Final March 2015 Contents Chapter S. Executive Summary ........................................................................................... S-1 S.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... S-1 S.2 Wyoming’s Rail System ...................................................................................................................... S-1 S.2.1 Freight-Rail System ................................................................................................................ S-1 S.2.2 Passenger-Rail Service ........................................................................................................... S-2 S.3 Rail Impacts ........................................................................................................................................ S-2 S.4 Rail Plan Development Process ......................................................................................................... S-2 S.5 Key Stakeholder Input on Rail Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities .............................................. S-3 S.6 Wyoming’s Rail Vision and Service Objectives .................................................................................. S-4 S.6.1 Freight-Rail Objectives ........................................................................................................... S-4 S.6.2 Passenger-Rail Objectives ...................................................................................................... S-4 S.7 Proposed Capital Investment Programs and Future Studies ............................................................. S-4 S.8 State Rail Plan Recommendations and Next Steps ............................................................................ S-5 S.9 Summary ............................................................................................................................................ S-5 Chapter 1. The Role of Rail in Wyoming’s Statewide Transportation System ...................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Wyoming’s Goals for the Statewide Multimodal Transportation System and the State Rail Plan .................................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.1 Goals for the Multimodal Transportation System ................................................................. 1-2 1.2.2 State Rail Plan Purpose .......................................................................................................... 1-3 1.2.3 Federal Mandate for State Rail Plans .................................................................................... 1-3 1.2.4 Integration with the National Rail Plan ................................................................................. 1-4 1.2.5 State Rail Planning Background ............................................................................................. 1-4 1.2.6 Rail Planning Activity Best Practices ...................................................................................... 1-5 1.2.7 Wyoming State Rail Plan Content .......................................................................................... 1-7 1.2.8 Wyoming’s Involvement in Multi-state Rail Planning ........................................................... 1-7 1.3 Rail Transportation’s Role in the State Transportation System ........................................................ 1-7 1.4 Institutional Structure of Wyoming’s State Rail Program ................................................................. 1-8 1.4.1 Wyoming DOT’s Rail Organization and Roles ........................................................................ 1-9 1.4.2 Wyoming Legislative Rail Authority ....................................................................................... 1-9 1.4.3 Additional Public Sector Rail Planning in Wyoming ............................................................. 1-13 1.5 State Authority for Grant, Loan, and Other Financing .................................................................... 1-15 Wyoming Department of Transportation Final March 2015 i 1.6 Summary of Rail Services and Studies ............................................................................................. 1-16 1.6.1 Freight-Rail Services ............................................................................................................. 1-16 1.6.2 Passenger-Rail Services ........................................................................................................ 1-16 1.6.3 Wyoming Rail Studies Summary .......................................................................................... 1-16 Chapter 2. Wyoming’s Existing Rail System ......................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Summary of Existing Freight-Rail Systems in Wyoming .................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Existing Rail Line Network ...................................................................................................... 2-3 2.1.2 Major Freight and Passenger Terminals .............................................................................. 2-50 2.1.3 Objectives for Passenger Service in Wyoming ..................................................................... 2-52 2.1.4 Wyoming Passenger-Rail Performance Evaluation ............................................................. 2-53 2.1.5 Public Financing for Rail Projects ......................................................................................... 2-53 2.1.6 Safety and Security Programs in Wyoming .......................................................................... 2-63 2.1.7 Rail Transportation Impacts in Wyoming ............................................................................ 2-69 2.2 Wyoming’s Existing Rail System: Trends and Forecasts .................................................................. 2-74 2.2.1 Demographic and Economic Growth Factors ...................................................................... 2-74 2.2.2 Freight Demand and Growth ............................................................................................... 2-85 2.2.3 Passenger Travel Demand and Growth ............................................................................. 2-104 2.2.4 Fuel Cost Trends ................................................................................................................. 2-105 2.2.5 Rail Congestion Trends ...................................................................................................... 2-105 2.2.6 Highway and Airport Congestion Trends ........................................................................... 2-106 2.2.7 Land-Use Trends ................................................................................................................ 2-108 2.3 Wyoming’s Existing Rail System: Rail Service Needs and Opportunities ...................................... 2-109 Chapter 3. Proposed Passenger-Rail Improvements and Investments ................................. 3-1 Chapter 4. Proposed Freight-Rail Improvements and Investments...................................... 4-1 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Wyoming Rail Carrier Needs .............................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2.1 Class I Railroads ...................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.3 Class III Railroads ................................................................................................................................ 4-3 4.3.1 Bighorn Divide & Wyoming Railroad ..................................................................................... 4-4 4.3.2 Swan Ranch Railroad .............................................................................................................. 4-4 4.4 Passenger Railroad Needs .................................................................................................................. 4-5 4.5 Wyoming Rail User and Community Needs ....................................................................................... 4-5 Wyoming Department of Transportation ii Final March 2015 Chapter 5. Wyoming’s Rail Service and Investment Program .............................................. 5-1 5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 State Rail Vision ................................................................................................................................. 5-1 5.2.1 Freight-Rail Objectives ........................................................................................................... 5-2 5.2.2 Passenger-Rail Objectives ...................................................................................................... 5-2 5.3 Integration of the Rail Vision with Other Transportation Plans ........................................................ 5-2 5.4 Proposed Organizational or Policy Changes .....................................................................................