Northeast Rail Summit · Northeast Rail Summit . Agenda ... Adirondack Corridor. Western Corridor. Capital Corridor. ... • Completing preliminary engineering

Northeast Rail Northeast Rail Summit Summit

AgendaAgenda

• One year after ARRA • The Case for the Northeast Passenger

Rail Network• Multiple Corridors with One Vision • Critical Partnership In Freight Rail• Moving Forward

American High Speed Rail Vision

American High Speed Rail Vision

“Imagine boarding a train in the center of a city. No racing to an airport and across a terminal, no delays, no sitting on the tarmac, no lost luggage, no taking off your shoes. Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination. Imagine what a great project that would be to rebuild America.”

-President Obama, April 16, 2009

Northeast is most densely settled region of U.S

NIGHTFALL in U.S.

Biggest concentration of lights:Boston

New YorkPhiladelphiaBaltimore

Washington

Density is apparent even in nighttime satellite imagery.

Highway Corridors face significant Congestion Region Wide

Northeast corridor is also most congested air traffic corridor

High-Speed Rail:

• Competitive alternative

• Trips: 100 – 400 miles

• Can reduce air traffic congestion

Even a Major Airline Agrees with the need for High Speed Rail

• “it just may not make that much sense for an airplane on a 150-mile route to fly over 300 air miles to get there. Maybe there’s a different mode of transportation that may be better to carry those customers from point A to point B." - JetBlue Chief Operating Officer Robert MarusterJune 2010

Imagine . . . . . . HSR• German ICE• 226 MPH Operations• Links all major cities in Germany

• But is part of a larger Network

… Integrated network of rail services

Germany • ICE - Intercity Express• IC - Intercity • RE - Regional Express• S-Bahn• U-Bahn and Bus

Northeast • Next Gen HSR• A cela• Amtrak Regional • Commuter Rail • Public Transit

… That connect every major city in the Northeast with smaller cities and rural areas

Economic BenefitsEconomic Benefits

“Like stadiums, convention centers and aquariums, trains have emerged as a popular tool in the effort to revitalize downtowns in the U.S. About a dozen cities . . . are planning to build lines. But while research has shown that big-ticket projects like ballparks largely fail to spawn economic development, evidence in mounting that trains are indeed a magnet”

Wall Street Journal

Our Goals

• Expanding Rail to Support Economic Growth & Livable Communities

• Promote Energy Efficiency• Improved Mobility & Connectivity• Identification of Priority Projects• Supporting projects which provide region

wide benefits

Empire Corridor Adirondack CorridorWestern CorridorCapital CorridorDowneasterNortheast Corridor

Multiple Corridors with One Vision

Knowledge Corridor Inland Route New Haven Hartford

Springfield Corridor Boston to Montreal

Corridor

The Northeast Corridor

Northeast Corridor Master Plan• The States and Amtrak have

Ambitious Plans for the Future of the NEC

• 412 million riders by 2030 on 3,300 daily trains

From Maine to Virginia, every state and railroad has expansion plans• 59% more NEC riders• Expanded freight markets• NEC trains will increase 41%• Some segments have train increases of 100%

However despite progress, some NEC infrastructure still not in a state of good repair • $4.7 billion backlog Amtrak maintained • $3.2 billion backlog Metro North maintained

The Master Plan Contains $52 Billion in projects along the NEC

Northeast Corridor - RI• Kingston Capacity

Improvements• Additional third track

installation• Allows bi-directional

overtakes of Acela trains over slower regional & intercity trains

• Improved trip time savings

• $30 to $35 million project

Northeast Corridor - MA Boston South Station Expansion

• Future NEC Master Plan (2030) • Amtrak – 62 revenue service moves per day

(20 more moves)• 30 Acela Express• 20 Regional • 10 Inland Route • 2 Lake Shore Limited

• MBTA – 307 revenue service moves per day (14 more moves)

“It should be noted that there is no possibility of operating the 2030 service levels on the existing infrastructure, since the programmed station turns could not be accommodated on the existing 13 station tracks.

The simulation results show that the configuration provides the necessary capacity to support a very stable operation in the context of projected 2030 train volumes” - Network Simulation Analysis of Proposed 2030 MBTA/Amtrak Operation at South Station

The Downeaster Corridor

DowneasterThe National Model for New Intercity

Passenger Rail Service

• 5 Round Trips Daily Portland-Boston• 2 hour 25 minute travel time• Amtrak Operated• 470,000 annual passengers• Supported by the State of Maine • Operating on Pan Am Railways & MBTA• Managed by the Northern New England

Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA)

The National Model for New Intercity Passenger Rail Service

• 5 Round Trips Daily Portland-Boston• 2 hour 25 minute travel time• Amtrak Operated• 470,000 annual passengers• Supported by the State of Maine • Operating on Pan Am Railways & MBTA• Managed by the Northern New England

Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA)

Downeaster Expansion to Freeport & Brunswick

Nation’s first ARRA HSIPR Project • $38 m project

• $35m FRA/$3m Maine• 30 Miles PanAm Line

– CWR/Ties/Ballast/Platforms– 36 Grade Crossings/Signals

• Extends service to Brunswick

with connections to Rockland.

Downeaster Corridor• FY10 Planning Grant

Application to Develop Service Development Plan and NEPA document. • Reduces Travel Time and

increases ridership by 20% • Provides Capacity for 7 r/t

Downeaster trains daily • Improves flexibility and

scheduling for Railroads • Supports the corridor vision

of ME, MA & NH

• FY10 Planning Grant Application to Develop Service Development Plan and NEPA document.• Reduces Travel Time and

increases ridership by 20%• Provides Capacity for 7 r/t

Downeaster trains daily• Improves flexibility and

scheduling for Railroads• Supports the corridor vision

of ME, MA & NH

Empire Corridor

• 2009- Applied for 38 projects requesting about $560M in ARRA funding

• 2009- Received $151M in FRA Grant awards for 6 projects• 2010- Applied for $138 M to fund 10 projects in the FY2010 FRA

funding solicitation – decision pending• Meanwhile - Using State funds to assist in making identified

projects more competitive based on FRA requirements:• Completing preliminary engineering • Completing environmental work• Financial plans, project work plans, planning documentation

High Speed Rail Empire Corridor Project

• FY 2009 FRA Planning Grant• Project Goals Include:

– Improve Empire Corridor rail travel times, train frequency and service reliability

– Introduce passenger train speeds (MAS) of at least 110 m.p.h. west of Albany

– Maximize the number of corridor sections with Maximum Authorized Speeds of at least 110 m.p.h. between New York and Niagara Falls

• Will Result in a list of specific improvements – projects to meet Service Goals

New York - ARRA Funded Projects• Capacity Improvements - Track Projects

– Empire Corridor• Albany- Schenectady Double Track (FD/Construction)• Rochester Area 3rd Main Track (FD/Construction)

– Adirondack Corridor• Ballston Spa 2nd Main Track (FD/Construction)

• Station Projects– Empire Corridor

• Rochester Intermodal Transportation Center (PE/NEPA)• Buffalo Depew Station (FD/Construction)

• Safety – Empire Corridor

• Hudson Line Grade Crossing Improvements

Other NY Rail Projects On the Empire Corridor

Projects in Design • Rensselaer Station 4th Track• Livingston Avenue Bridge• Station Projects

• Niagara Falls International Station• Schenectady Intermodal Station

• Grade Crossing Improvements – Various Locations• FY 2010 Application Projects – Various Locations

Knowledge Corridor

New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Corridor

Inland Route

NYC

Hartford

Springfield

Boston

New Haven

Montreal

Burlington

Brattleboro

1. NYC – NH – SPR – Boston

• New Haven - Hartford - Springfield

• “Inland Route”

• Alternate to NEC coastal route

2. SPR – VT – Montreal• Knowledge Corridor• “Montrealer Route”

• Boston - Montreal

Inland Route -Knowledge Corridor

ENFIELD

NORTH HAVEN

NEWINGTON

W. HARTFORD

Windsor Locks

Hartford

New Haven

Meriden

Springfield New Haven Hartford Springfield Corridor

FY2010 Corridor Project which builds on ARRA Award

The restoration of double track will provide for Proposed service improvements:

• Intercity stations in Springfield, Windsor Locks (BDL), Hartford, Meriden, New Haven

• All day service: peak & offpeak

• 30-minute frequency in peak• intercity trains (hourly)

o thru-routed to NYC• commuter trains (hourly)

o connection in New Haven

MA, VT and CT to complete Corridor Plan using existing FRA Planning grants.

• Upgrade the existing Amtrak route to high-speed standards along the 98.2- mile corridor between Boston and Springfield.

• Restore the double track between Worcester and Springfield

• Restoration of service between St. Albans and Montreal

• Inclusion of Springfield to White River in the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor.

Along with Springfield-New Haven improvements, will allow alternate high-speed service between New York and Boston

MA, VT and CT to complete Corridor Plan using existing FRA Planning grants.

• Upgrade the existing Amtrak route to high-speed standards along the 98.2- mile corridor between Boston and Springfield.

• Restore the double track between Worcester and Springfield

• Restoration of service between St. Albans and Montreal

• Inclusion of Springfield to White River in the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor.

Along with Springfield-New Haven improvements, will allow alternate high-speed service between New York and Boston

NYC

Hartford

Springfield

Boston

New Haven

Montreal

Burlington

Brattleboro

Inland Route & Boston to Montreal

Inland Route & Boston to Montreal

Springfield Union StationSpringfield Union StationAt the Nexus of the Knowledge At the Nexus of the Knowledge Corridor and Inland RouteCorridor and Inland Route

–– Restoration of the main terminal Restoration of the main terminal building:building:

•• Intercity and Commuter Rail Passenger Intercity and Commuter Rail Passenger ServicesServices

•• Transit Services and Transit Retail Transit Services and Transit Retail •• Additional space for private Additional space for private

economic development economic development –– Redevelopment of former baggageRedevelopment of former baggage--

building site for construction of :building site for construction of :•• 2323--bay bus terminalbay bus terminal•• 400400--space public parking garage abovespace public parking garage above

• Estimated time travel savings of 24 minutes.

• 24% increase in ridership.

• Encourage economic development in CT River Valley

This ARRA HSIRP Corridor Project will rehabilitate the existing Connecticut River rail line between Springfield and East Northfield and restore Amtrak Vermonter

This ARRA HSIRP Corridor Project will rehabilitate the existing Connecticut River rail line between Springfield and East Northfield and restore Amtrak Vermonter

Knowledge Corridor - Restore Vermonter

Knowledge Corridor - Restore Vermonter

Improvements to the Vermonter Route

• Track improvements to the New England Central Railroad will save 30 minutes between St. Albans, VT and East Northfield, MA.

• Second ARRA HSIPR Rail Project to go into construction

Middlebury

ManchesterDepot

To Springf ield, MA

Vermonter

Waterbury

St. Albans

Brattleboro

Bellows Falls

Essex Jct.Burlington

Montpelier

White River Jct.

St. Johnsbury

Shelburne

Randolph

Bennington

Fair Haven Rutland

NewportVermonter Vermonter

Western Corridor

Western Corridor

Re-establishment of the Western Corridor Route for Passenger Service between Vermont and New York City

FY10 Corridor Application will connect Burlington Middlebury & Rutland.

ARRA HSIPR Planning Grant to study connecting Manchester Depot, Bennington, & Albany, NY.

Middlebury

ManchesterDepot

To Saratoga& Albany, NY

To Albany NYvia Hoosic Jct.

Waterbury

St. Albans

Brattleboro

Bellows Falls

Essex Jct.Burlington

Montpelier

White River Jct.

St. Johnsbury

Shelburne

Randolph

Bennington

Fair Haven Rutland

Newport

NH Capital Corridor

New Hampshire Capitol Corridor Project

FY10 Planning Grant Application to Develop Service Development Plan and NEPA document for the corridor • Accessible rail service to more than 500,000 residents• Connecting the cities of Concord, Manchester, Nashua &

Boston • Significant congestion reliever on I-93• First phase of future Boston-Montreal HSR service• Connectivity to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

FY10 Planning Grant Application to Develop Service Development Plan and NEPA document for the corridor • Accessible rail service to more than 500,000 residents• Connecting the cities of Concord, Manchester, Nashua &

Boston• Significant congestion reliever on I-93• First phase of future Boston-Montreal HSR service• Connectivity to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

Freight Initiatives

Critical Partnership In Freight Rail

• Northeast States and their railroads share common strengths and challenges – Shared gateways with New York – Multiple Corridors provide access

to the North American System via Four Class 1 Railroads

– Northeast Regional Railroads and Shortlines provide connectivity and last mile delivery

• Northeast States and Railroads are making important investments to strengthen the Network

Critical Partnership In Freight Rail

NS/CP/PARConnections

in The

Northeast

Critical Partnership In Freight Rail

CSXConnections in The Northeast

Critical Partnership In Freight Rail

• Freight Rail Investments– CSX Double Stack Clearance Project in

Massachusetts – Patriot Corridor Intermodal Clearance Study– Portageville Trestle – New Hampshire Rail Freight Tiger Projects– Aroostook Railroad Preservation and

Rehabilitation Project

CSX - Massachusetts Double Stack Clearance Project

MassDOT and CSX are providing full double stack access to Massachusetts and New England by improving the clearance on 31 bridges along the CSX line.

In addition CSX will be making a $100 million plus investment in intermodal facilities in Worcester, West Springfield and Westborough.

The Portageville Bridge Replacement Project (Tiger II)

• The Portageville Bridge is the last piece in a set of NS improvement plans to ensure the Southern Tier remains a viable and effective transportation corridor

• NS has upgraded other bridges on the Corridor to the industry-standard 286,000 lbs per rail car

• The recently completed Binghamton- Waverly project included welded rail, introduction of a signal system, and single track for increased speed and efficiency

• Additional capital improvements also occurred at Binghamton yards as well as other joint efforts with CP and NYS&W

• Recent creation of the Pan Am Southern whose success is predicated on an intact Southern Tier Corridor

The Patriot Intermodal Rail Corridor Clearance Study (TIGER

II Planning)The Patriot Intermodal Rail Corridor Clearance Study is part of an on-going effort to improve freight rail service into Massachusetts and the New England region along Pan Am Southern’s 155-mile mainline route between Mechanicville, New York and Ayer, Massachusetts

A critical element of the project will involve modernizing the Hoosac Tunnel, an engineering triumph of the nineteenth century, to meet the needs of the twenty-first century.

Aroostook Railroad Preservation and Rehabilitation Project (Tiger II)

"Transportation infrastructure investments such as this Aroostook County Rail project are not only important to the County and the State of Maine, they are critical to the economic recovery and competitive position of the United States in the global marketplace."

- Governor John Baldacci

The Aroostook Railroad Preservation and Rehabilitation Project will: restore a critical component of the national rail system to a state of good repair to remove a major bottleneck in the transportation network of the region and to provide essential freight rail access to and from the heart of Maine’s Forest products industry.

The Project will contribute to the long term sustainability of the economy and the environment in an economically distressed region by providing cost effective transportation to meet current and emerging markets that require effective transportation alternatives to reach sources and markets throughout North America.

New Hampshire Rail Freight Projects

• St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SL&A) rail upgrade - $10 million (FRA, TIGER, state and RR match), 20 miles in NH & VT

• Lebanon, Concord & Laconia Railroad bridge repairs - $1 million

• NH Northcoast TIGER II application

• St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SL&A) rail upgrade - $10 million (FRA, TIGER, state and RR match), 20 miles in NH & VT

• Lebanon, Concord & Laconia Railroad bridge repairs - $1 million

• NH Northcoast TIGER II application

Moving ForwardMoving Forward

Meeting the Challenge in 2009, 2010 and beyond

• ARRA HSIPR Awards to the Northeast – 10 Final Design &

Construction Grants– 1 PE/NEPA Design Grant– 2 Planning Grants

• The first two Rail Construction Projects nationwide are underway in the Northeast

• FY 10 Applications in the Northeast – 8 Final Design &

Construction Grants– 5 PE/NEPA Design Grants – 3 Planning Grants

Working Together

• Collaboration – Quarterly meetings• Integration – Mutual review of State Rail Plans• Coordination – Strategic coordination with New

England Congressional Delegation• Communications – Coordinated and strategic

marketing & communications effort

Moving Forward

• Partnership with AMTRAK and Freight Carriers

• Continued Collaboration to Strengthen the Northeast Regional Rail Network through CONEG

• Aggressive pursuit of Discretionary High Speed & Intercity Rail and Tiger Funds

• Coordinated strategy for Surface Transportation Act Authorization

Northeast Rail Northeast Rail Summit Summit