Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Planning Freight Traffic Study May 2017 This page left intentionally blank. Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Planning FREIGHT TRAFFIC STUDY Prepared for: Prepared by: With support by: Cover Photos courtesy of Judy Patrick Photography. This page left intentionally blank. Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I Executive Summary ..............................................................................................................................................................................I Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................I Background and Issues ...................................................................................................................................................................... II Approach ............................................................................................................................................................................................... II Improvement Options .......................................................................................................................................................................III Freight Dock ........................................................................................................................................................................................III Seward Loading Facility ...................................................................................................................................................................IV Permit Area Inside Freight Dock Fence .......................................................................................................................................IV Permit Area Outside Freight Dock Fence ....................................................................................................................................V New Laydown Area .............................................................................................................................................................................V Freight Building ...................................................................................................................................................................................V Railyard ..................................................................................................................................................................................................V Real Estate Enhancements with a Freight Focus .......................................................................................................................V Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................................................................VI 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Seward Marine Terminal Expansion Planning Project Structure ............................................................................. 1 1.2 Project Vision ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Background Information .................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.1 Project Funding ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3.2 Alaska Railroad Corporation .................................................................................................................................. 3 1.3.3 Seward Marine Terminal .......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Study Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................................4 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS 5 2.1 Alaska Railroad Network .................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Freight Services ..........................................................................................................................................................5 2.1.2 Seward Freight Facilities .........................................................................................................................................6 2.1.3 Freight Dock ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1.4 Seward Loading Facility ........................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1.5 Permit Area Inside Freight Dock Fence ...............................................................................................................9 2.1.6 Permit Area Outside Freight Dock Fence .........................................................................................................10 2.1.7 New Laydown Area ...................................................................................................................................................12 2.1.8 Freight Building .........................................................................................................................................................13 2.1.9 Railyard ....................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Freight Traffic Study 3. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT 15 3.1 Visioning Process ...........................................................................................................................................................15 3.2 Stakeholder Outreach ................................................................................................................................................15 3.2.1 Internal and External Stakeholder Meetings ...........................................................................................13 3.2.2 Anchorage Transportation Fair ..................................................................................................................16 3.2.3 Additional Stakeholder Outreach Efforts ................................................................................................16 3.3 Key Issues .......................................................................................................................................................................17 3.4 Ongoing Community Engagement .........................................................................................................................21 3.4.1 Internal Stakeholder Workshops .................................................................................................................21 3.4.2 External Stakeholder Follow-Up Presentations .....................................................................................21 3.4.3 Seward Public Meeting No. 1 .......................................................................................................................21 3.4.4 Agencies and Other Governmental Outreach ......................................................................................21 3.4.5 Additional Outreach ..................................................................................................................................21 4. MARKET ANALYSIS 23 4.1 Port of Seward ....................................................................................................................................................................23 4.1.1 Location and Setting ...............................................................................................................................................23 4.1.2 Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................................23 4.1.3 Transportation ..........................................................................................................................................................24 4.1.4 Freight Operations ..................................................................................................................................................24 4.1.5 Origin and Destination of Freight .......................................................................................................................24 4.1.6 Freight Businesses ...................................................................................................................................................26 4.1.7 Seasonality of Business Activity ...........................................................................................................................27 4.2 Comparison of Other Southcentral Port Facilities ...................................................................................................27 4.2.1 Port of Whittier .........................................................................................................................................................27