El Paso Region Freight Rail Study Phase II – Final Report July 2013 Rail Division Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ii Rail Modeling ............................................................................................................................... ii Safety Issues ............................................................................................................................... iii Identified Improvements ............................................................................................................ iv Section 5A: Rail Modeling .......................................................................................................... 5-1 Section 5.1: Rail Traffic Controller ......................................................................................... 5-1 RTC Input Files ...................................................................................................................... 5-2 RTC Dispatching Logic ......................................................................................................... 5-3 Section 5.2: The RTC Base Case ............................................................................................ 5-4 Section 5.3: Updating the Phase I RTC Base Case Model ................................................... 5-4 Updated RTC Base Case ...................................................................................................... 5-5 Section 5.4: Applied RTC Methodology .................................................................................. 5-6 Section 5.5: RTC Base Case Model Parameters ................................................................... 5-8 Section 5.6: RTC Base Case Model Results ....................................................................... 5-10 Revised RTC Base Case with Strauss Yard ...................................................................... 5-10 Section 5.7: RTC Growth Models ......................................................................................... 5-12 Planning Case 1 ................................................................................................................ 5-13 Planning Case 2 ................................................................................................................ 5-14 Planning Case 3 ................................................................................................................ 5-15 Planning Case 4 ................................................................................................................ 5-16 Planning Case 5 ................................................................................................................ 5-17 Planning Case 6 ................................................................................................................ 5-18 Section 5.8: RTC Model Findings......................................................................................... 5-19 Section 6 A: Freight Rail and Rail-Roadway Interface Safety Issues ....................................... 6-1 Section 6.1: Safety Data and Statistics .................................................................................. 6-1 Roadway-Rail At-Grade Crossing Accidents ........................................................................ 6-2 Trespasser Incidents ............................................................................................................ 6-4 Train Accidents ..................................................................................................................... 6-5 Hazardous Materials and Truck vs. Rail Freight.............................................................. 6-10 EL PASO FREIGHT RAIL STUDY PHASE II, FINAL REPORT Section 6.2: Emergency Response Operations ................................................................... 6-13 Section 6.3: Safety Improvements ...................................................................................... 6-14 Section 7: Improvements Analysis ............................................................................................. 7-1 Section 7.1: Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) ............................................................................... 7-1 Methodological Framework ................................................................................................. 7-2 Section 7.2: Grade Crossings ................................................................................................. 7-3 Base Case (No Build) and (Build) Alternatives ................................................................... 7-6 Demand Assumptions .......................................................................................................... 7-7 Project Costs and Schedule Assumptions .......................................................................... 7-7 Benefit Categories ................................................................................................................ 7-9 Travel Time Savings due to Grade Separation; Crossing Closure ..................................... 7-9 Reduced Accident Costs due to Grade Separation; Crossing Closure .......................... 7-10 Reduced Vehicle Operating Costs due to Grade Separation; Crossing Closure ........... 7-11 Environmental (Air Quality) Savings due to Grade Separation; Crossing Closure ........ 7-11 Grade Separation BCA Results ......................................................................................... 7-12 Section 7.3: Railroad Infrastructure Improvements .......................................................... 7-15 Base (No-Build) Case and Alternatives (Build) Scenarios .............................................. 7-15 Demand Assumptions ....................................................................................................... 7-16 Project Costs and Schedule .............................................................................................. 7-16 Benefit Categories ............................................................................................................. 7-17 Travel Time Cost Impact due to Vehicle Delay Time ....................................................... 7-18 Freight Rail Operating Cost Impact due to Reduced Train Delay ................................... 7-19 Vehicle Operating Cost due to Vehicle Delay Time ......................................................... 7-19 Accident Cost Impact at Grade Crossings ....................................................................... 7-19 Emission Cost Impact due to Network Improvements.................................................... 7-20 Emission Cost Impact due to Vehicle Delay Time ........................................................... 7-20 Railroad Infrastructure Improvements BCA Results ....................................................... 7-20 Section 8: Descriptions of Improvements ................................................................................. 8-1 Section 8.1: Safety Improvement Descriptions ..................................................................... 8-1 Group 1: Zaragoza Road ...................................................................................................... 8-1 Group 2: Copia Street, San Marcial Street, Estrella Street, Cebada Street, and Grama Street ..................................................................................................................................... 8-2 EL PASO FREIGHT RAIL STUDY PHASE II, FINAL REPORT Group 3: Buford Street ......................................................................................................... 8-4 Group 4: Fabens Street, 3rd Street, and 4th Street ............................................................ 8-4 Group 5: Pendale Road ........................................................................................................ 8-6 Group 6: Montana Avenue and East Yandell Drive ............................................................ 8-6 Group 7: FM 1110 ................................................................................................................ 8-7 Group 8: Chelsea Street and Concepcion Street ............................................................... 8-8 Group 9: Missouri Avenue ................................................................................................... 8-9 Group 10: Country Club Road .............................................................................................. 8-9 Group 11: FM 1505/North Clark Drive ............................................................................ 8-10 Group 12: Piedras Street, Rosewood Street, Maple Street, Birch Street, Cedar Street, and Elm Street ................................................................................................................... 8-11 Group 13: Redd Road and Green Avenue ....................................................................... 8-13 Group 14: FM 1905/Washington Street ......................................................................... 8-14 Group 15: Sunland Park Drive ......................................................................................... 8-14 Group 16: FM 259 ............................................................................................................