Request for Proposals Passenger Rail Study FY 2020 Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Raleigh, North Carolina May 6, 2019 1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) Fayetteville-Raleigh Passenger Rail Study INTRODUCTION The Capital Area Metropolitan Area Planning Organization (CAMPO) is seeking a qualified consulting firm or individual to conduct a rail feasibility study to examine the viability of passenger rail service between the cities of Fayetteville and Raleigh, North Carolina through travel market demand across various trip types; the viability of using one of the two existing freight rail corridors; and general analysis of economic feasibility of providing passenger rail between these cities. Many of the rail corridors in the region have been studied in the last several years to identify a variety of safety and capacity improvements for both freight and passenger rail. As the region continues to grow the need to maximize the use of transportation corridors continues to expand. This study will be conducted, in partnership with the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO), through fiscal year 2020 and will conclude by June 30, 2020. The Notice to Proceed is anticipated to be issued by July 8, 2019. LEAD AND SPONSORING AGENCIES The Capital Area MPO is tasked with providing a regional, comprehensive and cooperative planning process that serves as the basis for the expenditure of all federal transportation funds in the area. Under Section 134 of the Federal Highway Act of 1973, MPOs are required to prepare long range transportation plans for the planning area with a minimum of a 20-year planning horizon. The City of Raleigh, North Carolina serves as host of the Lead Planning Agency for the Capital Area MPO. The MPO is required to complete the transportation planning process in a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive manner for the region. The current Capital Area MPO planning area boundary encompasses 1,579.51 square miles and a population of 1,064,756. The funding partners for this project are the Capital Area MPO and the Fayetteville Area MPO. Representatives from these partner agencies, along with NCDOT Rail and Planning Branch Divisions, Cumberland County, Wake County, Harnett County, Johnston County, Mid-Carolina RPO and Upper Coastal RPO, will form the Technical Steering Committee that will help guide the study. 2 PROPOSAL AND PROJECT TIMELINE ACTION DATE Advertise for Proposals May 6, 2019 Deadline for Questions May 15, 2019 Questions may be submitted in writing (no phone calls) no later than 12:00 p.m. on May 15, 2019 to [email protected] or faxed to (919) 996-4390. Questions and responses will be posted on www.campo-nc.us. Proposals Due May 24, 2019 Deliver by 11:00 a.m. EST to: Crystal Odum c/o CAMPO One City Plaza 421 Fayetteville Street, Suite 203 Raleigh, NC 27601 Proposal Opening May 24, 2019 CAMPO Conference Room B, 11:30 a.m. Candidate Interviews, if necessary June 3-7, 2019 Preferred Candidate Selection June 10, 2019 Contract Negotiation and Approval June 10 – July 5, 2019 Anticipated Notice to Proceed July 8, 2019 Project Completion June 30, 2020 3 PROJECT BACKGROUND The N.C. Department of Transportation's Comprehensive State Rail Plan, developed every five years in compliance with the U.S. Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, helps identify needs and guides investments in North Carolina's freight and passenger rail network for the next 25 years. The State Rail Plan is a component of the state’s long-standing rail planning practice, which includes among other goals expanding mass transit options including rail and expanding access to passenger rail options in all regions of the state to accommodate the changing demographics, address congestion issues and meet regional transportation needs. Completed in August of 2015, the plan establishes the public vision for North Carolina's rail system, supports the state's rail goals and policies and provides several recommendations for freight, rail passenger, safety and funding, including but not limited to, planning for future expansions of rail service to western and southeastern North Carolina. In the FAMPO region, several policies were written to better enhance and support regional transportation connections between Fayetteville and other parts of the State and region including commuter rail passenger service between Cumberland County and other metropolitan areas within the State. Agencies continue to evaluate the feasibility of expanding service in accordance with the 2001 federally adopted Southeastern North Carolina Passenger Rail Regional Plan. Building on the plan, preliminary FAMPO studies indicate that there is potential for future passenger rail service that includes the Fayetteville area. This study would examine the railroad corridors between Raleigh and Fayetteville for the viability of future passenger rail service use as well as to identify potential safety and freight improvements. PROJECT PURPOSE & NEED North Carolina continues to experience substantial population growth and urbanization. The State population increased by 49 percent over the last 23 years, from 6.6 million people in 1990 to 9.8 million people in 2013 and is expected to grow an additional 22 percent to 12 million people in 2033. All regions of North Carolina have grown in population over the same time, with the most dramatic growth in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) and Charlotte. Counties home to North Carolina’s other urban centers have experienced moderate growth and include Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Wilmington, and Jacksonville. The purpose of this study is to determine the potential market for passenger rail service between the cities of Fayetteville and Raleigh, North Carolina. If the market exists, the study will determine which of the two existing rail corridors would be the best option for providing that service. The study is envisioned to be conducted in two phases. Phase I will be this high-level study of the two main rail corridors between the FAMPO and CAMPO regions to determine which corridor may be most appropriate for a passenger rail application based on corridor infrastructure, ridership potential, and market demand analysis. 4 It is expected data analysis will determine the type of passenger rail – intercity or commuter rail service -- that may be most appropriate for the corridors. A Phase II study may be commissioned at a later date to focus on developing specific recommendations for improvements to each rail corridor as potentially identified for passenger rail service in this Phase I study. As noted in the State Rail Plan, rail service needs exist across North Carolina for freight, commuter and intercity passenger rail service. NC DOT’s rail objectives are to continue to improve the on-time performance of the existing intercity passenger rail services in North Carolina, reduce travel times and frequencies, improve the financial and customer service performance of the state-supported services, extend services to new markets, and implement the Federally- Designated Southeast Corridor program. A 2014 NC DOT survey of planning organizations on future service supports the Rail Study findings that the existing urban areas are the key generators for current passenger rail traffic. Survey responders also indicated strong support for extending passenger rail service to Western and Eastern North Carolina. Others recommended additional stops along existing routes in growing communities and support for commuter rail connecting to existing Amtrak stops. Train stations presently exist in Fayetteville, Raleigh and Selma, North Carolina within the study area. PROJECT OBJECTIVE The project’s overall objective is to conduct a study that identifies and examines the critical issues and needs necessary to determine whether passenger rail (commuter or intercity service) is feasible between Fayetteville and Raleigh, North Carolina on either of the existing two rail line corridors between the cities. If passenger rail between the two cities is determined to be feasible, decide which existing rail corridor would be best to establish passenger rail based on travel demand, transportation infrastructure, and market analysis. Provide the necessary overview and analysis of the variables used to make that determination, and a timeline for any recommended passenger rail implementation. This analysis will provide the groundwork for a potential Phase II that would outline the operational considerations, infrastructure needs, and costs of implementing passenger rail service on the two corridors. The specific objectives of the study are to: • Provide introductory, general overview of passenger rail service and rail service in North Carolina and the region and an overview of existing conditions in the Study Area including how rail transit service can improve people’s access to jobs, schools, recreation, goods/services, and other activities. • Determine any existing or anticipated issues affecting the ability to establish passenger rail service on either of the two corridors in the study. Provide a deficiency analysis and a high-level peer review. Based on data review and analysis, determine opportunities for intercity versus commuter passenger rail service. • Develop and evaluate travel demand for commuter and intercity passenger rail on the two corridors. Define and analyze alternatives to potentially serve the travel markets. 5 Evaluation should