New Hampshire Capitol Corridor Rail & Transit Alternatives Analysis (Parts A & B) Task 9: Service Development Plan – November 2014 Table of Contents 1 Project Purpose and Need Summary .................................................................................................... 1 2 Task Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 1 3 SDP Report Organization....................................................................................................................... 2 4 Rationale, Goals, and Objectives .......................................................................................................... 3 4.1 Public Concern/Project Need ........................................................................................................ 3 4.1.1 Study Corridor Dynamics ...................................................................................................... 4 4.1.2 Project History and Planning Context................................................................................... 4 4.1.3 Population and Employment ................................................................................................ 6 4.1.4 Existing and Future Land Use ............................................................................................... 8 4.1.5 Economic Development and Land Use ................................................................................. 9 4.1.6 Project Need Summary ....................................................................................................... 12 4.2 Defining the Transportation Problem ......................................................................................... 14 4.2.1 Transportation Facilities and Services – Travel Demand and Capacity .............................. 14 4.2.2 Travel Patterns and Market Analysis .................................................................................. 16 4.3 Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................................... 18 5 Existing Corridor Conditions ............................................................................................................... 19 5.1 Railway Facilities and Services .................................................................................................... 19 5.1.1 Track Configuration ............................................................................................................ 22 5.1.2 Ownership .......................................................................................................................... 22 5.1.3 Railway Signal System and Traffic Regulation .................................................................... 22 5.1.4 Track Conditions and Potential for Upgrades .................................................................... 23 5.1.5 Track Class and Maximum Speeds ..................................................................................... 24 5.1.6 Current Track Class and Speeds.......................................................................................... 25 5.1.7 Track Conditions ................................................................................................................. 26 5.1.8 Railway Bridges ................................................................................................................... 27 5.1.9 Highway Grade Crossings ................................................................................................... 27 5.1.10 Current Rail Passenger Services ......................................................................................... 28 5.1.11 Rail Freight Service ............................................................................................................. 31 5.2 Highway Facilities and Level of Service ....................................................................................... 34 5.2.1 Highway Geometrics .......................................................................................................... 34 State Project Numbers 16317 and 68067-A i | P a g e New Hampshire Capitol Corridor Rail & Transit Alternatives Analysis (Parts A & B) Task 9: Service Development Plan – November 2014 5.2.2 Breakdown Lanes and Managed Lanes .............................................................................. 35 5.2.3 Highway Level of Service .................................................................................................... 36 5.2.4 Peak Travel Speeds ............................................................................................................. 39 5.2.5 Travel Time Contours ......................................................................................................... 42 5.2.6 Highway Conditions Summary............................................................................................ 44 5.3 Corridor Bus Services .................................................................................................................. 45 5.3.1 Boston Express (BX) ............................................................................................................ 46 5.3.2 Concord Coach .................................................................................................................... 48 5.3.3 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) ....................................................... 49 5.3.4 Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) ..................................................... 49 5.3.5 Greyhound .......................................................................................................................... 49 5.3.6 Dartmouth Coach ............................................................................................................... 49 5.3.7 Manchester Transit Authority (MTA) ................................................................................. 49 5.3.8 Nashua Transit System (NTS).............................................................................................. 49 5.3.9 Concord Area Transit (CAT) ................................................................................................ 50 5.3.10 Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) ........................................................................... 50 6 Service Alternatives ............................................................................................................................ 50 6.1 Preliminary Intercity Rail Service Options ................................................................................... 51 6.1.1 Intercity 8 ........................................................................................................................... 53 6.1.2 Intercity 12 ......................................................................................................................... 53 6.1.3 Intercity 18 ......................................................................................................................... 54 6.2 Preliminary Commuter Rail Options ........................................................................................... 55 6.2.1 Concord Regional Rail Service ............................................................................................ 57 6.2.2 Concord Commuter Rail Service ......................................................................................... 57 6.2.3 Manchester Regional Commuter Rail Service .................................................................... 58 6.2.4 Manchester Commuter Rail Service ................................................................................... 58 6.2.5 Nashua Commuter Rail Service .......................................................................................... 58 6.2.6 Nashua Minimum Commuter Rail Service .......................................................................... 59 6.3 Preliminary Bus Service Options ................................................................................................. 60 6.3.1 Base Service (Existing Bus Service) ..................................................................................... 60 6.3.2 Expanded Base ................................................................................................................... 61 State Project Numbers 16317 and 68067-A ii | P a g e New Hampshire Capitol Corridor Rail & Transit Alternatives Analysis (Parts A & B) Task 9: Service Development Plan – November 2014 6.3.3 Bus on Shoulder .................................................................................................................. 62 6.3.4 Expanded Bus on Shoulder ................................................................................................. 66 6.4 Multi-Modal Options................................................................................................................... 67 6.5 Screening Preliminary Alternatives ............................................................................................. 67 6.6 Screening Intermediate Alternatives .......................................................................................... 69 6.6.1 Intercity 8 ........................................................................................................................... 70 6.6.2 Manchester Regional Commuter Rail ................................................................................