Northeast Ohio Commuter Rail Feasibility Study Phase II Chapter 3: Commuter Rail Routes and Operating Plans 3.1 Commuter Rail Service Assumptions 3.2 Rail Network Characteristics 3.3 Description of Each Route 3.4 Access to Downtown Cleveland 3.5 Access to Downtown Akron PARSONS Final Report BRINCKERHOFF December 2001 Northeast Ohio Commuter Rail Feasibility Study Phase II CHAPTER 3: TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.1 COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE ASSUMPTIONS................................................................................ 3 3.1.1 LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS ................................................................................................... 3 Level of Service (LOS) 1– Minimum service with no reverse-peak .......................................................... 3 Level of Service (LOS) 2– Basic service with limited reverse-peak.......................................................... 4 Level of Service (LOS) 3 – Basic service with full reverse-peak............................................................... 4 3.1.2 TRAINSET REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................ 5 3.2 RAIL NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS............................................................................................ 6 3.2.1 RIGHT OF WAY OWNERSHIP.......................................................................................................... 6 3.2.2 RAIL FREIGHT TRAFFIC ................................................................................................................. 8 3.2.2 ROUTE SEGMENT CLASSIFICATION ............................................................................................. 14 3.2.3 NETWORK CONSTRAINTS ............................................................................................................ 15 3.3 DESCRIPTION OF EACH ROUTE.................................................................................................... 19 3.3.1 ROUTE 1 – LAKE WEST CORRIDOR, CLEVELAND – LORAIN ..................................................... 19 Physical and Operational Characteristics of the Line............................................................................19 Capacity Opportunities and Constraints................................................................................................. 22 Major Capital Projects ........................................................................................................................... 23 Station Locations..................................................................................................................................... 24 3.3.2 ROUTE 2 – WEST CORRIDOR, CLEVELAND – ELYRIA – AMHERST............................................ 26 Physical and Operational Characteristics of the Line............................................................................26 Assumed Configuration in Hopkins Airport Vicinity .............................................................................. 28 Capacity Opportunities and Constraints................................................................................................. 30 Major Capital Projects ........................................................................................................................... 30 Station Locations..................................................................................................................................... 31 3.3.3 ROUTE 3 – SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR, CLEVELAND – MEDINA.................................................... 32 Physical and Operational Characteristics of the Line............................................................................32 Capacity Opportunities and Constraints................................................................................................. 35 Major Capital Projects ........................................................................................................................... 35 Station Locations..................................................................................................................................... 35 3.3.4 ROUTE 4 – SOUTH CORRIDOR, CANTON – AKRON – CLEVELAND VIA HUDSON....................... 36 Physical and Operational Characteristics of the Line............................................................................36 Capacity Opportunities and Constraints................................................................................................. 39 Major Capital Projects ........................................................................................................................... 40 Station Locations..................................................................................................................................... 40 3.3.5 ROUTE 5 – SOUTH CORRIDOR, CANTON – AKRON – CLEVELAND VIA KENT............................ 42 Physical and Operational Characteristics of the Line............................................................................42 Capacity Opportunities and Constraints................................................................................................. 45 Major Capital Projects ........................................................................................................................... 46 Station Locations..................................................................................................................................... 46 3.3.6 ROUTE 6 – EAST CORRIDOR, CLEVELAND – SOLON – AURORA – MANTUA.............................. 47 Physical and Operational Characteristics of the Line............................................................................47 Capacity Opportunities and Constraints................................................................................................. 49 Major Capital Projects ........................................................................................................................... 49 PARSONS Final Report BRINCKERHOFF December 2001 Northeast Ohio Commuter Rail Feasibility Study Phase II Page 3.2 Station Locations..................................................................................................................................... 50 3.3.7 ROUTE 7 – LAKE EAST CORRIDOR, CLEVELAND – PAINESVILLE – ASHTABULA – CONNEAUT 51 Physical and Operational Characteristics of the Line............................................................................51 Capacity Opportunities and Constraints................................................................................................. 53 Major Capital Projects ........................................................................................................................... 54 Station Locations..................................................................................................................................... 54 3.4 ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND....................................................................................... 55 3.4.1 INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION HUB ........................................................................................ 55 3.4.2 CLEVELAND STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY ............................................................... 56 3.4.3 ERIE-NICKEL PLATE CONNECTION ............................................................................................. 58 Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 58 Elements of construction:........................................................................................................................ 58 Railroad grades: ..................................................................................................................................... 60 Operations: ............................................................................................................................................. 60 Advantages:............................................................................................................................................. 60 Disadvantages......................................................................................................................................... 60 Assumptions to Guide Future Planning .................................................................................................. 60 3.4.4 CUYAHOGA RIVER CROSSING AT CLEVELAND LAKEFRONT ............................................................ 61 Capacity Expansion Options and Opportunities..................................................................................... 61 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................................................. 62 Potential Markets for Transportation Capacity Across the River .......................................................... 62 Crossing Capacity Requirements............................................................................................................ 63 Technology.............................................................................................................................................. 64 Configuration.......................................................................................................................................... 65 Potential Future Track Configuration 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