Vermont State Rail Plan 2015 Prepared for: Vermont Agency of Transportation October 2015 Prepared by: Parsons Brinckerhoff Cambridge Systematics Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. Vermont State Rail Plan – 2015 Table of Contents ES.1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... I ES.1.1.Vermont Rail Network ................................................................................................................................ I ES.1.2.Usage of the Vermont Rail Network ......................................................................................................... IV ES.1.3.Vision, Goals, and Objectives .................................................................................................................... VI ES.1.4.Passenger Rail Issues, Needs and Initiatives.............................................................................................. VI ES.1.4.1. Performance and Cost of Current Service .......................................................................................... VI ES.1.4.2. Proposed New Services .................................................................................................................... VII ES.1.4.3. Long-Term Goal: FRA Track Class 4 on All Passenger Rail Routes ...................................................... VIII ES.1.4.4. Vermont Passenger Rail Priorities .................................................................................................... VIII ES.1.5.Freight Rail Issues, Needs and Initiatives ................................................................................................... X ES.1.5.1. State of Good Repair/Capacity of Rail Lines ........................................................................................ X ES.1.5.2. Rail Yards, Interchanges, Industrial Access ........................................................................................ XII ES.1.5.3. Vertical Clearances ........................................................................................................................... XII ES.1.6.Safety Issues and Needs ......................................................................................................................... XIII ES.1.7.Rail Service and Investment Program ..................................................................................................... XIII Chapter 1: The Role of Rail in Statewide Transportation ................................................................. 1 1.1 Multimodal Transportation System Goals .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Rail Transportation’s Role within the State’s Transportation System ......................................................... 2 1.3 Institutional Governance Structure of State’s Rail Programs ...................................................................... 5 1.4 State’s Authority ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Freight and Passenger Rail Services, Initiatives and Plans - Summary ......................................................... 6 1.5.1 Northern New England Intercity Passenger Rail Study (ongoing)......................................................... 6 1.5.2 New York-Vermont Bi-State Intercity Passenger Rail Study (2014) ...................................................... 6 1.5.3 Vermont Freight Plan (2013) .............................................................................................................. 6 1.5.4 Knowledge Corridor – Restore the Vermonter Springfield to East Northfield, Massachusetts (2010)... 7 1.5.5 Northeast CanAm Connections: Integrating the Economy and Transportation (2009) ......................... 7 1.5.6 Vermont Western Corridor Transportation Management Plan (2010)................................................. 7 1.5.7 Knowledge Corridor Passenger Rail Feasibility Study (2009) ............................................................... 7 1.5.8 Vermont Long Range Transportation Business Plan (2009) ................................................................. 8 1.5.9 Middlebury Rail Spur Final Environmental Impact Statement (2008) .................................................. 8 1.5.10 Boston to Montreal High-Speed Rail Planning and Feasibility Study (2003) ......................................... 8 1.6 Accomplishments since the Last Plan ........................................................................................................ 8 1.6.1 Rehabilitation of the New England Central Railroad............................................................................ 9 1.6.2 Western Corridor Improvements ........................................................................................................ 9 1.6.3 Tropical Storm Irene Recovery .......................................................................................................... 10 1.6.4 New England Central Railroad Clearance/Bellows Falls Tunnel ......................................................... 10 1.6.5 Accomplishment of Performance Targets Set out by the 2006 Plan .................................................. 11 Chapter 2: The State’s Rail System ................................................................................................. 13 2.1 The State’s Existing Rail System: Description and Inventory ..................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Existing Freight, Passenger and Commuter Trains ............................................................................. 13 I Vermont State Rail Plan – 2015 2.1.2 Multimodal Connections .................................................................................................................. 24 2.1.3 Intercity Passenger Service Performance Evaluation ......................................................................... 28 2.1.4 Public Financing of Rail ..................................................................................................................... 32 2.1.3 Safety and Security Programs ........................................................................................................... 39 2.1.6 Economic and Environmental Impacts .............................................................................................. 43 2.2 The State’s Existing Rail System: Trends and Forecasts ............................................................................ 50 2.2.1 Demographic and Economic Growth Factors .................................................................................... 50 2.2.2 Vermont’s Freight Demand and Growth by Type of Service .............................................................. 59 2.2.3 Vermont’s Passenger Demand and Growth ...................................................................................... 73 2.2.5 Rail Congestion Trends ..................................................................................................................... 86 2.2.6 Highway and Airport Congestion Trends ........................................................................................... 86 2.2.7 Land Use Trends ............................................................................................................................... 91 2.3 Review of State Rail Plans from Neighboring States ................................................................................. 95 Chapter 3: Passenger Rail Issues, Needs and Potential Improvements/Investments..................... 97 3.1 Performance and Cost of Current Service ................................................................................................ 97 3.2 Proposed New Services ........................................................................................................................... 98 3.2.1 Extension of the Ethan Allen Express to Burlington ........................................................................... 98 3.2.2 Vermonter Montreal Extension ...................................................................................................... 100 3.2.3 New Service from Albany to Burlington via North Bennington and Rutland .................................... 102 3.2.4 Extension of Ethan Allen Express to Essex Junction ......................................................................... 104 3.2.5 Summary of Ridership Impacts of New Services .............................................................................. 104 3.3 Long-Term Initiative to Upgrade to FRA Track Class 4 Standards ............................................................ 105 3.4 Continuously Welded Rail and Gated Crossings on All Passenger Rail Routes ......................................... 107 3.5 Station Considerations .......................................................................................................................... 109 3.6 Equipment Considerations .................................................................................................................... 110 3.6.1 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) ......................................................................................................... 110 3.6.2 Next-Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee ................................................................... 112 Chapter 4: Freight Rail Needs and Potential Improvements/Investments