Hidalgo County Commuter Rail Feasibility Study August 2011 Hidalgo County Commuter Rail Study Prepared for: August 2011 Prepared By: Prime Consultant Sub‐Consultants THE WARREN GROUP A R C H I T E C T S I N C. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Executive Summary / Methodology ............................................................. 6 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................... 6 Identify Study Corridors ................................................................................................. 6 Station Locations ............................................................................................................ 8 Existing Conditions ....................................................................................................... 10 At-Grade Crossings and Railroad Spurs ................................................................... 10 Railroad Traffic ......................................................................................................... 11 Population and Employment Projections .................................................................. 12 Existing Transit Service. ........................................................................................... 12 Preferred Modal Alternative ......................................................................................... 13 Benefit Analysis ............................................................................................................ 14 Cost Analysis ................................................................................................................ 15 Decision Matrix ............................................................................................................ 16 Receive Public Comments ............................................................................................ 17 Stakeholder Organizations Interviewed .................................................................... 17 Recommendations and Next Steps................................................................................ 18 Chapter 2: Identification of Study Corridors .............................................................. 20 Description of Development Patterns and Existing Rail System .................................. 20 Selected Routes ............................................................................................................. 24 Station Locations .......................................................................................................... 24 Selection Criteria ...................................................................................................... 24 Selected Station Locations ........................................................................................ 25 Chapter 3: Needs Assessment ........................................................................................ 27 Descriptions of Data Collected ..................................................................................... 28 Railroad Traffic ......................................................................................................... 28 Rail Characteristics ................................................................................................... 28 At-Grade Crossings ................................................................................................... 29 Spurs ......................................................................................................................... 30 Traffic Counts ........................................................................................................... 33 Existing Bus Transit .................................................................................................. 33 Population and Employment Growth ............................................................................ 38 Population ................................................................................................................. 39 Employment .............................................................................................................. 44 Vehicle Traffic Growth ................................................................................................. 48 Chapter 4: Identification of Modal Alternatives.......................................................... 52 Preferred Modal Alternative ......................................................................................... 55 Chapter 5: Benefits Analysis .......................................................................................... 57 Vehicles, Headways, Speeds, Park & Ride Facilities ............................................... 60 Ridership Projections .................................................................................................... 63 Description of Model Source / Development ........................................................... 64 Model Inputs ............................................................................................................. 64 Equations and Sample Calculation ........................................................................... 67 Sensitivity Analysis .................................................................................................. 68 Projections Obtained ................................................................................................. 73 Hidalgo County Commuter Rail Feasibility Study August 2011 1 Station-Area Development............................................................................................ 74 Understanding the Proposed Station Areas: ............................................................. 75 Station Typology ..................................................................................................... 102 Station Area Analysis: ............................................................................................ 104 Texas Enterprise Zone Program.............................................................................. 104 Applicability for Station-Area Related Enterprise Zones ....................................... 107 Zoning Requirements and Planned Land Use ......................................................... 107 Future City Planning Efforts ................................................................................... 110 International Considerations ................................................................................... 110 Other Rail Benefits ..................................................................................................... 111 Chapter 6: Costs Analysis ............................................................................................ 112 Drainage Issues ........................................................................................................... 112 Discussion of Specific Drainage Locations ............................................................ 116 Cost Estimates ............................................................................................................. 117 Project Capital Costs ............................................................................................... 117 Annual Operating and Maintenance Costs ............................................................. 121 Fare Collection and Enforcement ............................................................................... 122 Fare Enforcement .................................................................................................... 124 Fare Enforcement in Texas ..................................................................................... 125 Current State of the Practice in U. S. Commuter Rail ............................................ 126 Fare-Related Conclusions ....................................................................................... 128 At-Grade Crossing Eliminations ................................................................................. 129 Future At-Grade Crossing Study ............................................................................ 131 Chapter 7: Decision Matrix.......................................................................................... 133 Chapter 8: Stakeholder and Public Comments ......................................................... 134 Stakeholder Interviews ................................................................................................ 134 Stakeholder Organizations Interviewed by Date, with Representative .................. 134 Stakeholder Organizations Not Participating .......................................................... 135 Recurring Comments from Stakeholders ................................................................ 136 Public Meeting ............................................................................................................ 136 Chapter 9: Recommendations and Next Steps ........................................................... 138 Policy Considerations ................................................................................................. 138 Funding Plans.............................................................................................................. 139 Federal Funding Sources......................................................................................... 140 Use of Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund proceeds ............................ 142 Operating