1 Salt Lake City Gateway Area Railroad Consolidation Project Grant G. Schultz, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE Assistant Professor Brigham Young University CE En 361 October 1, 2004

2 Topics of Discussion Background on the creation and development of the Gateway Railroad Consolidation Project The environmental approval process Project results Lessons Learned

3 A Multi-Modal Project... Freeways Surface Streets Freight Rail Commuter Rail Passenger Rail Light Rail

4 A Multi-Jurisdictional Project... Salt Lake City Utah Department of Transportation Utah Transit Authority Federal Highway Administration Federal Transit Administration

5 Salt Lake Gateway Project Area Approximately 800 Acres West of the Salt Lake City Central Business District

6 Salt Lake Gateway Project Area An area of declining rail-served industrial uses

7 Salt Lake Gateway Project Area An area of opportunity for expansion of commercial, light industrial and residential land uses

8 Salt Lake Gateway Project Area Challenges –Freeway viaducts inhibited access to the area

9 Salt Lake Gateway Project Area Challenges –Railroad spurs in 400 and 500 West

10 Salt Lake Gateway Project Area Challenges –Rail traffic blocked streets on at- grade crossings

11 Gateway Project Creation 1994, Visionary Gateway Plan –Created public and political support for the idea of consolidating rail lines, shortening the 400 South, 500 South and 600 South viaducts –Developed land use concepts for the area, including the opportunity for an Intermodal Center

12 Gateway Project Creation 1995, Rail Consolidation Implementation Study –Created an implementation plan for shortening the viaducts and consolidating rail lines –Required the construction of a new station and track to house Amtrak –Consultant recommendations on cost- sharing for the project

13 Gateway Project Creation June 16, 1995, Salt Lake City awarded 2002 Olympic Winter Games –Increased urgency to complete projects –Opportunity for funding increased

14 Gateway Project Creation 1996, Contracts Awarded for Construction of North/South Light Rail Line –Northern terminus of the line at the Delta Center, in the Gateway area

15 March, 1996; Decision to use Design/Build process for reconstruction of I-15 through the Salt Lake Valley October, 1996; I-15 Reconstruction Bid Package was released –Included Option B to shorten the viaducts to downtown Salt Lake City –Option had to be exercised by the Utah Department of Transportation by November 1, 1997 Gateway Project Creation

16 March, 1997; Approval to proceed on preparation of environmental documents for the viaduct shortening and Intermodal Center –Prior to November 1, 1997: Completion of the environmental process Agreement with all parties involved –UDOT, Salt Lake City, UTA, Union Pacific Railroad, Amtrak, Cereal Food, Holnam Cement, Tenneco Packaging, Mountain Cement, NAC Gateway Project Creation

; Gateway Land Use Master Plan –Creation of a land use master plan for the 800 acre Gateway area –Accessibility of this area is a major focal point to the master plan Gateway Project Creation

, West/East LRT MIS/EIS –Preferred Alternative was a west/east light rail line running from the airport to the University of Utah –Preferred alignment passes through the Gateway Area – requires shortening the viaducts Gateway Project Creation

, Commuter Rail Study –Commuter Rail is feasible – need for a station in the Gateway Area Gateway Project Creation

20 Environmental Analysis Two separate environmental documents –Viaduct Shortening – FHWA (remember – option must be exercised by November 1, 1997) –Intermodal Center - FTA

21 Viaduct Environmental Key issues –Traffic operations –Business access –Remove rail from 400 W. and 500 W. –Accommodate rail service to shippers Holnam Cement Cereal Food Processors PCA Tenneco Amtrak

22 Viaduct Environmental Holnam Cement

23 Viaduct Environmental Cereal Food Processors

24 Viaduct Environmental PCA Tenneco

25 Viaduct Environmental Amtrak

26 Viaduct Environmental Results –Negotiated with shippers to resolve rail service issues –Analyzed traffic operations which indicated traffic can be accommodated –Received a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in October 1997 Met November 1 deadline!

27 Intermodal Center Environmental Key Issues: –Modes to be included at the site –Location –Hazardous Waste –Historical Properties

28 Intermodal Center Environmental Initially a mono-modal site for relocating Amtrak as part of the viaduct shortening and track consolidation Developed into a true Intermodal Center Commuter rail study had identified the need for a Gateway station Greyhound was losing their lease in their downtown location

29 Intermodal Center Environmental Four sites evaluated for location of Intermodal Center –Union Pacific Depot –Rio Grande Depot –600 West/South Temple –200 South/600 West

30 Intermodal Center Environmental Union Pacific Depot

31 Intermodal Center Environmental Rio Grande Depot

32 Intermodal Center Environmental 200 South/600 West

33 Intermodal Center Environmental

34 Results –Staff recommended site at 200 South/600 West –City Council voted in favor of site –EA document completed to include all modes –Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) received October 21, 1998 Intermodal Center Environmental

35 Gateway Area Map

36 Project Results Viaduct shortening –Signed agreements with all shippers to sever or relocate rail service January 1, 1999 –Constructed the Cereal Foods rail spur –Viaducts designed and constructed for the shortened lengths

37 Project Results Viaduct shortening

38 Project Results Intermodal Center –Environmental document approved October 21, 1998 –Temporary Amtrak Station currently being used –Final design approved and under construction

39 Project Results Intermodal Center

40 Project Results Intermodal Center

41 Project Results Intermodal Center

42 Project Results Intermodal Center

43 Project Results Intermodal Center

44 Project Results Intermodal Center Before Today

45 Project Results Gateway Land Use –‘Bridges’ five acre development proposed west of Intermodal site –‘Gateway’ 40 acre development west of and incorporating the historic Union Pacific depot –Reuse of existing warehouses to retail and housing uses

46 Project Results

47 Project Results Gateway Land Use

48 Project Results Gateway Land Use

49 Project Results Gateway Land Use

50 Gateway Land Use Project Results

51 Gateway Land Use Project Results

52 The Gateway

53 The Gateway

54 Project Results Commuter Rail –Weber County to Salt Lake Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) completed –Review currently underway –Trains could start rolling into the station as soon as 2007

55 Project Results

56 Project Results

57 Project Results Commuter Rail –Included as an alternative for the I-15 Corridor Utah County – Salt Lake County EIS –Studying corridor from Salt Lake City to Santaquin Light Rail –Several projects currently being evaluated

58 Project Results I-15 Corridor Utah County – Salt Lake County Study Area

59 Lessons Learned Make no small plans.… One project begets another... Develop public support for your project Have the Olympics come to your community!

60 Transportation Planning at BYU Urban Transportation Planning (CEEn 565) Fall semester –Keep your text! Site Transportation Planning (CEEn 594R/564) Winter semester –Prerequisite CEEn 562 Traffic Engineering (CEEn 562) Fall semester

61 Questions? Dr. Grant G. Schultz, P.E., PTOE 368S CB