Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Planning Passenger Traffic Study April 2017 This page left intentionally blank. Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Planning PASSENGER TRAFFIC STUDY Prepared for: Prepared by: With support by: Center and left cover photos courtesy of Judy Patrick Photography, 2012. Right cover photo courtesy of DOWL, 2016. This page left intentionally blank. Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................I Background and Issues ...................................................................................................................................................................... II Approach ..............................................................................................................................................................................................III Improvement Options .......................................................................................................................................................................III Seward Depot .......................................................................................................................................................................III Dale R. Lindsey Alaska Railroad Intermodal Terminal ..............................................................................................IV Passenger Dock ....................................................................................................................................................................V Traffic Staging .......................................................................................................................................................................V Passenger Dock Tracks .......................................................................................................................................................V Port Avenue ............................................................................................................................................................................V Real Estate Enhancement with a Passenger Focus ...................................................................................................VI Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................................................................VI 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 ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.3.3 Seward Marine Terminal ............................................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Study Objectives ............................................................................................................................................................4 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS 5 2.1 Alaska Railroad Network .............................................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1 Scheduled Passenger Services .......................................................................................................................5 2.1.2 Cruise Train Services .................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Seward Passenger Facilities ....................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1 Seward Depot ....................................................................................................................................................8 2.2.2 Dale R. Lindsey Alaska Railroad Intermodal Terminal ..........................................................................9 2.2.3 Passenger Dock ..............................................................................................................................................10 2.2.4 Traffic Staging Area Outside Terminal ......................................................................................................11 2.2.5 Passenger Dock Tracks .................................................................................................................................12 2.2.6 Small Boat Harbor Land ...............................................................................................................................13 2.2.7 Port Avenue ......................................................................................................................................................13 April 2017 | Passenger Traffic Study 3. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT 15 3.1 Visioning Process ...........................................................................................................................................................15 3.2 Stakeholder Outreach ................................................................................................................................................15 3.2.1 Internal and External Stakeholder Meetings ...........................................................................................15 3.2.2 Anchorage Transportation Fair ..................................................................................................................16 3.2.3 Additional Stakeholder Outreach Efforts ................................................................................................16 3.3 Key Issues .......................................................................................................................................................................17 3.4 Ongoing Community Engagement .......................................................................................................................20 3.4.1 Internal Stakeholder Workshops ...............................................................................................................20 3.4.2 External Stakeholder Follow-Up Presentations .....................................................................................21 3.4.3 Seward Public Meeting No. 1 .......................................................................................................................21 3.4.4 Agencies and Other Governmental Outreach ......................................................................................21 3.4.5 Additional Outreach ..................................................................................................................................21 4. MARKET ANALYSIS 23 4.1 What is the Seward Marine Terminal’s Market? ..................................................................................................23 4.1.1 Train Operations ..............................................................................................................................................23 4.1.2 Cruise Ship Operations .................................................................................................................................24 4.1.3 Alaska Marine Highway System ..............................................................................................................26 4.2 What Does the Railroad Want to do for Passengers in Seward? ..................................................................26 4.2.1 Train Passengers .............................................................................................................................................26 4.2.2 Cruise Ship Passengers ............................................................................................................................26 4.3 Global Market for Cruise Industry .........................................................................................................................27 4.3.1 Background ......................................................................................................................................................27 4.3.2 Passenger Characteristics and Demographics ....................................................................................27 4.4 Alaska Market ..............................................................................................................................................................28 4.4.1 Inside Passage Cruises .................................................................................................................................28 4.4.2 Cruises Crossing the Gulf of Alaska ........................................................................................................28