TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS MAG Commuter Rail Strategic Plan Transportation Policy Committee December 12, 2007

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Project Approach Convene stakeholders from around the region to define requirements Convene stakeholders from around the region to define requirements Develop consensus for Commuter Rail in Regional Transportation Plan Develop consensus for Commuter Rail in Regional Transportation Plan Role in region travel market Role in region travel market Define requirements for successful system implementation Define requirements for successful system implementation

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Rail Technologies Light Rail Light Rail Houston Metro Houston Metro Heavy Rail Heavy Rail San Francisco BART San Francisco BART Commuter Rail Commuter Rail Trinity Railway Express (Dallas) Trinity Railway Express (Dallas)

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN What can Commuter Rail provide for the consumer? Carry longer trips in congested corridors Carry longer trips in congested corridors Offer relief in peak periods to parallel highways Offer relief in peak periods to parallel highways Provide service to urban centers Provide service to urban centers Consistent travel times into the future Consistent travel times into the future Link to developing areas Link to developing areas

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Commuter Rail Service – Trip Purpose Commuters – Daily – Morning & Afternoon Commuters – Daily – Morning & Afternoon Mid-Day, Evenings, Weekends – Occasional Trips/Events Mid-Day, Evenings, Weekends – Occasional Trips/Events Transfer Connections to Other Transit Services (Bus/LRT) Transfer Connections to Other Transit Services (Bus/LRT)

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Across the U.S. 21 systems currently operating 21 systems currently operating 26 systems proposed/planning 26 systems proposed/planning Regions we compete with for employers and skilled employees are investing in rail Regions we compete with for employers and skilled employees are investing in rail Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Dallas, Houston Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Dallas, Houston

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN The Need in Maricopa and Northern Pinal Counties Population and traffic growth Population and traffic growth Rising transportation costs Rising transportation costs $7,823 – 2006 National avg. to drive a car 15,000 miles (AAA) $7,823 – 2006 National avg. to drive a car 15,000 miles (AAA) Fuel prices—$90/barrel ($23 in 2003) Fuel prices—$90/barrel ($23 in 2003) Air quality concerns Air quality concerns Economic sustainability Economic sustainability Existing railroad alignments Existing railroad alignments

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Strategic Plan Overview Develop a strategy for MAG Region and Northern Pinal County to determine “how” to implement Commuter Rail Develop a strategy for MAG Region and Northern Pinal County to determine “how” to implement Commuter Rail SWOT Analysis – Address physical, operational, jurisdictional and financial opportunities and constraints with stakeholders SWOT Analysis – Address physical, operational, jurisdictional and financial opportunities and constraints with stakeholders Provide a Strategic Plan for adoption by MAG Regional Council Provide a Strategic Plan for adoption by MAG Regional Council

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Strategic Plan Process

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Proposed Goals for Commuter Rail Strategic Plan 1)Employ Commuter Rail to Shape Growth 2)Improve Transportation Mobility Opportunities by Implementing Commuter Rail 3)Provide a Seamless and Cost Effective Commuter Rail Option 4)Promote Sustainability through the Implementation of Commuter Rail 5)Increase Public/Private Cooperation to Implement Commuter Rail

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Implementation Framework Concept System Plan Concept System Plan Implementation Requirements Implementation Requirements Implementation Scenarios Implementation Scenarios Get Started Get Started Starter System Starter System Regional System Regional System

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Concept System Plan Utilize existing freight lines: Utilize existing freight lines: BNSF/Grand Avenue BNSF/Grand Avenue UP Main/Chandler UP Main/Chandler UP Main/Southeast UP Main/Southeast UP Main/Tempe UP Main/Tempe UP Yuma/West UP Yuma/West Consider potential alignments in developing areas: Consider potential alignments in developing areas: Tempe Branch to Maricopa Tempe Branch to Maricopa Chandler Branch to Coolidge Chandler Branch to Coolidge Hassayampa/Hidden Valley Hassayampa/Hidden Valley

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Implementation Requirements Governance and Administration Governance and Administration Policy, Construction and Operations Policy, Construction and Operations Roles and Responsibilities Roles and Responsibilities Railroad Cooperation Railroad Cooperation Purchase or Capacity Rights Agreements Purchase or Capacity Rights Agreements Funding and Finance Funding and Finance Sources and Uses Sources and Uses Regional Priorities Regional Priorities

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Potential Scenarios Get Started (Minneapolis) Get Started (Minneapolis) Single corridor, low cost of entry Single corridor, low cost of entry Starter System (Salt Lake City) Starter System (Salt Lake City) Two or more corridors, moderate cost of entry Two or more corridors, moderate cost of entry Regional System (Los Angeles, Denver) Regional System (Los Angeles, Denver) Multiple corridors, complex, highest cost of entry Multiple corridors, complex, highest cost of entry

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Scenario Implementation Requirements Railroad Coordination Railroad Coordination Governance Governance Administration, Legislation Administration, Legislation Operations Operations Costs Costs Funding Funding

Copyright © 2007 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMSCOMMUTER RAIL STRATEGIC PLAN Next Steps Final stakeholders meeting was held on Tuesday, October 30 th Final stakeholders meeting was held on Tuesday, October 30 th Draft plan for MAG staff review in December Draft plan for MAG staff review in December MAG Committee review process in January and February 2008 MAG Committee review process in January and February 2008

TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS MAG Commuter Rail Strategic Plan Transportation Policy Committee December 12, 2007