State Rail Plan Guidebook

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State Rail Plan Guidebook

• Project Update

presented toAASHTO Standing Committee on Rail
Transportation presented byDavid HuntCambridge
Systematics, Inc. Biloxi, MS October 15, 2007
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What is a Plan?

• Needs-Based Plan
• Considers existing system and facilities
  identifies current and future needs based on
  trends and projections selects policies,
  strategies, and investments to meet these needs.
• Policy Plan
• Describes overarching strategies to accomplish
  future results includes official public policies
  for solving problems or meeting projected
  demands, typically based on legislation and
  implemented through governmental programs.
• Vision-Based Plan
• Identifies an ideal or preferred future system,
  looking beyond the needs of the current status
  quo. May include scenarios that reflect large
  picture alternatives. Often, develop
  stakeholder, public, or political consensus in
  support for an agreed-upon scenario or vision for
  the future.

Source FHWA Types of Statewide Long-Range Plans
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Types of Plans (Continued)

• Project-Based Plan
• Selects or identifies specific projects to meet
  the identified needs or stated policies. May
  include expected costs of each project.
• Fiscally Realistic Plans
• Considers projected capital and operating costs
  and reasonably available revenue sources in
  setting the transportation system's long-term
  direction. Discusses risks and probabilities of
  projected costs and revenues, and attempts to
  balance both.
• Corridor Plan
• Focuses on specific corridors, ideally
  considering all transportation modes, and both
  passenger and freight needs. Includes a
  synthesis of each major corridor, considering
  condition, projected use, and financing, while
  highlighting unique uses and regional preferences.

Source FHWA Types of Statewide Long-Range Plans
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Outline

• Purpose
• Scope of work
• Task 1 Technical Steering Committee
• Task 2 Best Practices
• Task 3 Legislation and Emerging Trends
• Next Steps

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Value of Guidebook to the States

• States dictate content
• Starting point - literature review/best practices
• Proposal Development
• In-house Rail Plan Development
• Resource Guide (available data, GIS files, etc.)
• Instruction (waybill, benefits, etc.)
• Coordination among states and
• Federal agencies
• Railroads

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State Rail Plan Guidebook - Tasks

• Task 1. Assemble Technical Steering Committee
• Task 2. Identify and Review Best Practices
• Task 3. Identify New Requirements and Emerging
  Topics
• Task 4. Identify Recommended and Optional
  Components
• Task 5. Develop the Recommended Rail Plan
  Components
• Task 6. Develop the Optional Rail Plan
  Components
• Task 7. Complete the Guidebook

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Task 1 Technical Steering Committee

• Committee volunteersCA, FL, ID, LA, MD, MN,
  MS, OH, VT, WA
• Others are welcome to participate
• Committee outreach to FRA, AAR, and FTA

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Task 2 Identify and Review Best Practices

• Obtained and reviewed 22 state rail plans
• Categorized contents by topic
• Identified best practices and trends

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State Rail Plan Inventory
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State Rail Plan Composition
0 5 10 15 20 22
Number of State Rail Plans (n 22)
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California State Rail Plan (2005 2006)
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Florida Statewide Rail Plan (2006)
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Kansas State Rail Plan (2005 2006)
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Kentucky Statewide Rail Plan (2002)

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Louisiana Rail Plan (2002)Louisiana Short Line
and Terminal/Switching Railroads
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North Dakota State Rail Plan Update (2007)

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Vermont Rail and Policy Plan (2006)
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Virginia State Rail Plan (2004)
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Task 3 Legislation and Emerging Trends

• Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of
  2007 S.294
• To reauthorize Amtrak, and for other purposes.
• PROGRESS Act H.R.1300
• To strengthen national security and promote
  energy independence by reducing the Nation's
  reliance on foreign oil, improving vehicle
  technology and efficiency, increasing the
  distribution of alternative fuels, bolstering
  rail infrastructure, and expanding access to
  public transit.
• Emerging Issues

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PROGRESS Act H.R.1300

• Sec. 22502. Authority
• Designate a State rail transportation authority
  to prepare, approve and administer the plan
• Submit Secretary of Transportation for review
  with a frequency no less than once every 5 years
• Sec. 22503. Purposes
• To set forth State policy involving freight and
  passenger rail transportation
• To present priorities and strategies to enhance
  rail service in the State that benefits the
  public
• To serve as the basis for Federal and State rail
  investments within the State

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PROGRESS Act H.R.1300 Sec. 22505. Content

• Inventory review overall rail system, services,
  and facilities
• General analysis of rails transportation,
  economic, and environmental impacts
• Long-range investment program, with detailed
  funding plan
• Statement of correlation between (i) public
  funding contributions and (ii) public benefits
• Review of publicly funded rail safety and
  security projects, including grade crossings
• Performance evaluation of passenger rail services

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PROGRESS Act H.R.1300

• Sec. 22504. Transparency coordination review
• Preparation- provide adequate and reasonable
  notice and opportunity for comment and other
  input to the public, rail carriers, commuter and
  transit authorities operating in, or affected by
  rail operations within the State,
• Intergovernmental Coordination- review the
  freight and passenger rail service activities and
  initiatives by regional planning agencies,
  regional transportation authorities, and
  municipalities within the State, or in the region
  in which the State is located,
• Sec. 22506. Review
• The Secretary shall prescribe procedures for
  States to submit State rail plans for review
  under this title, including standardized format
  and data requirements.

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Topic Chronology
2004 - 2007Capacity Crunch

• Container traffic, just-in-time delivery, and
  e-commerce
• Growing highway congestion, increased freight
  demand
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• Industry consolidations mergers,
  rationalization, corridor preservation

2001 - 2003Security and Safety
1995 - 2000Economic Expansion
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Topic Chronology
2004 - 2007Capacity Crunch

• Hazardous material analysis routing
• DOD Strategic Rail Corridor Network
• Public safety/liability concerns for rail lines
  through populated areas
• Shared-use right-of-ways

2001 - 2003Security and Safety
1995 - 2000Economic Expansion
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Topic Chronology
2004 - 2007Capacity Crunch

• Earmarks marketing rail projects
• Alternative energy plants
• Response to natural disaster
• Innovative financing arrangements Public
  Private Partnership
• Verification of public value
• International trade, especially with China

2001 - 2003Security and Safety
1995 - 2000Economic Expansion
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Emerging and Future Themes and Issues

• Aging rail infrastructure
• Bridges, track, facilities
• Role of rail in public solution portfolio
• Rail mitigation of highway / airway congestion
• Validation of public investment in rail
• Public / private benefits, impact on state
  economy
• Performance measures
• Intergovernmental coordination
• Institutional mechanisms for funding and
  implementation
• Environmental / quality of life policy guidance
• Community impacts
• Continued emphasis on security
• Role for the States funding, hazmats, etc.

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Next Steps

• Tuesday Morning Roundtable
• Discussion of rail plan components
• Strategize on helping legislative process
  
• Technical Memorandum Tasks 2, 3, and 4 Nov 07
• Draft Final Report to Committee Jan 08
  

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Thank You!
David Hunt dhunt_at_camsys.com