Rail Freight Yard Requirements Land Assessment for the East of Hudson Area March 2003 NEW YORK METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL This New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) report was compiled, written and photographed by Howard J. Mann, Associate Transportation Analyst. Preparation was funded by the Federal Highway and Federal Transit Administrations of the United States Department of Transportation, and the New York State Department of Transportation. The contents of this report reflect the views of the author who is responsible for the fact and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Federal Highway and Transit administrations or the State of New York. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. NYMTC appreciates the cooperation of all the agencies that have provided information for the Rail Freight Yard Requirements/Land Assessment for the East Of Hudson Area Report. Through their submissions, this report continues to be a useful source of transportation statistical information on the NYMTC region and environs. NEW YORK METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL 45-46 21st Street Long Island City, NY 11101-5407 Telephone: (631) 952-6343 Fax (631) 952-6420 Internet address: www.nymtc.org March 2003 Rail Freight Yard Requirements/Land Assessment • ii CONTENTS I OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................. 1 1. STUDIES POINT TO RAIL FREIGHT SOLUTIONS ....................................................................................... 1 2. DETERIORATION OF THE RAIL SYSTEM .................................................................................................. 1 3. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN CALLS FOR INCREASED YARDS ..................................................... 2 4. OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................................... 2 II DISCUSSION OF CONTRIBUTING STUDIES ................................................................................ 3 1. PILGRIM INTERMODAL FEASIBILITY STUDY........................................................................................... 3 2. CROSS HARBOR FREIGHT MOVEMENT MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY ..................................................... 3 3. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORT OF NEW YORK ......................................... 4 4. PORT DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT PLANNING STUDY................................................................... 4 5. CONTRIBUTING PROJECTS...................................................................................................................... 4 III REGIONAL FREIGHT MARKET ASSESSMENT ......................................................................... 5 1. POTENTIAL CHANGE IN CARLOAD TRAFFIC........................................................................................... 5 2. RAIL FREIGHT FACILITIES....................................................................................................................... 7 3. MARKET ASSESSMENT CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................... 9 IV PRELIMINARY SITE SEARCH...................................................................................................... 10 1. LONG ISLAND ...................................................................................................................................... 10 A. SEARCH METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................10 B. DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................ 10 2. LOWER HUDSON VALLEY .................................................................................................................... 11 A. SEARCH METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................11 B. DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................ 11 3. NEW YORK CITY.................................................................................................................................. 11 A. SEARCH METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................11 B. DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................ 11 V FIELD RECONNAISSANCE.............................................................................................................. 13 1. LONG ISLAND ...................................................................................................................................... 13 A. PORT JEFFERSON BRANCH ...................................................................................................... 13 B. MAIN LINE.................................................................................................................................... 14 C. MONTAUK DIVISION.................................................................................................................. 16 2. MID HUDSON SOUTH ........................................................................................................................... 20 3. NEW YORK CITY.................................................................................................................................. 21 A. BROOKLYN................................................................................................................................... 21 B BRONX ........................................................................................................................................... 23 C. QUEENS ........................................................................................................................................ 30 VI RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................... 35 APPENDIX I—CARRIER INTERVIEWS ............................................................................................. 36 1. BACKGROUND...................................................................................................................................... 36 2. INTERVIEW SUMMARIES ...................................................................................................................... 36 A. CANADIAN PACIFIC (CP)........................................................................................................... 37 B. CSX TRANSPORTATION (CSX) ................................................................................................... 37 C. NEW YORK AND ATLANTIC (NYA) ............................................................................................ 38 APPENDIX II—SITE TOUR.................................................................................................................... 40 1. PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER (P&W)............................................................................................... 40 A. SOUTHBRIDGE YARD-PORT OF WORCESTER........................................................................ 40 Rail Freight Yard Requirements/Land Assessment • iii CONTENTS B. WISER AVENUE YARD ................................................................................................................ 41 C. GREENWOOD YARD ................................................................................................................... 41 D. KANSAS STREET YARD............................................................................................................... 42 APPENDIX III—SITE MAPS .................................................................................................................. 43 1. LONG ISLAND ...................................................................................................................................... 43 2. MID HUDSON SOUTH (WESTCHESTER COUNTY).................................................................................. 58 3. NEW YORK CITY.................................................................................................................................. 60 APPENDIX IV—SUMMARY OF SITE CHARACTERISTICS........................................................... 73 INDEX OF TABLES.................................................................................................................................. 75 INDEX OF FIGURES................................................................................................................................ 76 INDEX OF MAPS ...................................................................................................................................... 77 Rail Freight Yard Requirements/Land Assessment • iv I OVERVIEW The objective of this study was to determine the need for freight facilities and to survey land area in the NYMTC region to determine potential locations where yards could be situated or existing yards expanded. 1. Studies Point to Rail Freight Solutions Over the past several years many discussions have been held and analyses performed on the issue of freight transportation in and around