NCRRP 03-01: Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development Guidebook Rail Research Forum AASHTO SCORT 2015 September 11, 2015

NCRRP Project Overview Goal: Produce guidebook of strategies, tools, and techniques to assist public agencies and private organizations with developing intercity passenger rail service Project Objectives: 1.Conduct Comprehensive Review of Existing Resources to Support Intercity Passenger Rail Service Planning 2.Identify User Needs and Knowledge Gaps 3.Conduct Targeted Syntheses to Fill Knowledge Gaps 4.Generate Comprehensive, User-Friendly Guide

NCRRP Project Team Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) – Lead – Curtis Morgan, Principal Investigator – Jeffery Warner – Allan Rutter – Linda Cherrington David P. Simpson Consultants ESH Consult (Bruce Horowitz) Ohio University (Dr. Ben Sperry) Office of Walter E. Zullig, Jr., Esq.

NCRRP Project Schedule Task 1: Literature Review Gather Existing Resources Identify Gaps in Resource Framework Task 2: Guide User Outreach Direct Outreach to Potential Guide Users to Obtain Feedback Task 3: Draft Outline/Interim Report Task 4: Targeted Syntheses Limited Original Research on Select Topics to Fill Knowledge Gaps Identified in Tasks 1 and 2 Task 5: Final Guide/Final Report Submitted for Panel Review Comments expected this month

On-Going/Shifting/Changing Issues Re-Authorization of PRIIA – Current Legislation Expired in 2013 – How to Incorporate New Requirements/Regulations for Passenger Rail Programs STB and other Regulatory Oversight Availability of Information from other NCRRP Projects – 02-01: Energy Use – 03-02: Dynamic Travel Markets – 06-01: Workforce Capacity – 07-01: Alternative Financing Approaches (NCRRP Report 1) – 07-02: Organizational Structures – 12-01: Legal Aspects – 12-02: NCRRP Strategic Research Plan

Task 1: Resource Framework Policy and Legal Framework Guidance Documents – USDOT/FRA Guidance – Amtrak/Operator Guidance/Standards – AASHTO/APTA/AREMA/UIC Research/Consultant Studies – Research Studies from TRB, States – Consultant Reports from Feasibility Studies Analytical Tools – Ridership/Revenue, Route Selection Models Organizational Practices/Procedures/Checklists

Task 2: Outreach to Potential Guide Users Objective: Outreach to Potential Guide Users to Identify Additional Topics and Other Guide Details Task 2 Activities – Develop Outreach Plan – Direct Outreach at Industry Conference(s)- Joint Rail Conference in 2013 and SCORT 2013 Annual Meeting in Columbus Oversight Panel Comments – Task 2 – Special Emphasis on Input from FRA – Input from Users with Operational Experience – Input from Senior Executives in Rail Industry/State DOT – Engage DOTs with Range of Experience in Passenger Rail – Suggestions for Targeting Correct User Groups

Outreach Plan SCORT Workshop – Four stations: Planning; Design & Construction; Operations; On-going Program Management – Captured resources and needed guidance In-Person Interviews – Freight railroads – Amtrak – FRA – Other agencies Added during project: Online Survey

Planning Network design/route selection Environmental analysis/public outreach Ridership & revenue forecasting Economic analysis Shared-use corridor issues Station planning Service development planning Strategic/business planning Build consensus/public support Design & Construction ROW design ROW acquisition Fleet design Fleet planning/procurement Cost estimating Safety issues Grade crossings Construction issues Operations Operations of passenger rail service Maintenance of ROW Maintenance of equipment Fare policy/ticketing Revenue management Passenger services & amenities Marketing & outreach Interface with Host Railroads On-going Program Management State rail plan Funding & finance Institutional arrangements Legal issues Performance management Contracting Risk management

Online Survey Respondents Employer Type1 to 5 Yrs6 to 10 YrsOver 10 YrsTotal Public Agency (Currently Sponsors and Manages Passenger Train Service) 3137 Public Agency (Manages but does not Sponsor Passenger Train Service) 2125 Federal Railroad Administration-112 Consultant--55 Research & Development--11 Academic/Research Organization-1-1 Other-1-1 Total *Employer types not captured: Public Agency (Direct Operator of Passenger Train Service); Private Operator of Passenger Train Service; Freight Railroad; and Supplier

Online Survey Respondents Position Activities1 to 5 Yrs6 to 10 YrsOver 10 YrsTotal Planning44816 Design & Construction2-57 Operations22610 On-going Program Management3227 Other*1135 *Other responses: All of the above, Environmental Impact Assessment, Funding, Policy Counsel, and Testing

Online Survey Responses Most Utilized Resources – Transportation Research Record (TRR) Journal – FRA Rail Corridor Planning Guidance (2005) – FRA State Rail Plan Guidance (2013) – Amtrak Fleet Strategy (2012) – FRA Station Area Planning for High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (2011) – FRA Methodology for Determining the Avoidable and Fully Allocated Costs of Amtrak Routes (2009) – Other Resources Utilized: Noise/vibration impact assessment Amtrak reports and statistics Additional FRA Design guides, including freight rail design standards

Online Survey Responses Lacking Information and Gaps – “Every aspect” – Step-by-step process to start an intercity passenger rail service Needs to indicate how not to invalidate the process with FRA/DOT – Planning for intercity passenger rail if not a state DOT – Guidelines throughout the process for resources (people, effort, etc.) required for different sized operations – Challenges of associated with Amtrak operating on freight rail lines (terms, conditions, and corresponding costs) – Detailed operating cost data and methods for identifying operating expenses – Funding options – Process/checklist for preliminary evaluation of potential passenger rail routes and extension proposals (first cut tool)

Task 3: Interim Report Submitted List of Potential Targeted Synthesis Topics Submitted Draft Annotated Guide Outline Developed Interim Project Report Panel Meeting Summer 2014 – Panel Selected Five Targeted Synthesis Topics – Approved General Outline for Guidebook section

Draft/General Outline of Guidebook Chapter 1: Introduction and Purpose Chapter 2: ICPR Program Establishment Phase Chapter 3: ICPR Service Planning Phase Chapter 4: ICPR Planning/Environmental Chapter 5: Design and Construction Phase Chapter 6: Operations Phase- Service Planning Chapter 7: Ongoing Operations and Management Targeted Syntheses on Additional Topics

Task 4: Targeted Syntheses Objective: Address Gaps in Availability of Existing Resources for Passenger Rail Service Development Panel Selected Five Areas for “Targeted Syntheses” Task 4 Activities – Additional Literature Review, Synthesis, Stakeholder Contact – Original Research/Analysis by Research Team – Five Targeted Synthesis Conducted

Synthesis Topics Rationale for Synthesis Topic Selection – Limited Resources Available on Topic – Undocumented “Best Practices” Available on Topic (Tasks 1&2) Panel Selected Synthesis Topics: – Liability/Insurance Requirements Relating to ICPR – PRIIA 209 Cost Formula Transparency: Costing Granularity and Related Issues – Building Resilient and Dependable Passenger Rail Service – Performance Measurement and Quality Assurance Techniques – Role of the US Surface Transportation Board Regarding Intercity Rail Passenger Service

Task 5: Prepare Final Guide and Final Report Task 5 Activities – Prepared Draft Final Guide and Draft Final Project Report – Submitted Draft Final Guide and Report to Panel for Review – Revise/Submit Final Guide and Final Project Report Draft Guidebook/Targeted Syntheses/Final Report Submitted for Review in August Awaiting Oversight Panel Comments

Contact Information Curtis Morgan- TTI (979) Jeffery Warner- TTI (979)