NCRRP 03-01: Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development Guide

Curtis Morgan Program Manager

Rail Research Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute2013 AASHTO SCORT National Meeting

September 23, 2013

NCRRP 03-01 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 Planning2. Identify User Needs and Knowledge Gaps3. Conduct Targeted Syntheses to Fill Knowledge Gaps4. Generate Comprehensive, User-Friendly Guide

NCRRP 03-01 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 03-01 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

Today’s Workshop

• Your Input is Needed for the NCRRP 03-01 Guide!• Workshop Objectives:

– Feedback from Potential Guide Users (YOU) on Additional Resources, Best Practices, and Guide Format

– Suggest Topics for Targeted Synthesis

That’s why we are asking for your

assistance today.

…Plus many best practices and

procedures that aren’t 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 03-01 project or to provide additional feedback to the research team, please contact:

Curtis Morgan Program Manager

Rail Research ProgramTexas A&M Transportation Institute

c-morgan@ttimail.tamu.edu(979) 458-1683

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