RockyȱMountainȱRailȱAuthorityȱ DRAFT FINAL HighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudyȱ ExistingȱConditionsȱReportȱ Table of Contents Table of Contents........................................................................................................................... 1 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 1 2 Market Analysis.......................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Demographics and Settlement Pattern of Colorado.................................................................... 8 2.3 Intercity Passenger Markets ...................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Preliminary Intercity Travel Market..........................................................................................26 2.5 Conclusion......................................................................................................................................... 27 3 Technology Options ................................................................................................................28 3.1 Speed Options ........................................................................................................................... 28 3.2 Regulatory Requirements .......................................................................................................... 31 3.3 Rail Tractive Effort Capabilities................................................................................................ 33 3.4 Maglev Capabilities................................................................................................................... 37 3.5 Train Performance Acceleration and Curving........................................................................... 38 3.6 Conclusion................................................................................................................................. 43 4 Existing Conditions along theCorridor..................................................................................43 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 43 4.2 Denver to Trinidad .................................................................................................................... 45 4.3 Denver to Cheyenne .................................................................................................................. 80 4.4 I-70 Corridor: Denver Internation Airport to Grand Junction ................................................. 108 Appendices Appendix A - Detailed Rail Technology Data....................................................................................... A-1 Appendix B - Transrapid System Parameters........................................................................................ B-1 Appendix C - Calculation of Train Balancing Speed on Grade............................................................. C-1 Appendix D - Review of Ongoing Studies ............................................................................................ D-1 TEMS,ȱInc.ȱ/ȱQuandelȱConsultants,ȱLLCȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱOctoberȱ2008ȱ ii RockyȱMountainȱRailȱAuthorityȱ DRAFT FINAL HighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudyȱ ExistingȱConditionsȱReportȱ 1 Introduction Theȱ purposeȱ ofȱ thisȱ reportȱ isȱ toȱ provideȱ aȱ descriptionȱ ofȱ theȱ existingȱ conditionsȱ fromȱ aȱ market,ȱ technology,ȱandȱengineeringȱperspectiveȱforȱtheȱIȬ25,ȱIȬ70ȱandȱsecondaryȱcorridorsȱbeingȱassessedȱasȱpartȱ ofȱtheȱRockyȱMountainȱRailȱAuthorityȱHighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudy.ȱExhibitȱ1Ȭ1ȱdefinesȱtheȱprimaryȱ andȱ secondaryȱ corridors.ȱ Theȱ reportȱ assemblesȱ theȱ basicȱ dataȱ andȱ informationȱ beingȱ gatheredȱ forȱ theȱ study,ȱ andȱ providesȱ theȱ initialȱ inputȱ andȱ buildingȱ blockȱ forȱ theȱ Interactiveȱ Analysisȱ andȱ evaluationȱ assessmentsȱthatȱwillȱbeȱusedȱtoȱidentifyȱtheȱmostȱeffectiveȱroutes,ȱtechnology,ȱoperatingȱapproaches,ȱandȱ marketsȱforȱaȱhighȱspeedȱtrainȱoperation.ȱȱ Exhibitȱ1Ȭ1:ȱRMRAȱHighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudyȱCorridorsȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ TEMS,ȱInc.ȱ/ȱQuandelȱConsultants,ȱLLCȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱOctoberȱ2008ȱ 1 RockyȱMountainȱRailȱAuthorityȱȱ DRAFT FINAL HighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudyȱ ExistingȱConditionsȱReportȱ 2 Market Analysis ȱ 2.1ȱIntroductionȱȱ TheȱstateȱofȱColoradoȱrepresentsȱtheȱboundaryȱbetweenȱtwoȱofȱtheȱmostȱsignificantȱgeographicȱregionsȱofȱ theȱU.S.ȱItsȱeasternȱsideȱreflectsȱtheȱwesternȱedgeȱofȱtheȱ“greatȱplains”ȱwithȱitsȱ“seasȱofȱgrasslands,”ȱandȱ itsȱ strongȱ agriculturalȱ traditionȱ forȱ raisingȱ cattleȱ andȱ growingȱ wheat,ȱ alfalfaȱ andȱ “cash”ȱ crops.ȱ Theȱ westernȱsideȱreflectsȱtheȱeasternȱedgeȱofȱtheȱRockyȱMountainsȱorȱtheȱeasternȱmostȱfringeȱofȱtheȱ“Westernȱ Cordilleras”.ȱȱ ȱ Inȱtheȱopeningȱupȱofȱtheȱcountryȱ(state),ȱtheȱRockiesȱhadȱbeenȱaȱregionȱtoȱavoidȱwithȱwestwardȱboundȱ wagonȱtrainsȱheadingȱnorthȱorȱsouthȱonȱtheȱOregonȱandȱSantaȱFeȱtrailsȱratherȱthanȱtryingȱtoȱpenetrateȱtheȱ veryȱhighȱmountainȱrangesȱthatȱsuddenlyȱconfrontedȱtheȱwestȱboundȱwagonȱtrains.ȱSeeȱExhibitsȱ2Ȭ1ȱandȱ 2Ȭ2.ȱȱ ȱ Exhibitȱ2Ȭ1:ȱOldȱOregonȱTrailȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Oregontrail_1907.jpg TEMS,ȱInc.ȱ/ȱQuandelȱConsultants,ȱLLCȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱOctoberȱ2008ȱȱ2 RockyȱMountainȱRailȱAuthorityȱ DRAFT FINAL HighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudyȱ ExistingȱConditionsȱReportȱ ȱ Exhibitȱ2Ȭ2:ȱSantaȱFeȱTrailȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Source: http://www.santafetrailresearch.com/mileagecharts/santa-fe-trail-map-00.jpgȱ ȱ TEMS,ȱInc.ȱ/ȱQuandelȱConsultants,ȱLLCȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱOctoberȱ2008ȱ 3 RockyȱMountainȱRailȱAuthorityȱ DRAFT FINAL HighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudyȱ ExistingȱConditionsȱReportȱ Evenȱwithȱtheȱadventȱofȱtheȱrailroads,ȱtheȱRockiesȱremainedȱaȱbarrierȱgivenȱtheȱsteepnessȱofȱtheȱgradientsȱ andȱtheȱnarrownessȱandȱcurvesȱofȱtheȱcanyonsȱthatȱhaveȱtoȱbeȱfollowed.ȱTheseȱsameȱproblemsȱfaceȱevenȱ theȱ modernȱ highway,ȱ andȱ theȱ ongoingȱ IȬ70ȱ PEISȱ studyȱ isȱ stillȱ confrontingȱ theseȱ issues.ȱ Itȱ isȱ onlyȱ onȱ reachingȱGlenwoodȱSpringsȱbeyondȱtheȱGlenwoodȱCanyonȱthatȱtheȱIȬ70ȱcorridorȱopensȱupȱasȱitȱfallsȱtoȱ underȱ6,000ȱfeetȱandȱfollowsȱtheȱColoradoȱRiverȱwest.ȱSeeȱExhibitȱ2Ȭ3.ȱ ȱ Exhibitȱ2Ȭ3:ȱRockyȱMountainȱProfileȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Source: TEMS, Inc. ȱ Asȱaȱresultȱofȱitsȱdifficultȱterrain,ȱtheȱRockyȱMountainȱregionȱwasȱslowȱtoȱdevelop.ȱAfterȱanȱinitialȱperiodȱ asȱ aȱ furȱ andȱ huntingȱ area,ȱ itȱ wasȱ goldȱ findsȱ thatȱ finallyȱ attractedȱ peopleȱ toȱ thisȱ mountainousȱ region.ȱ Eventually,ȱtheȱregionȱbecameȱfamousȱforȱgold,ȱsilver,ȱcopper,ȱandȱrareȱoresȱlikeȱzincȱandȱmolybdenum.ȱ Asȱaȱconsequence,ȱDenverȱandȱtheȱFrontȱRangeȱcitiesȱbecameȱaȱstagingȱcenterȱforȱminingȱactivitiesȱinȱtheȱ RockiesȱasȱnarrowȱgaugeȱrailroadsȱandȱtrailsȱwereȱbuiltȱintoȱtheȱRockies,ȱandȱasȱanȱagriculturalȱcenterȱforȱ theȱeasternȱagriculturalȱareas.ȱDenverȱbecameȱaȱtransportation,ȱwholesalingȱandȱadministrativeȱcenter.ȱByȱ 1950ȱsevenȱrailroadsȱconvergedȱonȱtheȱcityȱfromȱChicago,ȱSt.ȱLouis,ȱKansas,ȱMemphis,ȱandȱFortȱWorthȱinȱ theȱ east,ȱ andȱ fromȱ Losȱ Angelesȱ andȱ Seattleȱ onȱ theȱ Pacificȱ Coast.ȱ Seeȱ Exhibitȱ 2Ȭ4.ȱ Theseȱ railroadsȱ eventuallyȱmergedȱintoȱtheȱUPȱandȱBNSFȱrailroadsȱthatȱserveȱtheȱcityȱtoday.ȱDenverȱalsoȱbecameȱaȱmajorȱ transcontinentalȱtruckingȱcenterȱactingȱasȱaȱsubdistributionȱcenterȱforȱKansasȱCityȱandȱChicago.ȱȱ ȱ TEMS,ȱInc.ȱ/ȱQuandelȱConsultants,ȱLLCȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱOctoberȱ2008ȱ 4 RockyȱMountainȱRailȱAuthorityȱ DRAFT FINAL HighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudyȱ ExistingȱConditionsȱReportȱ ȱ Exhibitȱ2Ȭ4:ȱCityȱofȱDenver’sȱConnectivityȱtoȱMarketsȱandȱPortsȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Source: TEMS, Inc.ȱ TEMS,ȱInc.ȱ/ȱQuandelȱConsultants,ȱLLCȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱOctoberȱ2008ȱ 5 RockyȱMountainȱRailȱAuthorityȱ DRAFT FINAL HighȱSpeedȱRailȱFeasibilityȱStudyȱ ExistingȱConditionsȱReportȱ Finally,ȱsinceȱtheȱ1960’sȱtheȱmountainsȱthatȱhadȱprovidedȱsuchȱaȱbarrierȱtoȱtheȱwesternȱpartȱofȱtheȱstateȱ beganȱ toȱ developȱ asȱ aȱ significantȱ economicȱ engineȱ withȱ theȱ adventȱ ofȱ theȱ touristȱ industry.ȱ Whileȱ Coloradoȱ Springsȱ withȱ theȱ loftyȱ Pikesȱ Peaksȱ (14,000ȱ ft.),ȱ andȱ theȱ Gardenȱ ofȱ Godsȱ hasȱ longȱ beenȱ anȱ importantȱtouristȱcenter,ȱtheȱopeningȱofȱskiȱandȱsummerȱresortsȱinȱtheȱRockiesȱattractedȱaȱnewer,ȱyoungerȱ touristȱanxiousȱtoȱski,ȱmountainȱbike,ȱhike,ȱkayak,ȱfish,ȱandȱenjoyȱtheȱlocalȱenvironment.ȱȱ ȱ Todayȱtheȱtouristsȱareȱdrawnȱfromȱoutȱofȱstateȱasȱwellȱasȱfromȱinȱstate.ȱTouristsȱcomeȱfromȱCalifornia,ȱ Texas,ȱFlorida,ȱandȱNewȱYorkȱasȱwellȱasȱMidwestȱandȱwesternȱstates.ȱOverȱ28ȱmillionȱovernightȱvisitorsȱ andȱ21ȱmillionȱdayȱtrippersȱenjoyȱtheȱstate’sȱamenitiesȱeachȱyear.ȱȱSeeȱExhibitȱ2Ȭ5.ȱȱ ȱ Exhibitȱ2Ȭ5:ȱOvernightȱandȱDayȱTripsȱtoȱColoradoȱinȱ2007ȱ ȱ ȱ Total Colorado Overnight Trips (1-way) = ȱ 28.0 Million ȱ ȱ Overnight Business ȱ 4.0 Million ȱ (16%) Overnight Leisure ȱ 24.0 Million ȱ (84%) ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Total Colorado Day Trips (1-way) = 21.5 Million Denver Metro 6.1 Million (28%) Other Colorado 15.4 Million (70%) Source: Longwoods International Colorado Travel Year 2007 ȱ ȱ ȱ Ofȱtheȱ28ȱmillionȱovernightȱtrips,ȱonlyȱ33ȱpercentȱareȱbyȱColoradoȱresidents,ȱwhereasȱ81ȱpercentȱofȱtheȱ