Attachment C Evaluation of Yard Sites Evaluation of Candidate Yard Sites The ARC DEIS 2025 operating plan identified the need for midday storage for up to 28 trainsets. This midday storage requirement was confirmed during the development of the SDEIS 2030 operating plan. An evaluation of yard sites was conducted during the DEIS. This evaluation considered the ARC project midday storage needs (28 trainsets) as well as future expansion needs, beyond the ARC project, for a total of up to 40-45 trainsets. A description of the sites considered, evaluation criteria, and the results of that evaluation are summarized in the following excerpt from the ARC DEIS Engineering Report, Version 3.0, October 2006. The DEIS evaluated 10 alternatives sites. The Koppers Coke Site in Kearny, New Jersey and Penhorn sites were recommended for further consideration. Penhorn was eliminated because it did not provide sufficient capacity. The following table summarizes the other sites considered and the reasons for their elimination. Site Reason for Elimination 1 - Kingsland Wye Distance from PSNY and site configuration 2 - Rodgers Blvd. Distance from PSNY; track connections to NEC; availability of property; and potential roadway impacts 3 - Penhorn Site constraints and size limitations; impacts to PSE&G properties 4 - Hoboken Yard Limited space available beyond other NJ TRANSIT current and planned uses 6 - NEC West of Portal Bridge Split yard configuration is operationally inefficient; within footprint of proposed new Portal Bridge; encroachment on commercial development 7 - Waverly Yard Distance from PSNY; potential conflicts with Newark Airport Station on NEC; potential conflicts with pending commercial development 8 - Adams Maintenance-of-Way Significant distance from PSNY Base Area 9 - North Bergen Yard Access via existing, busy Conrail freight line; no available capacity on yard site; inefficient track geometry for access 10 - Secaucus Malanka Landfill Site constraints; impacts to PSE&G 1 Evaluation of Candidate Yard Sites Excerpt from ARC DEIS Engineering Report, Version 3.0, October 2006 A. YARD OPTIONS The ARC DEIS initial assumption, based upon the MIS analyses was that a midday train storage yard should be constructed west of the Hudson River to accommodate 28 or more train sets. The New Jersey yard location would allow A.M. peak trains arriving in New York to “deadhead” back to the new yard to lay-over midday, then dead-head back to PSNY for the P.M. peak operation. These movements could possibly be revenue runs as shuttles between Secaucus and PSNY. Several potential New Jersey yard locations were identified as part of this study and the previous MIS study efforts. The 10 potential sites are shown in Table 1. The table highlights the following characteristics: location and site description, distance by rail to PSNY, deadheading route, potential number of 12-car storage tracks available, and a summary of the overall advantages and disadvantages. Review of the site characteristics resulted in the recommendation of two sites for further evaluation: • Site #3 - Penhorn • Site #5 – Koppers Coke The Penhorn site, located adjacent to the proposed Boonton Line Connector, would provide space for approximately 10-14 train sets, depending on how impacts to PSE&G facilities are mitigated. The Koppers Coke site is much larger and would provide space for approximately 28 train sets, with future expansion to store 40 to 45 train sets. However, it is further from PSNY, and is identified as an industrial redevelopment site. Since the Koppers Coke site would be able to accommodate the midday storage needs, it is the only site included in the DEIS. However, development of a yard at the Penhorn site is not precluded by the design. The Koppers Coke property is adjacent to two other properties, Diamond Shamrock and Standard Chlorine, which are included in the proposed yard design. The existing West End Wye connection from NJ TRANSIT’s Main Line and Morris & Essex (M&E) Lines would be reconfigured to support higher speed operations. This would support non-revenue movements to and from the Kearny Yard with minimal impacts to existing M&E operations. Originally, a single-track replacement of the existing Wye Track was proposed but with the number of non-revenue trains in and out of the Kearny Yard, a double-track Wye connection was developed. The proposed West End Wye reconfiguration would also support operation of revenue trains to and from New York via the M&E Lines and West End Interlocking as additional capacity with the existing 2-track Portal Bridge, and under disrupted conditions along the NEC to enhance overall system reliability. 1 Access to the Region’s Core SDEIS TABLE 1: ARC DEIS POTENTIAL NEW JERSEY STORAGE YARD SITES Potential Distance by Storage Location and Rail from Capacity for Recommended Site PSNY Deadheading 12-car for Further Site# Name Description (miles) Route Trains Advantages Disadvantages Study 1 Kingsland Harrison, 8.4 NEC to M&E 10 to 12 Direct access from Long distance from No Wye between I-280 & M&E for A.M. PSNY; adds crew time & M&E Line; just peak westbound train miles. P.M. peak west of storage moves. eastbound from Yard to Kingsland Wye PSNY is opposing westbound peak Midtown Direct flow. To mitigate, need a flyover. Requires speed reduction on NEC westbound to clear main track. Site shape confines yard flexibility. 2 Rodgers Harrison, 9.2 NEC to M&E 20 +/- Direct access to Long distance from No Blvd. between NEC M&E for P.M. PSNY; adds crew time & and M&E, just peak eastbound train miles. A.M. peak west of M&E- moves to PSNY westbound from PSNY to NEC/PATH Yard is opposing split eastbound A.M. peak Midtown Direct flow. To mitigate, needs Flyover. Site is occupied by commercial buildings, streets, PATH Station parking. Potentially impacted by I-280 Interchange Improvements - Alts. 5 or 6 (6/9/04 NJ DOT memo). 2 Evaluation of Candidate Yard Site TABLE 1: ARC DEIS POTENTIAL NEW JERSEY STORAGE YARD SITES (CONTINUED) Potential Distance by Storage Location and Rail from Capacity for Recommended Site PSNY Deadheading 12-car for Further Site# Name Description (miles) Route Trains Advantages Disadvantages Study 3 Penhorn Secaucus, a.k.a. 6.4 NEC to 10 to 14 Closer proximity Requires acquisition of Yes Laurel Hill Boonton Line (Depending to PSNY. PSE&G property. Site Southeast of Connector on Minimal impact constrained by space, NEC, along negotiations on high speed PSE&G facility access Boonton Line with PSE&G) NEC operations. roadways, and ramps to & and including Provides direct from new NJ Turnpike property now access to Secaucus Interchange owned by Hoboken. ramps. Wetlands PSE&G Adjacent to remediation needed. Boonton Line Narrow NJ TRANSIT Connector ROW along north side of construction. track, which passes south under NJ TRANSIT Main Line tracks. Wetlands remediation required. 4 Hoboken Hoboken, within 9.2 NEC to N/A Site owned by NJ Future planned Main- No Yard existing yard Boonton Line TRANSIT. No Bergen Line service limits Connector to new construction increases may preclude Main Line to required. use by ARC related M&E Line services. 3 Access to the Region’s Core SDEIS TABLE 1: ARC DEIS POTENTIAL NEW JERSEY STORAGE YARD SITES (CONTINUED) Potential Distance by Storage Location and Rail from Capacity for Recommended Site PSNY Deadheading 12-car for Further Site# Name Description (miles) Route Trains Advantages Disadvantages Study 5 Kearny Kearny, a.k.a. 7.8 NEC to 30+/- Large mostly Longer distance from Yes Conrail P & H Boonton Line vacant site. Can PSNY; adds crew time & Branch. NW of Connector to accommodate train miles. Hudson Hackensack M&E total train set County may oppose. River/M&E requirements. Brownfield redevelopment Lower Hack being led by HCIA. Bridge. Includes Diamond Shamrock and Standard Chlorine sites. 6 NEC west of N & S of NEC 6.1 Direct access 20, 10 on Direct access to Within footprint of new No Portal Bridge off of NEC each side NEC. Portal Bridge. Wetlands remediation. Stub ended configuration required. Encroaches on commercial development on south side. Split yard configuration is operationally inefficient. 4 Evaluation of Candidate Yard Site TABLE 1: ARC DEIS POTENTIAL NEW JERSEY STORAGE YARD SITES (CONTINUED) Potential Distance by Storage Location and Rail from Capacity for Recommended Site PSNY Deadheading 12-car for Further Site# Name Description (miles) Route Trains Advantages Disadvantages Study 7 Waverly Site of former 10+ Direct access 30 to 40 Direct access to Further from PSNY, No Yard Conrail Yard, off of NEC NEC. Site already requiring either reverse South of Haynes developed for Rail peak direction deadhead Avenue, north & on south side operation thru Newark or south sides of from Newark. Potential NEC conflicts with new Airport/NEC Monorail Station. Crossover moves required, or Flyovers. Possible commercial development pending. 8 Adams North 35+ Direct access 30+/- Direct access to Furthest from PSNY. Not No Maintenance Brunswick off of NEC NEC. Vacant practical for midday of Way Base land, south side of storage to support P.M. Area NEC peak 9 N. Bergen N. Bergen, north Unknown New 0 Close to PSNY. Access via existing busy No Yard of NEC, (connection connection Large site Conrail freight line. Yard accessible from not from NEC to footprint in appears to be fully Conrail designed) Northern existing rail subscribed. Would Northern Branch Branch (not freight facility require sharp curvature proposed) alignment between HR Tunnels and N. Branch, which is not in program 5 Access to the Region’s Core SDEIS TABLE 1: ARC DEIS POTENTIAL NEW JERSEY STORAGE YARD SITES (CONTINUED) Potential Distance by Storage Location and Rail from Capacity for Recommended Site PSNY Deadheading 12-car for Further Site# Name Description (miles) Route Trains Advantages Disadvantages Study 10 Secaucus Along NEC 5 Direct access Some, but Would provide Odd shaped parcel.