Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Planning Transportation Connectivity Study June 2017 This page left intentionally blank. Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Planning TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIVITY STUDY Prepared for: Prepared by: With support by: Left and Right Cover Photos: Judy Patrick Photography, 2012. Center Cover Photo: lukedavisphotography.smugmug.com, 2017. This page left intentionally blank. Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................I Background and Issues ...................................................................................................................................................................... II Approach ..............................................................................................................................................................................................III Improvement Options .......................................................................................................................................................................III Freight Connectivity ...........................................................................................................................................................III Passenger Connectivity .....................................................................................................................................................III Railroad Operations Supporting Connections ............................................................................................................IV Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................................................................IV 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Planning Project Structure ............................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Vision ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Background Information .................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Project Funding ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.2 Alaska Railroad Corporation .................................................................................................................................. 3 1.3.3 Alaska Railroad Network ........................................................................................................................................ .3 1.3.4 Seward Marine Terminal .......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Study Objectives .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS 7 2.1 What is Connectivity? ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Connectivity Study Area .................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Study Area Land Use .......................................................................................................................................................8 2.3 Nodes.... ................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.3.1 Passenger Notes ...............................................................................................................................................................9 2.3.2 Freight Notes ...................................................................................................................................................................15 2.4 Links..............................................................................................................................................................................................21 2.4.1 Passenger Links ...............................................................................................................................................................21 2.4.2 Freight Links ..................................................................................................................................................................30 3. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT 37 3.1 Visioning Process ..........................................................................................................................................................37 3.2 Stakeholder Outreach ...............................................................................................................................................37 3.2.1 Internal and External Stakeholder Meetings ..........................................................................................37 3.2.2 Anchorage Transportation Fair .................................................................................................................38 3.2.3 Additional Stakeholder Outreach Efforts ...............................................................................................38 Transportation Connectivity Study 3.3 Key Issues ......................................................................................................................................................................39 3.4 Ongoing Community Engagement ....................................................................................................................... 43 3.4.1 Internal Stakeholder Workshops ............................................................................................................... 43 3.4.2 External Stakeholder Follow-Up Presentations ................................................................................... 43 3.4.3 Seward Public Meeting No. 1 ..................................................................................................................... 43 3.4.4 Agencies and Other Governmental Outreach ....................................................................................44 3.4.5 Additional Outreach ................................................................................................................................ 44 4. WHAT ARE THE ISSUES? 45 4.1 Depot..... ............................................................................................................................................................................... 46 4.2 Terminal ............................................................................................................................................................................... 46 4.3 Permit/Laydown Area and Railyard ............................................................................................................................. 46 4.4 Port Avenue ......................................................................................................................................................................... 46 5. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 47 5.1 Project Identification ..................................................................................................................................................................47 5.2 Preliminary Project Screening ................................................................................................................................................47 5.3 Project Evaluation Workshop ................................................................................................................................................ 48 5.4 Project Selection Workshop and Economic Analysis of Real Estate Stimulus Projects......................................... 48 5.5 Project Refinement ................................................................................................................................................................... 49 5.6 Cornerstone Review Workshop ............................................................................................................................................. 49 5.7 Terminal and Dock Option Presentation ............................................................................................................................ 49 6. TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS 51 6.1 Freight Connectivity Improvement Options ................................................................................................................51 6.1.1 Option C-FC1: Extend Port Avenue to Connect With Airport Road ...........................................................51 6.1.2 Option C-FC2: Freight Area Access Control .................................................................................................. 54 6.1.3 Option C-FC3: Freight Corridor ..........................................................................................................................55