Louisiana State Rail Plan Prepared for: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Prepared by: University of New Orleans Transportation Institute August 25, 2020 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 LOUISIANA’S RAIL SYSTEM ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Freight Rail System ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Passenger Rail Service ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Rail Impacts ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 RAIL PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 LOUISIANA’S RAIL VISION AND SERVICE OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................... 2 Freight Rail Objectives ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Passenger Rail Objectives ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 PROPOSED CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMS AND FUTURE STUDIES .................................................................................................. 3 STATE RAIL PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS AND NEXT STEPS ...................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 1. .................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 The State’s Goals for the Statewide Multimodal Transportation System ....................................................................... 6 1.2 Rail Transportation’s Role with the State’s Transportation System................................................................................. 6 1.3 Institutional Structure of Louisiana’s State Rail Program ..................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Office of Multimodal Commerce ................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.2 Railroad Safety Unit ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 1.3.3 District Offices ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.3.4 Additional Public Sector Rail Planning in Louisiana ........................................................................................................... 8 1.3.5 Local Government Agencies with Rail Interests ................................................................................................................. 10 1.4 State Authority for Grant, Loan and Other Financing ............................................................................................................ 11 1.4.1 Louisiana Public Rail Funding Programs ............................................................................................................................... 12 1.4.1.1 LaDOTD Port Construction and Development Priority Program ......................................................................... 12 1.4.1.2 DED Rapid Response Program ............................................................................................................................................ 13 1.4.1.3 State Budget Appropriations ............................................................................................................................................... 13 1.4.2 Louisiana Rail Program ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 1.5 Summary of Freight and Passenger Rail Services .................................................................................................................... 13 1.5.1 Freight Services .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 1.5.2 Passenger Services ............................................................................................................................................................................ 14 LOUISIANA’S EXISTING RAIL SYSTEM .................................................................................................. 15 2.1 Louisiana’s Existing Rail System ................................................................................................................................................................ 15 2.1.1 Class I Railroads.................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 2.1.1.1 Local, Switching and Terminal Railroads ...................................................................................................................... 22 New Orleans Public Belt Railroad .......................................................................................................................................................... 26 2.1.1.2 Intercity Passenger Rail Network ...................................................................................................................................... 28 2.1.1.3 Proposed Services ..................................................................................................................................................................... 37 2.1.1.4 Abandonments and Rail-Banked Lines ........................................................................................................................... 37 2.1.2 Major Freight and Passenger Terminals ................................................................................................................................. 38 2.1.2.1 Freight Terminals ...................................................................................................................................................................... 38 2.1.2.2 Connectivity with Seaports and Airports ....................................................................................................................... 40 2.1.2.3 Major Passenger Facilities ..................................................................................................................................................... 40 2.1.3 Objectives for Passenger Service in Louisiana..................................................................................................................... 43 2.1.3.1 Enhance Existing Services ..................................................................................................................................................... 44 2.1.3.2 Freight Railroad Participation ............................................................................................................................................. 45 2.1.3.3 Continuing Outreach ................................................................................................................................................................ 45 2.1.3.4 Funding Strategies .................................................................................................................................................................... 46 2.1.3.5 Multimodal Integration and Transit Oriented Development ............................................................................... 46 2.1.3.6 Projected Ridership .................................................................................................................................................................. 47 2.1.4 Performance Evaluation of Louisiana Amtrak Services .................................................................................................. 48 2.1.4.1 Ridership ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 2.1.4.2 Financial Performance 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