0. Ray Lang Chief, State Government Relations
Update on Amtrak
Ray Lang
Chief, State Government Relations

1. America’s intercity provider
Amtrak Today
America’s intercity provider
305 weekday trains
21,200 route-miles
Serves 46 States, 3 Canadian provinces, and Washington, DC
FY2013, system ridership record of 31.6 M passengers
10th such record in the past 11 years
$2.1 billion in ticket revenue
Amtrak recovers 89% of its operating costs
This is an exciting time to be at Amtrak!
A new strategy
A new organization
Some big challenges

2. FY 2015 Grant and Legislative Request in Context
FY 2014 Amtrak Request
FY 2014 Federal Grant
FY 2015 Amtrak Request
Operating
$373
$340
$701
Capital
2,065
841
760
Debt Service
212
199
150
FRA oversight
n/a
$10 $9
Total
$2,650*
$1,390
$1,620
*Excludes FRA oversight numbers
Request sized to approach historically funded level
Time and investment needed to size organization for growth
Proposal restructures grant to maximize available capital
More operating funding allows us to leverage revenues
Projected FY 15 capital level would rise to $1,129 ($278M above FY 14 appropriated level)
Cost recovery improvement is forecasted
Goal is to “drive a wedge” for a gradual expansion of our capital program

3. Amtrak has just released updated version of our corporate strategy
The Strategic Context
Amtrak has just released updated version of our corporate strategy
Three overarching strategic goals
Financial excellence
Customer Focus
Safety and Security
CUS represents an enormous potential revenue opportunity
Location
Unused space
Potential for improvement of existing space

4. Crossroads of the system
The importance of CUS
Crossroads of the system
56 daily Amtrak trains
350 weekday Metra trains
Every LD train west of the Appalachians, except the Coast Starlight
4th largest Amtrak station on ridership basis
3.2 million Amtrak
31 million Metra
Any property with this much traffic represents a major development opportunity

5. Chicago Union Station Master Plan
Master planning process led by CDOT, in close cooperation with Amtrak and Metra
Identify & assess near-, medium-, and long-term station improvements to encourage and accommodate growth
Three City-led near-term improvements to be built in :
Central Loop Bus Rapid Transit (CLBRT)
Union Station Transit Center (USTC)
Opportunities for innovative and economical capacity expansion in the medium-term (5-10 year horizon)

6. Amtrak’s Main Entrance
Near Term Projects
Bird’s Eye View, facing northwest
CANAL STREET
JACKSON BLVD
Union Station Transit Center
Central Loop Bus Rapid Transit
WASHINGTON
MADISON
CLINTON
CANAL
MICHIGAN
Legend
New dedicated bus lanes
Bus routes feeding bus lanes
New protected bike lanes
New BRT stations
UNION STATION
USTC
RANDOLPH
Amtrak’s Main Entrance
CANAL STREET
JACKSON BLVD

7. Innovative Capacity Expansion (medium term)
Unused Baggage Platform
Widened Commuter Platform
Reconfigure concourse
Widen commuter platforms and add direct street access
Repurpose mail platforms for passenger use
Create capability to through- route some intercity trains
Old steam tunnel passageway and basement, repurposed for passenger use

8. Create the capability to through-route some intercity trains
UNION STATION
Great Hall
Chicago’s intercity passenger train network Through tracks could allow passenger rail connections to O’Hare and points beyond
Old Mail Platforms Repurposed for Passenger Use
Improved Through Tracks

9. Questions?