The Providence Foundation Rhode Island Intrastate Commuter Rail: Feasibility Study Rhode Island Intrastate Commuter Rail: Feasibility Study Final Report June 9, 2009 Prepared For: The Providence Foundation Prepared By: SPONSORED BY: Jacobs Engineering Group The Providence City of Federal Highway Rhode Island Foundation Woonsocket Administration Statewide Planning Boston, MA With: Oak Square Resources Brighton, MA The Providence Foundation Intrastate Commuter Rail Study REPORT NAME: Rhode Island Intrastate Commuter Rail: Feasibility Study PREPARED FOR: The Providence Foundation PREPARED BY: Jacobs Engineering Group Oak Square Resources DATE: June 9, 2009 3 The Providence Foundation Intrastate Commuter Rail Study INTRASTATE COMMUTER RAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY: PROJECT OVERVIEW Under the auspices of a Rhode Island Statewide Planning Challenge Grant, the Providence Foundation worked with the City of Woonsocket, other affected communities, RIDOT, RIPTA, RIAC and Jacobs Engineering to explore the potential for an attractive intrastate passenger rail service operating between Woonsocket and TF Green Woonsocket Airport in Warwick. The study Mansfield found that intrastate commuter rail would serve two-thirds of Cumberland Attleboro Rhode Island’s population and S. Attleboro To Boston most major employment Pawtucket centers by operating on two Providence active lines: Amtrak’s Olneyville Northeast Corridor (NEC) and the Providence and Worcester’s Cranston (P&W) mainline. Directly Warwick served communities would include Warwick, Cranston, Proposed Intrastate Service Providence, Pawtucket, 34 Trains per Day MBTA Service Cumberland and Woonsocket. 32 Trains per Day for Providence Wickford 16 Trains per Day for Wickford Four travel markets would be Amtrak Service served: Providence, Boston, Up to 50 Trains per Day Station Stop Air Travelers, and Airport Kingston Served by Intrastate and MBTA Employees. Served by Intrastate, MBTA, and Amtrak To New York The intrastate service would City leverage and strengthen the state’s substantial infrastructure investment constructed for the MBTA South County I project opening in 2010. The South County I initiative will extend Providence commuter rail service south with 16 daily trains between Boston and Warwick/Wickford. The intrastate service would dramatically increase rail travel opportunities at the airport. Most intrastate infrastructure upgrades would be required along the P&W mainline between Pawtucket and Woonsocket. Necessary upgrades along the NEC are minimal, and are primarily associated with station development. With the high population density in the study corridor, the close proximity of multiple travel markets, and relatively short forecast trip lengths, the intrastate service is forecast to attract substantial ridership with modest capital investments. For planning purposes it is assumed that P&W could operate the intrastate service under contract to RIDOT or RIPTA. The forecast performance of the Rhode Island intrastate service compares very favorably with other projects receiving federal funds through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) New Starts process. The forecast operating costs and ridership are attractive compared with the eight smallest commuter railroads currently operating in the United States. 5 Intrastate Commuter Rail Study The Providence Foundation Rhode Island Intrastate Peer Service Group Metric (Option 2) Average Estimated Capital Cost ($ millions) $149 $896 Annual Operating Cost ($ millions) $6.7 $24.9 Forecast Daily Ridership 6,000 17,760 Capital Cost per Weekday Passenger Boarding (000s) $25 $46 Operating Cost per Passenger Trip $3.96 $13.16 Forecast Passenger Revenue per Passenger Trip $2.45 $3.62 Farebox Recovery Ratio (Fares/Operating Cost) 62% 29% Required Annual Operating Support ($ millions) $2.6 $16.73 Operating Subsidy per Passenger Trip $1.51 $9.54 The relatively low forecast operating cost (and its associated metrics) for the Rhode Island intrastate service reflects the relatively modest extent of the proposed network, small vehicle fleet, sharing infrastructure with other carriers and operators, and serving multiple travel markets with a single service. Together, these factors make the proposed service a potentially very attractive fixed guideway transit investment. The next steps for implementation of this project include: x Integrating the service proposal into the state’s transportation development plans including formal inclusion in Rhode Island’s next Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). x Completing the South County I project with associated NEC infrastructure improvements and rail station at TF Green Airport (underway) x Reopening Pawtucket Station for passenger rail service to Boston (in process) x Continuing dialogue with the Providence and Worcester Railroad concerning its potential cooperation and support for operation of passenger rail service along its mainline between Woonsocket and Pawtucket. x Continue planning for the service in the context of the Federal Transit Administration’s multi-step New Starts process including a formal Alternatives Analysis, followed by a formal Environmental Study with Preliminary Engineering, followed by Final Design and Construction. 6 The Providence Foundation Intrastate Commuter Rail Study TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................11 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES...........................................................23 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................23 Background ...........................................................................................................................23 Possible Extension to Warwick ..............................................................................................25 Project Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................27 Other Goals and Objectives....................................................................................................27 CHAPTER 2: EXISTING AND FUTURE CONDITIONS...................................................................29 I. Demographics, Travel Patterns and Demand ................................................................29 Demographics.....................................................................................................................29 Household Income..............................................................................................................30 Travel Patterns and Demand ...............................................................................................31 Commuting Mode............................................................................................................31 Origin and Destination of Commuters..............................................................................31 Forecast Population and Employment..............................................................................34 II. Passenger Rail Service and Ridership...........................................................................35 Trends on MBTA Providence Service.................................................................................35 Forecasts of Future Ridership from Previous Studies ..........................................................35 Current and Future Planned Passenger Services ..................................................................37 Current MBTA Service....................................................................................................37 Future MBTA Service .....................................................................................................39 Current Amtrak Service...................................................................................................40 Current and Future Amtrak Service .................................................................................44 Current and Future P&W Service ....................................................................................45 2030 Mainline and FRIP Schedule...................................................................................47 Northeast Corridor Stringlines: Pawtucket to Wickford Junction ....................................49 Fares...................................................................................................................................52 III. Railroad Infrastructure.................................................................................................53 Providence and Worcester Railroad ................................................................................54 Track Configuration ........................................................................................................56 Signaling and Train Control.............................................................................................56 Interlockings, Turnouts, Sidings, and Freight Yards.........................................................56 Grade Crossings ..............................................................................................................57 Traffic and Operations.....................................................................................................57 Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Segment ...........................................................................57