Stakeholder Meeting
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
December 18, 2013
Northern New England Rail Initiative
Stakeholders Meeting
December 12/18/2013
Agenda
• Welcome and introductions
• Overview presentation
• Discussion
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Role of the Stakeholders and Public Outreach
Review of Study Scope
Discussion of draft Purpose and Need
Project Schedule and Next Steps
2
HDR Team Members
• AECOM – Demand Forecasting, Environmental
Evaluation
• APM – Governmental Coordination
• Bryant – Existing Condition Assessment
• FHI – Public Outreach, Cultural Resources
• LTK – Vehicle Assessment, Signal/Communications
• TSM – Railroad Operations
3
Northern New England Rail Initiative
(NNEIRI) Partnership
• Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• Vermont Agency of Transportation
with support from
• Federal Railroad Administration
and in collaboration with
• Connecticut Department of Transportation
• Ministère des Transports du Québec
4
Overview of NNEIRI Project
Overall Project Goal
This study will examine the implementation and operation
of more frequent and higher speed intercity passenger rail
service on the Inland Route and the Boston-to-Montreal
corridors along with the corresponding ridership potential
and necessary infrastructure improvements. The corridor
study will focus on incremental infrastructure improvement
alternatives that will seek to maximize the use of the
existing rail corridors.
Project Outcomes
• NEPA Programmatic EIS
• Inland Route Corridor Service Development Plan
• Boston-to-Montreal Corridor Service Development Plan
5
Overview of NNEIRI Project
Major Work Tasks
• Identify existing passenger and freight operations
• Identify institutional and infrastructure issues
• Evaluate range of potential travel times
• Development of ridership forecast
• Alternatives for increased Intercity Rail
• NEPA Programmatic EIS
• Service Development Plan
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Current US Intercity Rail Network &
Designated High Speed Rail Corridors
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Recent Intercity Rail Investment
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Project Map
470 Route
Miles
-
Boston to Springfield
100 Miles
-
Boston to Montreal:
408 Miles
-
Boston to New Haven:
162 Miles
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Characteristics of Intercity/High-Speed Rail
• Self-Guided Intercity Passenger Ground
Transportation
• Time Competitive – Door to Door with Air/Auto
• Range of 100 to 500 Miles
• Market-based, not Speed-based
Source: 1997 USDOT Report
Feasibility High Speed Ground Transportation
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Types of Intercity Rail Service
• Core Express services frequent
trains at 125-250+mph in the
nation’s densest and most
populous regions.
• Regional services service (90125mph) between mid-sized and
large cities.
• Emerging services (up to 90mph)
connecting communities to the
passenger rail network and
providing a foundation for future
corridor development.
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FRA Types of Intercity Rail Service
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Public Participation
Outlined in the Agency & Stakeholder Plan
• Stakeholder Committee (Trans. Agencies, Trans. Providers, and
RPA/Cs)
• Public Outreach in MA and VT
– Four Rounds of Public Meetings
– Project website
– Newsletters/e-bulletins
– Local Media
– Electronic Communication
• Coordination with other Projects/Studies (New Haven – Hartford –
Springfield, Vermont State Rail Plan, NEC Futures)
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Public Participation - Title VI
Identification of potentially affected communities, including
minority and low-income populations, will require targeted
outreach. Strategies employed by the study will include:
• GIS mapping of environmental justice populations,
• Distribution of study information to social service agencies
that serve minority, low income and Limited English
Proficiency[LEP] populations along the corridor.
• Partnering with staff of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
and Regional Planning Associations that are knowledgeable
about environmental justice populations and methods to
engage these populations in transportation issues.
• Targeted outreach to environmental justice populations
around station areas
• Partnering with libraries to engage library patrons in the
study.
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Track Ownership within the NNEIRI Corridor
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts: 44 Miles
• CSX: 56 Miles
• PanAm Southern: 49 Miles
• New England Central Railroad: 206 Miles
• Canadian National Railroad: 53 Miles
• AMTRAK: 62 Miles
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NNEIRI Corridor Owners
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: 44 Miles
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NNEIRI Corridor Owners
CSX: 56 Miles
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NNEIRI Corridor
Owners
Pan Am Southern:
49 Miles
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NNEIRI Corridor
Owners
NECR: 206 Miles
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NNEIRI Corridor Owners
CN: 53 Miles
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NNEIRI Corridor Owners
AMTRAK: 62 Miles
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Corridor Issues for Discussion
• Existing use of rail corridor for freight and
passenger operations
• Not considering significant route modifications
• Environmental considerations
• Customs and Immigration
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Infrastructure Issues for Discussion
• Capacity of existing rail corridor
• Track improvements of existing rail alignments
• Signal installation/upgrade
– Required for speeds > 79 mph
• Grade crossings – 404 total
– Must be grade separated > 110 mph
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Grade Crossing Types and Warning
Devices
Warning Device
Number
Gates
105
Flashing Lights
63
Cross Bucks and/or Stop Signs
52
Other
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NONE
157
Total Grade Crossings
404
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Operating Assumptions
Intercity Rail Service Options
Low speed – Existing conditions – 60 mph
Mid speed – Existing conditions – 79-90 - mph max.
High speed – No curve restrictions – >90 &110 mph max.
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Operating Assumptions
Train Performance Calculator (TPC)
• Non-electrified
• Train Models
– Current Locomotives & Standard Coaches
– Tilting Train Equipment
• Intercity Operation Only
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Operating Assumptions
Potential Station Locations
Massachusetts
Vermont
Connecticut
Boston (Back Bay
and South Station)
Brattleboro
Windsor Locks
Framingham
Bellows Falls
Windsor
Worcester
White River
Junction
Hartford
Palmer
Montpelier
Meriden
Springfield
Waterbury
Wallingford
Holyoke
Burlington
(Essex Junction)
New Haven
(Union Station)
Northampton
St. Albans
Quebec
Montreal (Central Station)
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Train Performance Calculator
Preliminary Results
• For Boston to Springfield to Montreal
– Base 60 mph
9 hr. 08 min.
– Max 79 mph
TBD
– Max 90 mph
TBD
– Max 110 mph
TBD
– Max 125 mph
TBD
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Ridership Estimation Process
Potential
Station Locations
Intercity Rail
Operating Assumptions
Range of Intercity
Travel Times
Travel
Survey
Regional
Travel Models
Existing
Travel Data
Forecast
Model
Ridership
Estimates
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Project Schedule
• Define Purpose and Need
12/27/13
• Service Projections Ridership
03/18/14
• Preliminary Alternatives
09/12/14
• Finalize Alternatives
10/31/14
• Service Development Plans
09/03/15
• Complete NEPA Process
09/25/15
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Thank You
Time for Discussion
Follow-up Meeting Comments to
Paul.Nelson@state.ma.us
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