 million Train Hall to house passenger facil- to increase train operating speeds. came from federal sources including a ities for Long Island Rail Road and The program of interrelated projects $21 million TIGER IV grant, $15 million Amtrak. In addition to constructing includes adding 31 miles of double in ARRA funds reprogrammed from the the Farley Train Hall, the Governor track, 12 grade-separations, closing 23 Piedmont Improvement Program and announced the joint venture will public and 15 private railroad cross- over $6.7 million in congestion mitiga- create 112,000 square feet of retail ings, renovating train stations in Cary, tion and planning funds. The remain- and nearly 588,000 square feet High Point, Burlington and Kannapolis. ing sources of funding include $9.25 of office space within the Farley Agreements are in place with the NCRR million from NCDOT, $6 million from Building. Preconstruction work and Norfolk Southern (NS), who oper- the City of Raleigh and $1.47 million began in late fall 2016, with the new ates the NCRR, to operate the two addi- worth of land from the Triangle Transit Train Hall expected to be completed tional round trip passenger trains and Authority. The architect is Clearscapes by December 2020. to reimburse them for maintenance of and the track and structure design the improvements through 2037. Work team was STV/Ralph Whitehead. Urban The Governor also announced the on PIP is scheduled for completion in Design Associates provided urban MTA will initiate the comprehen- September 2017 with the fourth fre- planning and public outreach. sive redesign of the LIRR’s exist- quency being initiated in March 2018. ing 33rd Street concourse at Penn Mott McDonald has supported NCDOT The Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor Station and complete an extensive with project development and admin- (SEHSR) was designated by Congress in renovation to the adjacent Seventh istration, as well as numerous other 1992 as running from Washington, DC and Eighth Avenue subway stations. firms on design and construction. through Richmond, VA and Raleigh, NC Construction on the LIRR concourse to Charlotte, NC. Additional segments and the subway stations will con- The Raleigh Union Station project were designated to Hampton Roads clude by or before completion of is a multimodal facility planned for (1995); Charlotte through Greenville the work on the Farley Train Hall. Downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse and Atlanta to Macon, and from Raleigh The redesign will include nearly tri- District. The facility will be imple- through Columbia and Savannah to pling the width of the existing corri- mented in a number of phases. Phase Jacksonville; and from Macon to Jessup dor, which will significantly decrease I of Raleigh Union Station is currently in 2000. pedestrian congestion and result in under construction and is about 60 notably higher ceilings – providing percent complete. Construction is Activity from environmental plan- bright lighting, new way-finding, anticipated to be completed by the ning to construction work has been ticketing and informational systems. end of 2017. The station is expected underway on the sections between to be fully operational by early 2018. Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, and North Carolina – In 2010 This phase moves passenger rail ser- Charlotte with proposed maximum North Carolina Department of vices from the current Amtrak station speeds of 110 mph. It is part of an Transportation (NCDOT) received a on Cabarrus Street to an existing ware- overall plan to extend service from the $520M Federal American Recovery house on Martin Street within the rail- existing Northeast Corridor (Boston & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant road wye. Raleigh Union Station is to Washington) to destinations in to fund passenger rail equipment, anticipated to stimulate additional the Southeast. The Washington to track, station and other interrelated development in the city’s Warehouse Charlotte, route was selected by a 2002 improvements along the North District on the west end of Downtown. Tier I study, which also established the Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR)/ Subsequent phases of Raleigh Union purpose and need for the project as Southeast Corridor (SEC) between Station are planned to accommodate well as the vision for passenger rail Charlotte and Raleigh. The proj- additional intercity passenger, regional service on the corridor. ects have been managed under the commuter rail and local and regional Piedmont Improvement Program buses, taxis, bicycles and other forms The FRA, NCDOT and the Virginia (PIP). As part of the ARRA grant of active transportation. The Phase I Department of Rail and Public requirements, NCDOT has commit- project is made possible through a Transportation (VDRPT) completed ted to operate additional passen- partnership with the FRA, NCDOT and the Southeast High-Speed Rail Tier II ger train frequencies and maintain the City of Raleigh, with assistance from Final Environmental Impact Statement

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 23 STATES ROUND-UP

(FEIS) Raleigh to Richmond study in from states all along the Chicago to Oklahoma DOT also initiated a Tulsa September 2015. The Tier II Final EIS East Coast route. The Cardinal cur- – Oklahoma City Corridor Investment covers the 163-mile CSXT S-Line rail rently operates thrice weekly round Plan to define, evaluate and priori- corridor from Richmond to Raleigh trips, and the focus of the conference tize future investments in the Tulsa- and is a critical segment of the fed- was an increase to daily service. In Oklahoma City Corridor. The plan- erally designated Southeast Corridor. January, the City of Oxford and Miami ning effort will include an objec- Comments received on the Tier II University pledged local funding to tive evaluation of passenger rail as a Final EIS will be addressed in the add a Cardinal stop in Oxford. means of providing inter-city connec- Record of Decision (ROD), which is tivity between Tulsa and Oklahoma pending signature and issuance from Some station enhancement initia- City. This effort will focus on long- FRA. Michael Baker International, tives in Ohio are progressing. These term needs for inter-city transporta- Three Oaks Engineering and Mott include stations served by Amtrak’s tion and will complement other plan- McDonald helped prepare the EIS Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited ning efforts addressing regional and documentation. The first projects to routes. A long standing congressio- local transportation issues. Parsons be pursued under the completed doc- nal earmark for rail enhancements Brinckerhoff was assisting Oklahoma ument are three grade separations on has been directed toward Americans DOT in preparing the Corridor the corridor in the Raleigh Area, pro- with Disabilities Act (ADA) enhance- Investment Plan. Since then, the pri- grammed in NCDOT’s Transportation ments at Toledo’s Martin Luther King, vately-owned Iowa Pacific Railroad Improvement Program. Jr. Plaza transportation center and proposed operating the Eastern Flyer Amtrak station. Greyhound bus service train between Oklahoma City to Tulsa. Ohio - The Mid-Ohio Regional was also introduced at MLK Plaza in The Iowa Pacific Railroad services Planning Commission (MORPC), 2016. Since 2014, Richard L. Bowen were to include a dome car, coaches Columbus’ metropolitan planning & Associates has provided design and full meal service. This would be organization, is exploring how the assistance for reintroducing passen- the first regular passenger service Chicago-Ft. Wayne Tier 1 EIS study ger rail service to the 1925 New York to Tulsa since 1967 and begin oper- might be extended to Columbus. Central Railroad Station in Elyria, which ating in 2015. Iowa Pacific said the The current eastern limit of the study now functions as the Lorain County start date would be further delayed, is Lima, Ohio, 40 miles east of the Transportation & Community Center. as both Oklahoma City and Tulsa con- Indiana border. Ohio communities Funds have been identified for some sidered efforts to facilitate rail service are raising funds to assist in data col- station improvements at the historic connecting the cities’ downtowns. lection supporting the Tier I EIS. (See Sandusky New York Central depot. A Indiana for more discussion). 2016 TIGER grant application for the The Texas-Oklahoma Passenger Rail Lakefront Multimodal Transportation Study is an evaluation of a range of While Pennsylvania communities Center in Cleveland was not successful, passenger rail service options in an advocate for thrice-daily service but the City intends to re-apply. (See 850-mile corridor from Oklahoma City between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, SPEEDLINES #18 July 2016 for a feature to South Texas. Oklahoma Department Ohio advocates and communities story on the Cleveland project.) of Transportation (Oklahoma DOT) is would like to see some of that service an important partner in the study. extended to Cleveland and Chicago. Oklahoma – Oklahoma Department of The study is scheduled to conclude by All Aboard Ohio, a grass-roots rail Transportation (ODOT) continues its the end of 2016 after the completion advocacy group, has been in discus- support of the Heartland Flyer, with of a Tier I service-level environmental sions with the City of Youngstown on one round trip daily between Fort impact statement (EIS) and a service establishing an alignment between Worth and Oklahoma City. In 2016, an development plan. More details of Pittsburgh and Cleveland that serves Amtrak Thruway bus was implemented this study are outlined under Texas as the cities. between Oklahoma City and Newton, the Texas DOT is managing the study Kansas connecting the Heartland effort. In September 2016, the Cincinnati Flyer with the Amtrak Southwest Chief USA Regional Chamber and advo- operating between Chicago and Los Oregon – The Oregon Department cacy organization All Aboard Ohio Angeles. of Transportation (ODOT) and the hosted a conference on the Amtrak FRA are jointly developing a Tier 1 Cardinal service, with participation Environmental Impact Statement

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 24

(EIS) investigating alternatives for The long planned and discussed pas- demonstrated a massive and growing enhanced rail passenger on the 125- senger rail service from the Poconos market for the 90-minute, 240-mile trip mile Portland-Springfield-Eugene cor- to New York is inching closer to between North Texas and Houston, ridor. The corridor is part of the fed- reality. Pennsylvania has quietly been with one stop in the Brazos Valley. erally designated Pacific Northwest working on replacing missing tracks, More than 90 percent of those in North Rail Corridor, served today by the installing new ties and repairing the Texas or Houston would save about an Amtrak Coast Starlight and the state- Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Bridge hour or more by taking the train, the sponsored Amtrak Cascades. The EIS over the west branch of the Lehigh study showed. Based on a broad range will guide state and federal decision River, including wing wall and back of sources, including extensive new making on rail alignments, station wall restoration, bridge seat cleaning, research and publicly-available data, locations, and service characteris- resurfacing and the re-establishment the study forecasts that nearly 5 million tics (train frequencies, run times, and of original bridge elevation. The resto- passengers would use the bullet train rolling stock technologies, e.g., diesel ration of the Lackawanna Cut-Off Line annually by 2026. By 2050, the bullet electric versus electric. Update on has already begun across the Delaware train’s total market share is expected to state support for the Cascades corri- River, with 7.3 miles of track being laid reach almost 30 percent, or 10 million dor is highlighted under Washington. to a new station to be constructed journeys. Amtrak’s Empire Builder continues by New Jersey Transit in Andover to serve the state, along with various Township in Sussex County. It’s pro- The Texas Transportation Commission Thruway bus routes. jected that the work in New Jersey will established the Commission for High- be completed by the end of 2017. New Speed Rail in the DFW Region to provide Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania DOT Jersey Transit is spending about $62 advice and counsel on the proposed (PennDOT), in cooperation with the million from federal and state grants to Dallas-Fort Worth Core Express Service. FRA and Norfolk Southern, completed rebuild that portion of the railroad. A The Commission for High-Speed Rail the Keystone West High Speed Rail proposed 27-mile addition would run in the DFW Region advises on the pro- study in 2014. Since then, the Western through Monroe County and connect posed development of intercity rail cor- Pennsylvanians for Passenger Rail and with the line at the Slateford Junction ridors, new transportation policies, and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership in Warren County. A mapped proposal funding and procurement strategies have been pushing for increased in 2014 showed stations in Tobyhanna, related to the implementation of poten- service on the Pennsylvanian, which Pocono Mountain, Analomink, East tial high-speed rail in the Metroplex. The operates between Pittsburgh - Stroudsburg and Delaware Water Gap. Texas Department of Transportation Harrisburg -Philadelphia - New York (TxDOT) is developing an environ- City. They say there’s enough demand Texas – FRA is preparing a Tier 1 mental study and working with FRA, to support three round trip trains a Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) private interests and other stakehold- day in this corridor. Representatives for the proposed Dallas to Houston ers to examine the feasibility of a faster, of the state House Transportation High-Speed Rail Project. FRA’s respon- limited-stop passenger rail service that Committee took testimony regard- sibility in conducting the environmen- could connect possible future high- ing additional passenger train service tal analysis is to ensure the project is speed rail lines currently being planned between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. federally compliant, mitigates poten- in Dallas and Fort Worth. The study will They are looking at ways to fund the tial impacts, and is safe. A key step in consider possible rail alignments, train increased service. PennDOT and this environmental analysis process is types and speeds. Although there has Amtrak are working to develop a public involvement. The Draft EIS will been regional discussion about station more comprehensive cost estimate be published and available for public concepts serving downtown Dallas, of the service expansion, includ- review later in 2017. AECOM is prepar- Arlington and downtown Fort Worth, ing the cost of additional infrastruc- ing the EIS on behalf of FRA and Texas specific station locations have not been ture required by Norfolk Southern. Central Railway. Texas Central Railway determined. The Draft and Final EIS/ Additional studies are being looked completed a ridership and revenue Record of Decision should be completed at by the Pennsylvania legislature, forecasting study that revealed a in 2017. WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff is including extending the service west strong demand for high-speed trains assisting TxDOT and FRA with the EIS to Cleveland. between Dallas and Houston. The document preparation. ridership study by L.E.K. Consulting,

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 STATES ROUND-UP 25

TxDOT is evaluating an 850-mile cor- draft environmental impact state- improve conventional speed passen- ridor from Oklahoma City to South ment (EIS) before it was stopped. The ger rail, expand commuter rail, and Texas. The Texas-Oklahoma Passenger two MPOs and TxDOT are involved accommodate growth of freight rail Rail Study was started in 2013 and is in a multi-modal study of the I-35 service in an efficient and reliable rail scheduled to conclude by the end of corridor as noted earlier. It is sus- corridor. The Tier II EIS is expected to 2017. It will document the costs, bene- pected the conclusion of the Texas- be completed in 2017. HDR is support- fits and impacts of potential rail service Oklahoma Passenger Rail Study will ing DRPT with the project by complet- alternatives compared to a no-build recommend a project nearly iden- ing the environmental documentation. alternative as part of a Tier I EIS and tical to the Lone Star Rail District’s a service development plan. Both of project; there simply are no other Washington – Washington State these reports will document how pas- good alternatives. Department of Transportation’s senger rail could serve Texas communi- (WSDOT) Rail Division is continuing ties and the benefits and impacts of dif- Virginia – Virginia has an active state- with plans to reduce scheduled run ferent passenger rail choices. The study sponsored passenger rail program. time by 10 minutes between Seattle will consider the corridor as a whole, as Service to Roanoke, an extension and Portland, implement two addi- well as three discrete portions of the of the highly-successful Lynchburg tional daily round trips between Seattle corridor including, Oklahoma City to train, is among the most anticipated and Portland, and achieve an 88% Dallas/Fort Worth; Dallas/Fort Worth projects from Virginia Department on-time performance. By the end of to San Antonio and San Antonio to Rio of Rail and Public Transportation 2017, WSDOT will have completed 20 Grande Valley/Corpus Christi/Laredo. (DRPT). A public-private partnership capital projects, funded by $800 million CH2M Hill is conducting the study on with Amtrak, Norfolk Southern, the in federal grants to improve Amtrak behalf of TxDOT and FRA. The Tier I City of Roanoke and DRPT will bring Cascades service. Draft EIS should be available for public intercity passenger rail service back comment in March/April 2017. to Roanoke for the first time in more Governor Jay Inslee is commissioning than 35 years. The expected start a feasibility study for a high-speed rail The Lone Star Rail District (LSRD) pro- date for Amtrak service to Roanoke line between Seattle and Vancouver, posed regional passenger rail service is 2017. Currently, there is on-going British Columbia. The line would be connecting the I-35 corridor between study of the possibility of adding a capable of 220 MPH maximum speeds. the Austin and San Antonio has run station stop to the Roanoke exten- Amtrak’s Los Angeles-Seattle Coast into complications. As envisioned the sion in Bedford, Virginia. The new Starlight and Chicago – Seattle Empire purpose of the proposed project was Roanoke Station improvements are Builder continues to serve the state. to improve mobility, accessibility, reli- under construction. ability, modal choice, safety and facil- Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Department itate economic development along On October 23, 2014, FRA published of Transportation (WisDOT) and Illinois the I-35 corridor in central and south a Notice of Intent in the Federal Department of Transportation (IDOT), Texas. However, the Union Pacific Register to prepare the Tier II EIS for in coordination with FRA and Amtrak, Railroad formally ended the plan- the 123-mile portion of the SEHSR are conducting an Environmental ning MOU that had existed between Corridor, which extends along an Assessment (EA) and Service the Lone Star Rail District and the existing rail corridor owned by Development Plan (SDP) for service railroad last year. However, political CSX Transportation from the Long improvements between Chicago and opponents of passenger rail seized Bridge at Arlington to just south of Milwaukee. A key project objective is upon this and sadly were success- Richmond. The FRA and DRPT are to increase Amtrak Hiawatha service ful at having the two MPOs in Austin continuing the $55.3 million Tier II EIS from 7 to 10 daily round trips. The EA, and San Antonio remove the project between Washington and Richmond prepared by Quandel Consultants, from their long-range regional trans- (DC2RVA), which is funded by FRA, was released in Fall 2016. A FONSI is portation plans. This triggered FHWA DRPT and CSXT. The purpose of expected in 2017. to rescind the Notice of Intent, which the DC2RVA project is to increase effectively ended the EIS process. the rail system capacity between Burns & McDonnell had been leading Washington, D.C. and Richmond to the consultant team preparing the deliver higher speed passenger rail,

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 26 VALUE CAPTURE FINANCING FOR HSIPR PROJECTS? Contribution By: Sasha Page, Principal, IMG Rebel

As with transit, high-speed and intercity passenger rail Capture Financing for Public Transportation Projects, (HSIPR) projects often require a variety of capital and which I co-authored with Bill Bishop and Waiching Wong. operations and maintenance (O&M) funding sources The Guide was developed on behalf the American Public beyond grants and fares. One of these is value capture Transportation Association and the Transit Cooperative (VC), the public recovery of a portion of increased prop- Research Program. erty value created from public infrastructure invest- ment, which in the U.S. has helped fund 20-30% of VC is already being used to finance several projects that some rail project costs. VC includes the development serve HSIPR: of publicly-owned property at or around stations as is common in major Japanese HSIPR stations. It also • Denver Union Station (DUS): Several groups realized this includes establishing tax increment finance (TIF) or $488 million project which included the redevelopment of special assessment districts (SAD) that capture incre- train station and construction of intercity rail, commuter mental taxes from the new stations or an increase in rail, light rail, and bus facilities. Over one-third of the financ- taxes in areas around stations, as intercity rail stations ing was secured from TIF and SAD proceeds, property sales, in Denver and San Francisco have done. See the text and a City of Denver backstop. box for the common VC mechanisms list. • Transbay Transit Center (TTC), San Francisco: TTC is a This article summarizes the best practices necessary to multi-modal transportation and real estate development make VC an important contributor to HSIPR funding. that will connect 11 transit systems, including high-speed It is based on the recently published Guide to Value rail. TTC’s VC revenues have secured a loan to TTC.

The Guide describes six best practices that are necessary to achieve optimal VC as listed below and illustrated in Common VC Mechanisms the Figure 1: We should not be waiting until trains • Impact fees 1. Pick growing market/corridor • Joint development derail, bridges collapse and people die • Negotiated exactions 2. Implement appropriate transit-oriented development (TOD) and other plans to adequately fund our transportation 3. Obtain and apply appropriate VC tool(s) infrastructure. • Sale or leasing of air rights 4. Bring stakeholders together • Sales tax & special assessment districts (SAD) 5. Develop compelling business case • Station naming rights -Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn. • Tax increment financing (TIF). 6. Structure viable financing Pick growing market/corridor Rail and transit infrastructure often induces value creation

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 FINANCING HS&IPR PROJECTS 27

in the surrounding real estate. Capturing a portion of that the above best practices and the nature of the VC instru- value is more likely if the corridor in which the facility is ment. In general, the credit rating agencies, the finan- built has a robust real estate market. The Dulles Metrorail cial markets’ gatekeepers, are wary about new real estate- provides an example. For this 23-mile extension of dependent revenues and rarely award a project an “invest- Washington, D.C. region’s heavy rail system, SADs financed ment grade” rating (i.e. BBB- or higher on a Standard and one-fifth of the $5.7 billion project, possible because this Poor’s scale) unless there are three plus years of stable was one of the region’s growing corridors with five Fortune history. SAD financings have obtained investment grade 500 company headquarters. ratings since they are based on existing revenues. A real- istic approach for TIFs and other VC sources is for the juris- IMPLEMENTING APPROPRIATE TRANSIT-ORIENTED diction to provide a “backstop” such as sales tax revenues DEVELOPMENT (TOD) AND OTHER PLANS or a guarantee, supplementing VC revenues. TIF monies may be more appropriate to fund O&M. Realizing VC requires supportive planning, land-use regu- lations, and zoning, including: VC: COMPONENT OF THE FINANCIAL PLAN

• Replacing density maximums with minimums, VC may be a component of a HSIPR financing plan if agencies follow the “three Cs:” • Modifying rules requiring segregation of various land uses, • Capture developers and development: Harness the inter- • Reducing minimum parking requirements, est of developers, often with strong local roots, who may invest in projects years before they occur; • Negotiating agreements to share value and meet policy objectives. • Don’t get CCCs, but investment grade ratings: Structure project with investment grade ratings (AAA to BBB), often Obtain and apply appropriate VC tool(s) with a creditworthy backstop; and VC regulations vary by state and local jurisdiction. Successful VC requires understanding the regulations and • Coordinate stakeholders: Unite stakeholders, including then seeking changes to them, where possible, a challeng- the rail agency, local government, and developers. ing process when two or more jurisdictions support a VC instrument, such as TIF. FURTHER INFORMATION Bring stakeholders together The complete Guide can be downloaded at: HSIPR agencies need to engage early in partnerships with https://www.nap.edu/download/23682 and other informa- developers and local governments. Engaged developers tion is available from Sasha Page at [email protected]. may sustain long-term planning processes and may own critical properties around the project. Governments control land use and zoning and often have a strong interest in fos- tering economic development around stations.

DEVELOP COMPELLING BUSINESS CASES Common VC Mechanisms Successful value optimizes business benefits for both We should not be waiting until trains • Impact fees public and private partners: • Joint development derail, bridges collapse and people die • Negotiated exactions • Developers want a fair balance between the opportunity to adequately fund our transportation and the cost of VC participation. infrastructure. • Sale or leasing of air rights • Sales tax & special assessment districts (SAD) • Local governments want to realize the rail project and • Station naming rights -Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn. • Tax increment financing (TIF). other infrastructure. STRUCTURE VIABLE FINANCING Using VC to finance a rail project depends on following

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 28 SECTION NAME

GETTING READY FOR OPENING DAY!

Brightline will launch service between Miami and West Palm Beach in 2017, with service from Miami to Orlando following.

Driving from Miami to Orlando takes about four hours. Brightline will allow passengers to cover that same distance in about three hours by conveniently transport- ing passengers at speeds between 79 and 125 miles per hour —similar to that of the popular Acela Express that serves the Northeast.

Business Magazine | April 2011 29

FULL OF INNOVATIONS SET TO REINVENT TRAIN TRAVEL IN THE US

Florida’s High-Speed Rail System: Brightline will be the first time a privately owned company in the U.S. has developed and operated an express passenger rail system since the 1980’s. The service will use the existing Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) corridor between Miami and Cocoa, while also building a new 40-mile (64 km) stretch of tracks along the State Road 528 corridor between Cocoa and the Orlando International Airport along with further consideration for expansion.

Contributed By: Eugene Skoropowski

t is always exciting when a plan comes together and All Aboard IFlorida’s “Brightline” is really coming together! What began as a vision in 2012, and shovels in the ground in 2014, is now scheduled to launch revenue service later this summer. Brightline will provide an important additional transportation choice for travelers between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach this summer, with future service to Orlando.

The first Brightline train (“BrightBlue”) was delivered by Siemens to the new Brightline Running Repair Facility in West Palm Beach, as scheduled, arriving on December 14, 2016. Its two locomotives and four coaches, are 100% Buy America compliant, with components from more than 40 suppliers in more than 20 states. Trainset #2 is

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 FLORIDA 30

expected to arrive in late February, from single, double, or quad seats of innovative retail and dining, includ- and each of the remaining three (with table). ing Central Fare, Miami’s first true trains, about 4 weeks apart thereafter. food hall experience. MiamiCentral Tom Rutkowski, Brightline’s Chief will also have connectivity to exist- Brightline is the first fully accessi- Mechanical Officer, has been per- ing public transit services, including ble train, exceeding ADA compli- sonally involved in the final design, Metrorail, Metromover, Metrobus and ance standards and providing effort- manufacturing, assembly, delivery Tri-Rail. less access from end-to-end, with 32” and testing of the trains, both loco- wide aisles. The trains feature auto- motives and coaches. Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach mated, retractable gap-closers inte- stations are each some 60,000 square grated into the door of each coach. Brightline will be offering compli- feet, and are nearing completion These ‘gap-closers’ extend up to 12 mentary, powerful Wi-Fi, so guests with interior finishing work progress- inches from the train door to the can bring their own devices and have ing rapidly. In each city, we will also edge of the 48” high platforms, satis- instant and reliable connectivity. connect with the existing transpor- fying freight train clearances without tation services, as well as with ride- expensive gauntlet tracks or cumber- Checked baggage and bicycles will share services. some platform mounted devices. All be accommodated. For those that passengers benefit from this inno- can’t leave home without their dog The future is indeed bright in South vation, whether they have mobility or cat, Brightline is pet-friendly. Small Florida this summer, and I hope this challenges, or are just pushing stroll- pets can be placed in carriers under update provides you with a glimpse ers or rolling luggage on board. All the seat and special carriers will be into our brand new trainsets and ADA wheelchair locations in coaches available for larger animals. stations…keep your eyes out for have the same large window as other Brightline trains moving across passengers. Each coach includes a spacious ADA South Florida later this summer. For accessible restroom, and all restrooms more information, please visit www. “Select” and “Smart” seating is feature a touchless environment. gobrightline.com. offered, and riders can reserve spe- The sink is integrated into the vanity cific seats when booking tickets area, with a large back-lit mirror and through Brightline’s mobile applica- a Dyson faucet that both dispenses tion, website or station kiosks. Riders water and dries hands from the same will also be able to add additional fixture, eliminating water dripping items, such as parking and ground onto the floor, or paper towels strewn transportation to their booking to about the restroom. further complete their travel experi- ence, making it seamlessly connected Static and dynamic testing of the first from door to destination. Brightline trainset has commenced on a nine-mile test track in the West In the Select coach, the custom- Palm Beach area. Trackwork, signals, designed ergonomic leather seats bridge work and crossing improve- are 21 inches wide between armrests ments are now more than 75% com- and, in the Smart coach, the seats are plete, on schedule for a summer 2017 19 inches wide between armrests, service start. both roomier than seats on most other means of travel. Seats recline, The new Miami Central station is an sliding forward so not to compromise expansive, 11-acre downtown Miami legroom of fellow passengers, and development featuring retail, offices, the seats are spaced 39” apart (pitch) residences and the Brightline train for plentiful legroom in both Select service. In addition to two office build- and Smart coaches. Passengers can ings and 800 rental units, it will also reserve their seats on-line, choosing include more than 180,000 square feet

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 SECTION NAME 31

SPEEDLINES | July 2016 32 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

TOM RUTKOWSKI CHIEF MECHANICAL OFFICER “A visit by a Brightline representative convinced me to move BRIGHTLINE my family to Florida leaving my job with New Jersey Transit behind. But the traffic in Florida is startling. It really brings down your quality of life when you spend that much time in a car. Passenger trains are the perfect solution.”

DONNIE MALEY DIRECTOR, PLANNING “The Northeast Corridor Commission brings states, tran- sit agencies, Amtrak, and US DOT together to modern- NORTHEAST ize and improve our shared rail infrastructure through CORRIDOR increased collaboration, transparency, and account- COMMISSION ability. Through this partnership, the Commission aims to restore a state of good repair to ensure the long-term viability of vital commuter and intercity service..”

AECOM CAROLYN FLOWERS Leading the firm’s transit/rail TRANSIT PRACTICE LEADER practice in North America “I’m tremendously excited about continuing my career in public transportation in the private sector. I’m looking Former Acting forward to providing creative, thoughtful and successful FEDERAL TRANSIT solutions to the challenges we all face.” ADMINISTRATION Administrator

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 33

Completed in June of 2016, the Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan is a long-range, joint master planning effort led by Amtrak, Brandywine Realty Trust, Drexel University, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to develop a comprehensive vision for the future of the 30th Street Station District in the year 2050 and beyond.

Established over a two-year period of discovery and consultation, including five open houses, the Philadelphia Master Planning efforts covers a site with 88 acres of rail yard projected to cycle 20 to 25 million annual passenger rides through 30th Street Station. It also includes 18 million square feet of new development, 40 acres of new open space and a new civic plaza outside the station’s front entrance.

U.S. Department of Transportation projections calling for substantial increases in rail transport over the next three decades mean that we, along with rail safety partners in the rail industry and at the federal, state and local levels, must work together to meet the safety challenges that accompany a rail renaissance.

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 34 NEC FUTURE A VISION FOR GROWTH ON THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR

NEC FUTURE is the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) comprehensive planning effort for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) from Washington, D.C., to Boston. As the nation’s busiest rail corridor, the NEC is a vital U.S. trans- portation asset, and is critical to the economic future of the Northeast. Today, the NEC operates on outdated infra- structure—much of it built over 100 years ago--affecting reliability and limiting future growth. NEC FUTURE, the first major plan for the NEC since 1978, will define a long-term vision and phased investment program to achieve a state of good repair and meet the region’s growing demand for rail travel.

The FRA’s planning process includes extensive dialogue with stakeholders and the public. In December 2016, the FRA released the Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for NEC FUTURE. The Tier 1 Final EIS recom- mends a vision for improving the NEC over the next several decades. This vision represents a balanced approach, favored by many stakeholders, that supports growth while focusing investment on the existing NEC and address- ing the most immediate needs for the NEC’s aging infrastructure. The FRA is currently reviewing public feedback on the Tier 1 Final EIS in preparation for a Record of Decision.

Potential benefits of growing the NEC include:

• Expanded capacity, allowing significantly more frequent intercity and regional service, improved reliability, reduced travel time, and a greater range of service options,

• Better connections for passengers, including additional one-seat rides between cities on the NEC and to and from connecting corridors, improved rail-airport connections, and service to new stations.

• Economic benefits, including expanded access to jobs and skilled workers, enhanced integration among Northeast cities, and reduced vulnerability to service disruptions as rail infrastructure is improved and new segments provide redundancy, and

• Environmental benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, air quality benefits, and reduced energy use as travelers shift to rail from other modes.

The FRA is also exploring the potential for more integrated, seamless service across the NEC, with coordi- nated scheduling and ticketing, opportunities for run-through service at major stations, easier transfers, and more regular, predictable service patterns. These changes would not only improve passenger convenience, but could increase operating efficiency in the future.

The next step in the process is a Record of Decision which will document the formal selection of an invest- ment program, or Selected Alternative. Next, the FRA will prepare a Service Development Plan that details the process for implementing the Selected Alternative, including a first phase of projects to address the most critical needs on the NEC. It will then be up to individual project sponsors, such as states and railroads, to move forward with specific Tier 2 projects, which will require environmental review and significant funding. To learn more, visit www.necfuture.com.

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 35 ROI FRAMEWORK COMPLETION OF TASK 5 OF APTA’S HS&IPR STUDY Contributed by: Charlie Quandel, P.E.

As reported in a previous edition of Speedlines, two illustrative cases of high-speed rail projects the High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) that demonstrate how different impacts of HS&IPR Committee of the American Public Transportation – which occur at different spatial scales, at different Association commissioned a team from the University points in time, and for different stakeholders -- can of Illinois at Chicago Urban Transportation Center, in fact be identified and measured. These cases also the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, demonstrate how the various economic and soci- RailTEC,, and the Economic Development Research etal impact elements can be represented in quan- Group from Boston to undertake a seminal study titative terms, expressed as monetary values, and to make the business case for investment in pas- interpreted as benefits when viewed from various senger rail projects throughout the United States. spatial or stakeholder perspectives. A reasonable The committee anticipates receiving its final report case can be made that much of our public policy on Sunday, March 12th during the APTA Legislative tends to recognize benefits across spatial scales, Conference. such as the national government interest in sup- porting the growth of communities and regions The team recently reported on their review of (particularly when they are not already thriving

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 ROI FRAMEWORK 36 and already overwhelmed with too much eco- The recommendations for the ROI study also nomic growth). address the possibility of adopting more than one viewpoint for calculating benefit/cost ratios. To varying degrees, these illustrative cases also The individual benefit elements can support at show that there is room for improvement in future least three different types of BCA calculations: studies by further expanding their breadth of cov- erage and completeness (beyond that already • The classic BCA framework, as reflected done by some past studies). The areas for improve- by FRA guidance, provides a consistent measure- ment fall into five categories where existing studies ment of the efficiency of investments that gen- tackle these issues but in a less complete way than erally corresponds with that of other transpor- could be done in the future: tation administrations (FHWA, FAA and MARAD). It adopts a “society wide” view that treats gov- 1.) Modes and Study Areas: inclusion of all rel- ernment and private sectors equally. Thus, fare evant modal alternatives and spatial scales in the collection is a transfer among parties that can benefit calculations, treated in an internally con- be ignored. It also ignores distributional equity sistent manner for valuation of benefits; as well as cumulative and inter-generational 2.) Access Benefits: calculation of regional impacts, though there is no real disagreement access benefits to include not only the scale of that these other factors are still relevant for rel- same day markets (agglomeration effect), but evant public policy. For that reason, the classic also benefits associated with improving connec- BCA is commonly used as one part of a larger tivity between cities, connectivity to airports, and decision framework that also considers these expanded tourism markets; other effects. 3.) Community and Economic Development: clarification to distinguish local and regional bene- • An alternative BCA framework adopted in fits of attracting more inward investment and busi- the UK and Australia recognizes government as ness activity (especially into areas where it is most an interested party representing public interest. needed); Accordingly, it adds business productivity gains 4.) Productivity Benefits: measurement of the and associated tax revenues as benefits, and con- business value of increased travel time reliability siders public tolls and fares collected by govern- that enables more effective business processes; ment as reductions in required public funding and for a project (as well as a factor reducing cost 5.) Local Land Development: benefits of savings for travelers). achieving greater clustering of development around station areas, and more vibrant downtown • Another perspective adopts the view areas. of local or regional residents. From this angle, effects on generating more livable and attractive Implications for Development of an ROI communities are also seen as a benefit, partic- Framework. The report demonstrates that a wide ularly insofar as it attracts investment to create variety of HS&IPR benefits can be measured and more jobs and income. With this aspect, the valued from different viewpoints. It also demon- value of income or GDP associated with devel- strates that it can be both possible and informa- opment of transit oriented development clus- tive to adopt two fundamentally different ways of ters at station areas, as well as other economic viewing benefits: (a) from the viewpoint of today’s growth in surrounding areas, is a local benefit. “net present value” -- for consideration of recurring From a national policy mindset, this result may benefit and cost streams, and (b) from the view- also be a desirable outcome, particularly when point of desired future “outcomes” – for consid- there are public policies supporting investment eration of cumulative effects that will affect the in higher density development and investment future of our society and subsequent generations. to create more jobs in urban centers. Both are important. The illustrative calculation examples provided in this Chapter demonstrate that both views can be calculated, though the two cannot be simply added together in one overall benefit calculation. SPEEDLINES | March 2017 37 WASHINGTON NOTES OPPORTUNITY AND OPTIMISM ON THE FUTURE OF RAIL TRANSPORTATION

Contributed by: Sandy Bushue, Director of Business Development, Hitachi Insight Group and former Acting and Deputy Administrator at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

At the time of this writing, much has changed government, but whether our government in Washington, with a new President and is controlled by the people.” The people have Congress taking office. Like always, some are spoken in favor of our industry, with numer- exhausted and skeptical at the whirlwind pace ous local gains from California to Georgia that of change from this transition, while others see were relatively unheralded in the hubbub over opportunity and optimism. In any case, there’s the national election. While the people were a new chief engineer in Washington who has casting their votes for President on November made “infrastructure” one of his top priorities. 8th, they were also voting in support of huge transportation funding mechanisms: When was the last time you heard a President mention infrastructure in his inaugural address? • Los Angeles: A required two-thirds “We will build new roads and highways and super majority of voters approved a one-half bridges and airports and tunnels and railways cent sales tax solely dedicated to transporta- all across our wonderful nation,” is President tion for major public transit expansions, such Trump’s declared approach. If it works out with as the Purple Line, sidewalk improvements, Congress, this emphasis can make a real differ- systems maintenance, security, etc. Projections ence in the rail industry. are $860M in annual spending. Public-private partnerships (P3s) focused on • San Francisco: Voters approved $3.5B repairing and revitalizing, technology innova- in bonds to rebuild the aging Bay Area Rapid tions and public safety are expected areas of Transit (BART) system, a passenger rail authority. investment by the Trump Administration. While the White House and Congress have only out- • Atlanta: Voters approved a 0.4 cent sales lined broad plans for an infrastructure spending tax increase dedicated to MARTA, passenger rail bill, there is little doubt that passenger rail will and other transportation projects, which is esti- benefit if these plans are adopted. mated to raise $300M in five years. President Trump has also said: “What • Franklin County, Ohio: Voters reapproved truly matters is not which party controls our a 10-year one-quarter cent sales and use tax

SPEEDLINES | March 2017 WASHINGTON NOTES 38 to expand and improve Central OH Transportation renaissance. Authority’s (COTA) bus service, which is expected to raise $63M in funding per year. For example, my company, Hitachi, uses com- puter vision and advanced analytic technologies to President Trump’s transition team has compiled provide intrusion detection, object and facial recog- a nationwide “working list” of 50 urban develop- nition and improvements to CCTV, along with signal- ment projects totaling $137.5B. Of these, 12 are rail ing and communications controls systems. The trans- projects, including the Gateway Program, to recon- portation safety culture will be uncompromised and struct the Northeast Corridor; the Texas Central strengthened by the application of these types of Railway High Speed Rail project; and Washington innovative technological advancements. DC Union Station’s Expansion and Rehab, which centers on fortifying its rail infrastructure. The list What about Amtrak? The success of the Northeast also includes research and development funding Corridor proves that rail services between mega cities for the National Research Lab for Infrastructure to are in high demand. However, the route is experienc- collaborate with the private sector on development ing capacity issues that threaten its burgeoning rider- of new technologies for the future. ship, and customers are demanding more and better amenities. Europe and Asia have vastly improved transpor- tation operations efficiencies in both performance Coming from New York City, President Trump and costs by leveraging solutions around big data, understands the importance of the NEC, and so it analytics and the internet of things (IoT). It is imper- is unlikely to be forgotten in his Administration. In ative that the United States begins to also incorpo- a March 2016 speech, Trump said, “You go to China, rate these technologies in order to compete. they have trains that go 300 miles an hour. We have trains that go ‘chug, chug, chug’ and then they have Innovating and partnering are the two major to stop because the tracks split, right?” factors that can offer unlimited ways to deliver a successful project. Although P3s aren’t the only In the President’s push to improve infrastructure, solution to improve infrastructure, the model can he may well benefit from being in the enviable posi- make a difference: In recent years, projects such tion of his party holding a majority stake in both the as All Aboard Florida, Denver Eagle P3, and the House and Senate, which means he can likely fast- Texas High Speed Rail from Houston to Dallas, have track an infrastructure bill that the majority agrees on. paved the way for the P3 model to be more broadly Whether Congress will approve the spending levels adopted. Although each of these projects had a dif- the Administration seeks is a thorny question. ferent funding and delivery model, they are prime examples of how P3s can be successfully structured. The first 100 days can be quickly eaten up. There are discussions that an infrastructure spending bill As I wrote in USA Today, another P3 model may be attached to tax reform legislation in the first can be embraced in operations and maintenance. 200 days. It’s just an idea. Commuter rails are finding much success in safety, cost savings and increased performance by out- In the end, President Trump and his Administration’s sourcing maintenance and/or operations to private impact on infrastructure and passenger rail services companies. Rail properties should consider the won’t be measured in 100 days, or even 200 days. We cost/benefit analysis and potential safety enhance- can likely expect rapid movement toward some of ments of a Transportation-as-a-Service model. the changes outlined above, but the real impact of change may not be determined until the end of the Secretary Chao said in her Senate hearings, “The Trump presidency in four to eight years. U.S. Department of Transportation has a rare oppor- tunity to shape the transformation of our critical For now, though, new opportunity and optimism infrastructure…First and foremost, safety will con- are the future for rail. tinue to be the primary objective.” Safety will remain the overlying foundation of this transportation

SPEEDLINES | March 2017