2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan AASHTO Standing Committee on Rail 2010 Washington Meeting Freight in State Rail Plans—Best Practices
Dec 27, 2015
2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail
Plan
AASHTO Standing Committee on Rail2010 Washington
Meeting
Freight in State Rail Plans—Best Practices
Project Phases
• 4 Class I Railroads• 16 Short Line Railroads• 4500 Route Miles• Most (but not all) private
companies & infrastructure• 4,500 Public Grade
Crossings• 8th Highest Rail Miles in
Nation
Current Rail System
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Key Minnesota IndustriesLong-term trends
Industry Outlook Explanation
Distribution, Warehousing, Retail
State remains excellent location for North-Central logistics; Retail to recover with economy
Manufacturing Output steady as jobs decline; technically-advanced players will compete successfully
Construction Industry will recover with economy, but not to 2004-2006 levels
Agriculture and Food E15 decisions to affect corn production; soybeans stable; uncertainties for dairy
Paper and Wood Expansions at existing paper facilities; Exports balancing low domestic demand
Life Sciences Recognized world leader in medical equipment and advanced healthcare
Energy Population and jobs to increase energy demand; fuel types and origins may change
Mining Growing interest in Iron Range; expanding to steel; new markets for taconite tailings
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Freight Vision• Rail is a critical part of the state’s multimodal freight system,
and provides connections to key markets beyond the state• Many of the state’s major industries rely on freight rail• A strong rail system supports
– Economic development – Environmental sustainability – Preservation of the publicly owned roadway
infrastructure– Business marketability of the State
• Therefore, Minnesota should strive to develop a balanced multimodal freight system which can respond to increased regional and international economic competition, constrained highway capacity, environmental challenges, a diverse customer base and rising energy costs
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Passenger/Freight Integration
Current Track Capacity
2030 Freight and Passenger LOS With Improvements
2030 Freight and Passenger LOS Without Improvements
Stakeholders Outreach
• Minnesota HSR Commission• Joint Environmental Panel• United Transportation Union• Minnesota Regional
Railroad Association• TC&W Railroad• West Central Rail Shippers• Minnesota Farm Bureau• Minnesota Grain & Feed Assoc.• Minnesota Chamber
of Commerce• Transportation Alliance
• Metropolitan Council• Counties Transit Improvement Board• Northern Lights Express• Northstar Corridor Development Auth.• Rural Counties Association• Rochester/SEMRA• Wisconsin DOT• Mn. Freight Advisory Committee• Individual Stakeholders• Total of 80 organizations & numerous
individual discussions
Effective Railroad Engagement
• Develop coordinated communications plan (who/what/when)
• Railroads—technical and gov. affairs, nat’l & local• Include agency staff in communications• Be persistent (like Dorothy)• Use multiple communication methods• Don’t expect consensus
2010 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/resources.html