APPENDIX A ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS REPORT This page intentionally left blank Final Alternatives Analysis Report Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study from schizoform October 30, 2012 PhotoCreative under used Commons Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Study Area ................................................................................................................. 1-2 1.2 Purpose of and Need for the Study ............................................................................ 1-1 1.2.1 Study Background ....................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.2 Purpose ....................................................................................................... 1-3 1.2.3 Need ............................................................................................................ 1-4 1.3 Alternatives Analysis Review Process ....................................................................... 1-8 CHAPTER 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED SERVICE ........................................................... 2-1 2.1 Speed and Travel Time .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 Stations ...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Frequency .................................................................................................................. 2-2 2.4 Infrastructure .............................................................................................................. 2-2 2.5 Phased Implementation ............................................................................................. 2-3 CHAPTER 3 RANGE OF ROUTE ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................... 3-1 3.1 No-Build Alternative ................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Previously Established Routes ................................................................................... 3-1 3.3 Potential Combinations of Routes .............................................................................. 3-3 3.4 Summary .................................................................................................................... 3-3 CHAPTER 4 SCREENING METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Screening Criteria ...................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................... 4-2 4.1.2 Technical Feasibility .................................................................................... 4-2 4.1.3 Economic Feasibility .................................................................................... 4-2 4.1.4 Environmental Concerns ............................................................................. 4-2 4.2 Screening Process ..................................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.1 Step 1 – Coarse-Level Screening ................................................................ 4-3 4.2.2 Step 2 – Fine-Level Screening .................................................................... 4-6 CHAPTER 5 COARSE-LEVEL SCREENING ...................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Route Alternative 1 .................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1.1 Purpose and Need: Travel Demand ............................................................ 5-1 5.1.2 Purpose and Need: Competitive and Attractive Travel Modes .................... 5-1 5.1.3 Technical Feasibility .................................................................................... 5-1 5.1.4 Economic Feasibility .................................................................................... 5-2 5.1.5 Environmental Concerns: Major Challenges ................................................ 5-2 5.1.6 Environmental Concerns: Sensitive Areas ................................................... 5-2 Final Alternatives Analysis Report i October 2012 Table of Contents Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study 5.1.7 Environmental Concerns: Right-of-Way ....................................................... 5-2 5.2 Route Alternative 2 .................................................................................................... 5-2 5.2.1 Purpose and Need: Travel Demand ............................................................ 5-3 5.2.2 Purpose and Need: Competitive and Attractive Travel Modes .................... 5-3 5.2.3 Technical Feasibility .................................................................................... 5-3 5.2.4 Economic Feasibility .................................................................................... 5-4 5.2.5 Environmental Concerns: Major Challenges ................................................ 5-4 5.2.6 Environmental Concerns: Sensitive Areas ................................................... 5-4 5.2.7 Environmental Concerns: Right-of-Way ....................................................... 5-4 5.3 Route Alternative 3 .................................................................................................... 5-4 5.3.1 Purpose and Need: Travel Demand ............................................................ 5-5 5.3.2 Purpose and Need: Competitive and Attractive Travel Modes .................... 5-5 5.3.3 Technical Feasibility .................................................................................... 5-5 5.3.4 Economic Feasibility .................................................................................... 5-5 5.3.5 Environmental Concerns: Major Challenges ................................................ 5-5 5.3.6 Environmental Concerns: Sensitive Areas ................................................... 5-6 5.3.7 Environmental Concerns: Right-of-Way ....................................................... 5-6 5.4 Route Alternative 4 .................................................................................................... 5-6 5.4.1 Purpose and Need: Travel Demand ............................................................ 5-7 5.4.2 Purpose and Need: Competitive and Attractive Travel Modes .................... 5-7 5.4.3 Technical Feasibility .................................................................................... 5-7 5.4.4 Economic Feasibility .................................................................................... 5-8 5.4.5 Environmental Concerns: Major Challenges ................................................ 5-8 5.4.6 Environmental Concerns: Sensitive Areas ................................................... 5-8 5.4.7 Environmental Concerns: Right-of-Way ....................................................... 5-9 5.5 Route Alternative 5 .................................................................................................... 5-9 5.5.1 Purpose and Need: Travel Demand ............................................................ 5-9 5.5.2 Purpose and Need: Competitive and Attractive Travel Modes .................... 5-9 5.5.3 Technical Feasibility .................................................................................. 5-10 5.5.4 Economic Feasibility .................................................................................. 5-10 5.5.5 Environmental Concerns: Major Challenges .............................................. 5-10 5.5.6 Environmental Concerns: Sensitive Areas ................................................. 5-10 5.5.7 Environmental Concerns: Right-of-Way ..................................................... 5-11 5.6 Route Alternative 4-A ............................................................................................... 5-11 5.6.1 Purpose and Need: Travel Demand .......................................................... 5-11 5.6.2 Purpose and Need: Competitive and Attractive Travel Modes .................. 5-11 5.6.3 Technical Feasibility .................................................................................. 5-11 5.6.4 Economic Feasibility .................................................................................. 5-12 October 2012 ii Final Alternatives Analysis Report Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study Table of Contents 5.6.5 Environmental Concerns: Major Challenges .............................................. 5-12 5.6.6 Environmental Concerns: Sensitive Areas ................................................. 5-12 5.6.7 Environmental Concerns: Right-of-Way ..................................................... 5-12 5.7 No-Build Alternative ................................................................................................. 5-13 5.7.1 Purpose and Need: Travel Demand .......................................................... 5-13 5.7.2 Purpose and Need: Competitive and Attractive Travel Modes .................. 5-13 5.7.3 Technical Feasibility .................................................................................