ODOT Rail Study Status Presented to ORULE October 2, 2008 Betsy Imholt Rail Study Director ODOT Rail Division
ConnectOregon II (HB 2278) “The study shall include an assessment of the infrastructure, capacity demand and constraints, development of criteria for strategic investments and return on investment and identification of potential funding sources and strategies.”
Study Outline 2008-2009 Infrastructure Assessment Bridges Tunnel Track Policy Analysis Return on Investment Funding Strategies Economic Projections Commodity Flow Business Trends State Ownership Passenger Rail Inter-city Service Commuter Service DEA $700K
Infrastructure Condition assessment and upgrading/replacing cost estimates. Will be complete by December.
Bridges (1500+) Scope: Condition assessment Formulas for repair/upgrade/replace Narrowing criteria: Short lines only Wood bridges >100 ft Steel bridges Use existing reports POTB FEMA assessment 87 on site assessments 244 paper assessments DEA $700K
Tunnels (69) Scope: Condition assessment Cost estimates to repair/upgrade Narrowing criteria: Short lines only Use existing reports POTB FEMA assessment 17 on site assessments 7 paper assessments Shannon & Wilson $438K
Track (2389 miles) Scope: Class of track Welded rail 286,000 pounds per car load Narrowing criteria: Short lines 1297 miles ODOT Rail Free!
Policy Analysis Phase I (2008) ROI analysis Funding strategies Phase II (2009) Economic projections Commodity flow Business trends State ownership
Passenger Rail Phase I (2008) Inter-city service comparison Commuter rail study compilation Phase II (2009) Commuter rail expansion assessment Eugene-Ashland expansion assessment
WES Commuter Rail Current Amtrak Route Possible Passenger Route
Timeline Phase I Complete December 2008 Infrastructure, ROI, funding, inter-city passenger service Phase II Complete Spring 2009 Commuter rail, economic projections, commodity flows, business trends, state ownership Final Report Summer/Fall 2009