Overview of the NH Rail Transit Authority

1
Overview of the NH Rail Transit Authority
the NH Capitol Corridor Project

• April 14 , 2009

2
NH Rail Transit Authority Overview

• 2006-Governor Commissions Study to Determine
  Viability of Establishing a Commuter Rail
  Authority
• January 2007 SB-75N Bill Introduced
• June, 2007 SB-75N Signed into Law
• First NHRTA Meeting September 2007
• June, 2008- 75 M Limit Liability Cap Signed into
  Law
• November 2008 Executive Board Established by the
  NHRTA Board
• November 2008 Interim Executive Director Position
  approved by the NHRTA Board

3
NH Rail Transit Authority Overview

• Mission Statement Mission
• Develop and Provide Commuter, Passenger Rail and
  Related Public Rail Transportation Services in
  NH.
• Vision
• Develop and implement comprehensive,
  coordinated and prioritized project
• and funding plans for passenger rail services
  that provide New Hampshire citizens
• Commuter rail services to in state and out of
  state employment centers,
• Tourist services to recreation areas,
• Easy access to regional inter-city passenger rail
  services and other multi-modal transportation
  systems.
•  

4
NH Capitol Corridor Project Description

• Provide Commuter Rail Service from Manchester to
  Boston
• Manchester-North Station- Approx. 58 Miles
• Three NH Passenger Rail Stations Assumed
• Downtown Manchester
• Manchester Boston Regional Airport
• Nashua
• Extend MBTA Lowell Service to Manchester
• 33 Miles From Lowell
• Right-of-Way Ownership South of State Line-
• Executive Office of Transportation (MBTA)
• Right-of-Way Ownership North of State Line-
• Pan Am Railways

5
NH Capital CorridorAlternatives for Ridership

• Alternate No. 1
• Low Frequency (3 Peak Trains)-Minimum per MBTA
  requirements
• Alternate No. 2
• Medium Frequency (4/5 peak trains)-extension of
  previously planned Nashua service.
• Alternate No. 3
• High Frequency (6 peak trains) Extension of all
  Lowell trains.
• Alternate No. 4 (Preferred)
• Express service-medium frequency (4/5 peak
  trains) stops at NH stations (3), Chelmsford,
  Lowell, Anderson, North Station
• Alternate No. 5
• Express service-Low Frequency (3 peak trains) )
  stops at NH stations (3), Chelmsford, Lowell,
  Anderson, North Station

6
NH Capital CorridorPotential Commuter Operations

• Manchester to Boston, North Station (minutes)
  includes station dwell time
• Weekday Service Frequencies AM Peak (P) 6AM-9AM,
  Mid day Peak Off peak (OP) 9AM-4PM) PM Peak
  4PM-7PM, Evening OP-7PM

7
NH Capitol CorridorInfrastructure Improvements

• Lowell to Nashua (Approximately 11 Miles)
• One Station and Train Layover
• Up-Grade Highway Crossings
• Double Track - Rehabilitate and Restore
• New Train Control System (TCS)
• Relocate Existing Fiber Optic Cable
• Operational Control Center (OCC) Upgrades
• Nashua to Manchester (Approximately 22 Miles)
• Two Stations
• Sections of Double and Single Track
• Up-Grade Highway Crossings
• New Train Control System (TCS)
• Relocate Existing Fiber Optic Cable
• Operational Control Center (OCC) Upgrades

8
NH Capital Corridor-Order of Magnitude Cost
Estimate

• Estimated Capitol Costs 300 M (Escalated to
  Year 2013)
• Lowell to Manchester
• Equipment
• Engineering, Contingency Escalation
• Assumptions
• Work completed by Force Account
• Three NH Stations
• Equipment- New Coaches and one New locomotive
• Train Layover Facility
• Rehabilitate Existing Grade Crossings
• Approximately 33 miles of Track, Civil, and
  Train Control Upgrades
• Double Track to Train Layover Facility
• Single Track North of Train Layover Facility w/
  Sections of Double Track (passing sidings)
• Control Center Modifications
• Estimated Annual Operating Costs-10M to 12 M

9
NH Capital Corridor Estimated Fare Box Revenue

• Travel MHT/Airport-Boston
• Projected Average One-Way Trip Costs.. Less
  than 10/trip
• Estimated Average Daily Riders . 1,760
• Estimated Annual Revenue. 3.9 M
• Travel Nashua-Boston
• Projected Average One-Way Trip Costs .. Less
  than 10/trip
• Estimated Average Daily Riders ..
  1,380
• Estimated Annual Revenue 2.7M
• Projections
• Total Projected Riders..
  820,000
• Estimated Annual Revenue 6.6 M

Approximately 50 of Operating Costs from Fare
Box Revenue
10
NH Capital CorridorNext Steps

• Fund Alternative Analysis and Preliminary
  Engineering
• Determine Eligibility for Stimulus Dollars
• Complete Alternative Analysis and Preliminary
  Engineering
• Affirm Commuter Rail Alternative
• Station locations
• Operations
• Commuter Rail Operations
• Cost Estimates
• Identify Funding for Capitol and Operating Costs
  
• Complete Final Design and Implement
  Operating/Access Agreements with PA Am Rail