WEST VIRGINIA STATE RAIL PLAN Final Report December 2013 WEST VIRGINIA STATE RAIL PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. ES-2 West Virginia’s Rail System .................................................................................................................................................. ES-3 Rail Benefits ............................................................................................................................................................................. ES-6 Rail Plan Development Process ........................................................................................................................................ ES-7 Key Rail Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities .......................................................................................................... ES-8 Wet Virginia’s Rail Vision ...................................................................................................................................................... ES-9 Proposed Investment Programs and Future Studies ..............................................................................................ES-11 State Rail Plan Recommendations and Next Steps .................................................................................................ES-13 Chapter 1: Role of Rail in West Virginia’s Statewide Transportation System 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 West Virginia’s Multimodal Transportation System Goals ..................................................................................1-1 1.2 Rail Transportation’s Role within the West Virginia Transportation System ................................................1-2 1.3 Institutional Structure of West Virginia’s State Rail Program .............................................................................1-2 1.3.1 West Virginia Department of Transportation Rail Functions .........................................................................1-3 1.3.2 Other State Agencies or Authorities with Rail-Related Responsibilities ...................................................1-4 1.3.3 Local Organizations ......................................................................................................................................................1-4 1.3.4 West Virginia’s Authority to Conduct Rail Planning and Investment ..........................................................1-6 1.4 State Authority for Grant, Loan, and Other Rail Financing ................................................................................1-7 1.5 A Summary of Freight and Passenger Rail Services in West Virginia ..............................................................1-7 Chapter 2: West Virginia’s Existing Rail System 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Description of West Virginia’s Rail Network and Operators ...............................................................................2-1 2.1.1 West Virginia’s Freight Railroads...............................................................................................................................2-1 2.1.1.1 Class I Freight Railroads ...........................................................................................................................................2-2 2.1.1.2 Class II/III Railroads ....................................................................................................................................................2-6 2.1.1.3 West Virginia Passenger Railroads ......................................................................................................................2-6 2.1.1.4 Abandoned and Rail-Banked Lines ................................................................................................................. 2-11 2.1.2 Major Freight and Passenger Terminals ............................................................................................................. 2-14 2.1.2.1 Rail Freight Terminals ............................................................................................................................................ 2-14 2.1.2.2 Rail Passenger Terminals ...................................................................................................................................... 2-15 2.1.3 Objectives for Passenger Services in West Virginia ........................................................................................ 2-16 2.1.4 Performance Evaluation of West Virginia Passenger Services .................................................................... 2-17 2.1.4.1 Amtrak Performance ............................................................................................................................................. 2-17 West Virginia Department of Transportation WEST VIRGINIA STATE RAIL PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS 2.1.4.2 MARC Performance ................................................................................................................................................ 2-22 2.1.5 Public Financing for Rail Projects in West Virginia .......................................................................................... 2-24 2.1.5.1 State Sponsored Rail Funding ............................................................................................................................ 2-24 2.1.5.2 Federal Rail-Related Programs and Funding ................................................................................................ 2-24 2.1.6 Rail Safety and Security in West Virginia ............................................................................................................ 2-29 2.1.6.1 Rail Safety Programs in West Virginia .............................................................................................................. 2-29 2.1.6.2 West Virginia Rail Accident Statistics ............................................................................................................... 2-30 2.1.6.3 Highway-Rail At-Grade Crossing Safety in West Virginia .......................................................................... 2-31 2.1.6.4 Hazardous Materials .............................................................................................................................................. 2-32 2.1.6.5 Railroad Bridge Safety ........................................................................................................................................... 2-33 2.1.6.6 Positive Train Control ............................................................................................................................................. 2-33 2.1.6.7 Rail Security .............................................................................................................................................................. 2-33 2.1.7 Rail Transportation Impacts in West Virginia .................................................................................................... 2-34 2.1.7.1 Economic Impacts .................................................................................................................................................. 2-34 2.1.7.2 Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................................................................ 2-38 2.1.7.3 Energy Impacts ........................................................................................................................................................ 2-38 2.1.7.4 Land Use Impacts ................................................................................................................................................... 2-38 2.1.7.5 Safety Impacts ......................................................................................................................................................... 2-39 2.1.7.6 Community Impacts .............................................................................................................................................. 2-39 2.2 Demographic and Transportation Trends in West Virginia ............................................................................. 2-40 2.2.1 West Virginia Demographic and Economic Growth ...................................................................................... 2-40 2.2.1.1 West Virginia’s Industry Outlook by Sector .................................................................................................... 2-42 2.2.2 Rail Freight Demand and Growth......................................................................................................................... 2-45 2.2.3 Passenger Travel Demand and Growth .............................................................................................................. 2-48 2.2.3.1 Amtrak Ridership Forecast .................................................................................................................................. 2-48 2.2.3.2 MARC Ridership Forecast ....................................................................................................................................