NCRRP 03-01: Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development Guide Curtis Morgan Program Manager Rail Research Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2013 AASHTO SCORT National Meeting September 23, 2013

NCRRP Project Overview NCRRP Project 03-01: Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development Guide 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 – *Ben Sperry (now at Ohio University) – *Jeff Warner – *Cinde Weatherby – Chris Pourteau, Communications Support *David P. Simpson Consultants *ESH Consult (Bruce Horowitz) Office of Walter E. Zullig, Jr., Esq. * Indicates in attendance

NCRRP Project Schedule Task 1: Literature Review Spring/Summer 2013 Gather Existing Resources Identify Gaps in Resource Framework Task 2: Guide User Outreach Fall 2013 Direct Outreach to Potential Guide Users to Obtain Feedback Task 3: Draft Guide/Interim Report Winter 2013/2014 Task 4: Targeted Syntheses Winter/Spring 2014 Limited Original Research on Select Topics to Fill Knowledge Gaps Identified in Tasks 1 and 2. Task 5: Final Guide/Final Report Summer 2014 Project Completion: 9/2014

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

Todays Workshop Your Input is Needed for the NCRRP Guide! Workshop Objectives: – Feedback from Potential Guide Users (YOU) on Additional Resources, Best Practices, and Guide Format – Suggest Topics for Targeted Synthesis Thats why we are asking for your assistance today. …Plus many best practices and procedures that arent documented yet… There are a Lot of Great Resources Out There… With your feedback and expertise, we can create a comprehensive, user-friendly guidebook describing resources and best practices for passenger rail service and development.

Workshop Instructions Workshop Instructions: – Complete Brief Survey on Card you Received at Start of Session – Write Your Suggestions for Resources, Best Practices, and Synthesis Topics on the Sticky Notes Provided – Visit Our Four Functional Area Stations and Place your Sticky Notes on the Boards Located at Each Station Four Functional Area Stations: – Planning and Environmental – Design and Construction – Operation of Intercity Passenger Rail Service – Passenger Rail Program Management

Planning and Environmental Major Function Areas: – Service Development Plan/Business Plan – Route/Station Planning – Environmental Analysis/Public Involvement – Ridership/Revenue/Economic Analysis – Shared-Use Corridor Issues Example Resources Currently Available: – State Rail Plan Guidance (FRA) – State Rail Planning Best Practices Guide (AASHTO) – HSIPR Ridership Best Practices (USDOT OIG) – NCHRP 657 Shared-Use Implementation Handbook – Station Area Planning (FRA)

Design and Construction Major Function Areas: – Right-of-Way Design/Acquisition – Fleet Design/Planning/Procurement – Cost Estimating – Grade Crossing/Other Safety Issues – Construction Approaches/Practices Example Resources Currently Available: – Design Standards for AREMA/Individual Railroads – Collision Hazard Analysis Guide for Passenger Rail (FRA) – Guidance on Pedestrian Safety At/Near Stations (FRA) – TCRP LRD 1 Strategies to Facilitate Acquisition and Use of Railroad ROW

Operation of Intercity Passenger Rail Service Major Function Areas: – Contracting or Direct Operation of Passenger Rail Service – Maintenance of Equipment/Right-of-Way – Interface with Host Railroads – Revenue Management/Fare Policy/Ticketing/Marketing – Passenger Services and Amenities Example Resources Currently Available: – Agreements/Operations Planning with Host Railroads – Mixed-Use Corridors Maintenance Costs Study (FRA) – Amtrak Fleet Strategy (Amtrak) – TCRP 92 Strategies for Improved Traveler Information

Passenger Rail Program Management Major Function Areas: – Contracting and Management of Passenger Rail Services – Development of State Rail Plan – Funding and Finance for Rail Projects/Operations – Performance Management – Risk Management Example Resources Currently Available: – State Rail Plan Guidance (FRA) – State Rail Planning Best Practices Guide (AASHTO) – Active Commuter Rail Agency Service Contracts (GAO) – NCHRP 657 Shared-Use Implementation Handbook

Workshop Instructions Workshop Instructions: – Complete Brief Survey on Card you Received at Start of Session – Write Your Suggestions for Resources, Best Practices, and Synthesis Topics on the Sticky Notes Provided – Visit Our Four Functional Area Stations and Place your Sticky Notes on the Boards Located at Each Station Four Functional Area Stations: – Planning and Environmental – Design and Construction – Operation of Intercity Passenger Rail Service – Passenger Rail Program Management

Thank you for your participation in making this guidebook a success! For more information about NCRRP project or to provide additional feedback to the research team, please contact: Curtis Morgan Program Manager Rail Research Program Texas A&M Transportation Institute (979)

Planning Network Design/Route Selection Environmental Analysis 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