STATE RAIL PLAN: FINAL REPORT 2017 State Rail Plan Table of Contents Contents Chapter 1 The Role of Rail in District Transportation ............................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Federal Authority For States ...................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Institutional Governance Structure of The District’s Rail Programs .......................................... 1-2 1.4 Multimodal Transportation System Goals .................................................................................. 1-3 1.5 Rail Transportation’s Role within The District’s Transportation System ................................... 1-5 1.5.1 Role of Freight Rail ................................................................................................................ 1-5 1.5.2 Role of Commuter Rail .......................................................................................................... 1-6 1.5.3 Role of Intercity Rail ............................................................................................................... 1-6 Chapter 2 Approach to Public and Agency Participation ...................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Stakeholder Roundtables ............................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1.1 Stakeholder Roundtable #1 ................................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.2 Stakeholder Roundtable #2 ................................................................................................... 2-2 2.2 Stakeholder Briefings .................................................................................................................. 2-2 2.3 Website ....................................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.4 Survey .......................................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.5 Public Meetings ........................................................................................................................... 2-9 2.5.1 Public Open House #1 ......................................................................................................... 2-10 2.6 Workshops ................................................................................................................................ 2-10 2.6.1 L'Enfant Station Listening Session ...................................................................................... 2-10 2.6.2 Visioning Workshop ............................................................................................................. 2-10 Chapter 3 The District’s Rail System....................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 History of the District’s Rail System ........................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 19th Century .......................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 McMillan Commission ............................................................................................................ 3-2 3.1.3 Washington as a North-South Railroad Gateway ................................................................. 3-4 3.1.4 Railroad Decline and Crisis .................................................................................................... 3-4 3.1.5 Rebirth of Union Station and Passenger Rail ........................................................................ 3-6 3.1.6 Freight Rail Developments .................................................................................................... 3-8 3.2 The District’s Existing Rail System: Description and Inventory ................................................. 3-9 3.2.1 Existing Freight, Intercity Passenger, and Commuter Rail Service ...................................... 3-9 3.2.2 Profiles of Rail Operators in the District ............................................................................. 3-10 3.2.3 Rail Infrastructure in the District ......................................................................................... 3-25 3.2.4 Usage of the District Rail Network...................................................................................... 3-34 3.2.5 Intercity Passenger Rail Services in the District .................................................................. 3-37 3.2.6 Strategic Rail Corridor Network (STRACNET) .................................................................... 3-42 3.2.7 Multimodal Connections ..................................................................................................... 3-43 District Department of Transportation Page i State Rail Plan Table of Contents 3.2.8 Intercity Passenger Service Performance Evaluation ......................................................... 3-47 3.2.9 Safety and Security Programs ............................................................................................. 3-53 3.2.10 Economic and Environmental Impacts ................................................................................ 3-66 3.3 Review of State Rail Plans from Neighboring States ............................................................... 3-73 3.3.1 Relevant Initiatives from Maryland ...................................................................................... 3-73 3.3.2 Relevant Initiatives from Virginia ......................................................................................... 3-73 3.3.3 Relevant Northeast Corridor Initiatives .............................................................................. 3-74 3.3.4 Relevant Southeast Corridor Initiatives .............................................................................. 3-75 Chapter 4 Passenger Rail Issues, Needs, and Potential Improvements/Investments ........................... 4-1 4.1 Passenger Rail System Trends and Forecasts ............................................................................ 4-1 4.1.1 Demographic and Economic Growth Factors ....................................................................... 4-1 4.1.2 Passenger Demand and Growth ........................................................................................... 4-2 4.2 Issues and Opportunities With The District Passenger Rail Network ....................................... 4-6 4.2.1 Yards ...................................................................................................................................... 4-6 4.2.2 Stations .................................................................................................................................. 4-7 4.3 Other Longer-term Passenger Rail Needs ................................................................................. 4-9 4.3.1 NEC FUTURE ......................................................................................................................... 4-9 4.3.2 Northeast Maglev .................................................................................................................. 4-9 4.3.3 Washington, DC-Richmond High Speed Rail ...................................................................... 4-10 4.4 Potential Infill Passenger Rail Stations...................................................................................... 4-10 Chapter 5 Freight Rail Needs and Potential Improvements/ Investments ........................................... 5-1 5.1 Freight Rail System Trends and Forecasts ................................................................................. 5-1 5.1.1 Overall Trends ....................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1.2 Freight Flow by Commodity ................................................................................................. 5-3 5.1.3 Forecasted Rail Freight Traffic .............................................................................................. 5-3 5.2 Issues and Opportunities With the District Freight Rail Network ............................................. 5-5 5.3 Freight Rail Initiatives .................................................................................................................. 5-5 5.3.1 National Gateway Initiative/Virginia Avenue Tunnel ............................................................ 5-5 5.3.2 Washington, DC Freight Bypass ........................................................................................... 5-6 5.4 Railroad Freight Facilities ........................................................................................................... 5-7 Chapter 6 Rail Service Investment Program ........................................................................................... 6-1 6.1 Vision, Goals, and Objectives ..................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1.1 Vision ...................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1.2 Goals .....................................................................................................................................