2002 FLORIDA RAIL SYSTEM PLAN Florida Department of Transportation 2002 FLORIDA RAIL SYTEM PLAN Florida Department of Transportation with assistance from Wilbur Smith Associates TABLE OF CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY E-1 CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION Purpose and Authority..................................................................................................... 1-1 Responsibilities ............................................................................................................... 1-2 Program Components..................................................................................................... 1-4 Rail Project Funding ........................................................................................................ 1-4 Public Involvement Process ............................................................................................ 1-6 Document Summary by Chapter ..................................................................................... 1-7 CHAPTER 2 - FREIGHT RAIL/INTERMODAL Rail System Components ............................................................................................... 2-1 Rail Traffic and Flows ..................................................................................................... 2-9 Rail Program Implications ............................................................................................... 2-22 CHAPTER 3 - PASSENGER RAIL/INTERMODAL FDOT Role...................................................................................................................... 3-1 Conventional Intercity Service......................................................................................... 3-1 High Speed Ground Transportation ............................................................................... 3-15 Commuter Rail Services ................................................................................................. 3-23 Intermodal Facilities ........................................................................................................ 3-30 Summary......................................................................................................................... 3-35 CHAPTER 4 - RAIL SAFETY Background ..................................................................................................................... 4-1 Federal and State Crossing Initiatives............................................................................. 4-6 Railroad Safety Inspection Program............................................................................... 4-20 CHAPTER 5 - RAIL-SEAPORT/INTERMODAL Seaport Activity............................................................................................................... 5-1 Seaport Intermodal Planning and Financing Process...................................................... 5-6 Seaport Intermodal Improvements.................................................................................. 5-12 i TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont’d) Page CHAPTER 6 - FUTURE DIRECTIONS Alternatives to Highways................................................................................................. 6-1 MPO Participation........................................................................................................... 6-1 Goals and Objectives ...................................................................................................... 6-2 Rail Office Strategies and Initiatives ............................................................................... 6-5 Rail Program Elements ................................................................................................... 6-7 Action Plan...................................................................................................................... 6-8 APPENDICES Appendix A - Florida Public Transportation Services and Facilities Map – 2002............ A-1 GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................................ G-1 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... R-1 ii EXHIBITS Exhibit Title Page 1-1 State Public Transportation Administrator ............................................. 1-2 Office Organization 1-2 Rail Office Functions .............................................................................. 1-3 2-1 Florida Rail System, 2002...................................................................... 2-2 2-2 Florida Freight Railroads, 2002.............................................................. 2-3 2-3 Florida Rail Freight Traffic, 2001............................................................ 2-10 2-4 Rail Traffic Flows ................................................................................... 2-12 2-5 Nonmetallic Mineral Flows...................................................................... 2-13 2-6 Rail Coal Flows ...................................................................................... 2-14 2-7 Rail Chemical Flows ............................................................................... 2-16 2-8 Rail Traffic Flow by FDOT District ......................................................... 2-17 2-9 Florida Railroad Traffic Density, 2001 ................................................... 2-18 2-10 Florida Rail Freight Traffic History ......................................................... 2-19 3-1 Amtrak National Rail System ................................................................. 3-3 3-2 Florida Amtrak Passenger Routes, 2002 ............................................... 3-7 3-3 Amtrak Florida Ridership........................................................................ 3-9 3-4 Potential Travel Markets for Intercity Passenger Rail Service............... 3-12 3-5 Conventional Service Vision Plan Phases ............................................. 3-14 3-6 High Speed Rail Routes Vision Plan...................................................... 3-20 3-7 High Speed Rail Corridor Designations and Extensions........................ 3-22 3-8 Double Track Corridor Improvement Plan.............................................. 3-24 3-9 Tri-Rail Double Track ............................................................................. 3-26 3-10 Tri-Rail Ridership .................................................................................. 3-27 4-1 Derailment History.................................................................................. 4-3 4-2 Crossing incidents by Protection............................................................ 4-5 4-3 Crossing Incidents by Motorist Action ................................................... 4-6 4-4 Four Quadrant Gate System .................................................................. 4-9 5-1 Florida’s Seaports.................................................................................. 5-2 5-2 Tonnage of Florida Waterborne Trade .................................................. 5-3 5-3 Florida Seaport Container Movements .................................................. 5-4 5-4 Five-Year Seaport Rail Capital Needs ................................................... 5-17 6-1 Rail-Related 2020 FTP Goals and Objectives ....................................... 6-4 iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Florida Rail System Plan is the rail component of the Florida Transportation Plan which, through an annual series of policies, programs and projects, implements the Transportation element of the State Comprehensive Plan. Florida Statutes require this plan to be updated every two years. Planning for and monitoring the state's rail system is somewhat different than the other modes of transportation as the vast majority of the system is owned and operated by the private sector. Only 81 miles of Florida's 2,871-mile rail system are in public ownership. Thirteen line- haul and four terminal railroads own/operate the remaining 97 percent of the system. Therefore, the state has limited input affecting many railroad decisions, but rather works with its rail carriers to resolve common problems and issues of mutual concern. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), however, does have statutorily mandated roles relating to the "proper maintenance, safety, revitalization, and expansion of the rail system to assure its continued and increased availability to respond to statewide mobility needs." Thus, the Department can influence decisions affecting private rail system operations as they may relate to the public interest. Through the FDOT's Rail Office, the state pursues those mandates where authorized by statute. The state also makes investments that indirectly facilitate rail freight business through its various intermodal programs, improving modal connections between Florida's seaports and rail- highway transfer facilities. The FDOT works with the ports on rail access matters as the amount of associated rail business represents significant freight traffic in terms of tonnage and value. As international trade has become a very significant portion of Florida's overall economy, such trends are expected to continue with associated increased demands. Another major state effort is focused in the area of railroad safety. The FDOT participates in a joint federal/state railroad inspection program (track, signals, equipment, hazardous materials, and operating practices) and has seen derailments over the last 18 years reduced from over