Georgia Department of Transportation Tier I Environmental Impact Statement Atlanta-Chattanooga High Speed Ground Transportation (HSGT) Study PTSCO-0023-00-002; PI No: T001684 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT FINAL REPORT Prepared for: Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Environment/Location 3993 Aviation Circle Atlanta, Georgia 30336 Prepared by: Earth Tech, Inc. 1455 Old Alabama Road, Suite 170 Roswell, GA 30076 March 2008 TIER I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ATLANTA-CHATTANOOGA HIGH- SPEED GROUND TRANSPORTATION STUDY Table of Contents ES.1.1 Background.................................................................................................1 ES.1.2 Overview.....................................................................................................1 ES.1.3 Population ..................................................................................................2 ES.1.4 Socioeconomic Factors .............................................................................2 ES.1.5 Travel Demand/Capacity ...........................................................................2 ES.1.5.1 Existing Highway Capacity ..................................................................... 3 ES.1.5.2 Other Modes .......................................................................................... 3 ES.1.6 Visitors........................................................................................................4 ES.1.7 Planned/ Programmed Improvements .....................................................4 ES.1.8 Air Quality...................................................................................................4 ES.1.9 Summary ....................................................................................................5 1.1 Previous Studies ...........................................................................................6 1.2 Background....................................................................................................6 1.2.1 Atlanta to Chattanooga MagLev Deployment Study EA ................................ 7 1.2.1.1 Alignments Studied.................................................................................... 7 1.2.1.2 EA Preferred Alignment ............................................................................. 8 1.2.1.3 Station Locations ....................................................................................... 8 1.2.1.4 Environmental Impacts .............................................................................. 8 1.2.1.5 Project Description Alignment.................................................................... 9 1.2.1.6 Key Findings .............................................................................................. 9 1.2.2 Atlanta to Chattanooga MagLev Deployment Study Phase II EIS................. 9 1.2.2.1 Alignments Studied.................................................................................... 9 1.2.2.2 Preferred Alignment................................................................................. 10 1.2.2.3 Station Locations ..................................................................................... 10 1.2.2.4 The Preferred Technology ....................................................................... 10 1.2.3 Atlanta to Chattanooga MagLev Deployment Study Phase II Addendum ... 13 1.2.4 Atlanta-Macon-Jesup-Jacksonville Intercity Rail Passenger Service Study 13 1.2.4.1 Alternatives Evaluated ............................................................................. 13 1.2.4.2 Recommendations................................................................................... 13 1.2.5 Finding of No Significant Impact and Final EA Macon to Atlanta Commuter Rail and Express Bus ......................................................................................... 14 1.2.6 High Speed Trains Nashville-Chattanooga -Atlanta .................................... 14 1.2.7 Intercity Rail Plan Final Report .................................................................... 15 1.2.8 Intermodal Program for Rail Passenger Service in Georgia........................ 15 i TIER I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ATLANTA-CHATTANOOGA HIGH- SPEED GROUND TRANSPORTATION STUDY 1.2.9 Macon - Charlotte Southeast HSR Corridor Study ...................................... 16 1.2.10 Concept Design Report for the Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal ............ 16 1.2.11 I-75/I-575 Corridor Project Alternatives Analysis/Draft EIS...................... 17 1.2.12 Tennessee Rail System Plan................................................................... 18 1.2.13 Chattanooga, Hamilton County / North Georgia Trans Plan 2030 LRTP . 18 1.2.14 Southern Crescent Transportation Service Center Feasibility Study ....... 19 1.2.15 Southern Regional Accessibility Study..................................................... 19 1.2.16 Envision 6 Needs Assessment Report..................................................... 20 1.2.17 US 411 and Connector EIS........................................................................... 21 2.1 Travel Demand in the Corridor...................................................................22 2.1.1 Current and Projected Traffic Volumes ....................................................... 22 2.1.2 Area Population Growth .............................................................................. 25 2.1.3 Area by Income ........................................................................................... 26 2.1.4 Area by Race............................................................................................... 28 2.1.5 The Visitors Travel Market – Chattanooga .................................................. 30 2.1.6 Tourism and Atlanta .................................................................................... 30 2.1.7 The Transit Market ...................................................................................... 30 2.1.7.1 Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)............................ 30 2.1.7.2 Cobb Community Transit (CCT)................................................................... 30 2.1.7.3 Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA)..................................... 31 2.1.7.4 Clayton County Transit System ( C-Tran ) ................................................... 31 2.1.7.5 City of Rome Transit Department (RTD)...................................................... 31 2.1.7.6 Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) ............. 31 2.1.8 Inter-Urban Bus Service .............................................................................. 31 2.1.9 The Air Travel Market.................................................................................. 31 2.1.10 Commuting Patterns ................................................................................ 32 2.1.11 Accident Data I-75 ................................................................................... 32 3.1 Capacity Supply in the Corridor.................................................................34 3.1.1 Planned and Programmed Improvements................................................... 34 3.2 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ......................................34 3.2.1 Aviation Travel Demand .............................................................................. 34 3.2.2 Airlines......................................................................................................... 34 3.2.3 Passenger Origins and Destinations- .......................................................... 43 3.2.4 Aircraft Operations and Enplanement History ............................................. 43 3.2.5 HJAIA Aircraft Operations Delay Statistics for 2004 -2006.......................... 43 3.3 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Capacity ......................45 3.3.1 Master Plan Summary................................................................................. 45 3.3.2 Current Parking Capacity......................................................................... 45 3.3.3 Planned Roadway Improvements................................................................ 46 3.4 Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Lovell Field.........................................46 ii TIER I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT ATLANTA-CHATTANOOGA HIGH- SPEED GROUND TRANSPORTATION STUDY 3.4.1 Lovell Field Capacity ................................................................................... 46 3.4.2 Origins and Destinations ............................................................................. 46 3.4.3 Passenger Origins and Destinations........................................................ 46 3.4.4 Enplanement History ................................................................................... 48 3.4.5 Delay Statistics ........................................................................................ 48 3.4.6 Existing Parking Capacity............................................................................ 49 3.4.7 Future Expansion Plans........................................................................... 49 3.5 Railroads ......................................................................................................50 3.5.1 Identification of Railroad Segments............................................................. 50 3.5.2 Freight Traffic Considerations ..................................................................... 51 3.5.3 Alignment Considerations...........................................................................