Transcript Rail Planning in Colorado

RAIL
PLANNING IN
COLORADO
SCORT – September 17, 2012
Portland, Maine
COLORADO STATE RAIL PLANNING
• Initial Rail Plan completed under 4R Act of 1976 $100,000 FRA Planning Grant
• Most Recent Plan Update in 1991
• Recent Rail Planning Efforts in Colorado
– CDOT’s Colorado Rail Relocation Feasibility
Study (2009)
– Rocky Mountain Rail Authority High Speed Rail
Feasibility Study (2010)
2012 COLORADO STATE RAIL PLAN
• Adopted in March 2012
• PRIIA Compliant
• Stakeholder Involvement
– Steering Committee (17 Members) – 5
Meetings
– Stakeholder Group (Grew from 50 to 250+)
– 6 Workshops/Open Houses Across the State
– Other Industry Focused Meetings (Agriculture,
Coal)
2012 COLORADO STATE RAIL PLAN
• Project Categories – Freight Rail
– Railroad/Public Safety Projects (37)
– Railroad Overpass/Underpass Projects (44)
– Corridor Preservation Projects (2)
– Short Line Improvement Projects (13)
– Rail Facilities/Relocation Projects (3)
– Class l Rail Capital Projects (17)
– Industrial Spur Tracks (2)
2012 COLORADO STATE RAIL PLAN
• Project Categories – Passenger Rail
– Existing Passenger Service (4)
– Proposed Passenger Service – Commuter Rail (4)
– Proposed Passenger Service – Intercity Rail (9)
– Proposed Passenger Service – High Speed Rail (7)
NEXT STEPS
• Interregional Connectivity Study
• I-70 Advanced Guideway System Feasibility
Study
• Pending Passenger Rail Service Development
Plan: Denver to Fort Collins (Commuter Rail)
INTERREGIONAL CONNECTIVITY
STUDY (ICS)
• 18 month study through September 2013
– Builds upon previous studies
– Aims to connect major population centers
– Study area: Fort Collins to Pueblo
• 4 Presentations/Public Meetings Held in July
• In Phase 2 of Planning Process, the Initial Evaluation
• ICS should determine that benefits exceed capital
costs
I-70 ADVANCED GUIDEWAY
SYSTEM STUDY
• 18 month study through September 2013
• AGS Study Goals:
Technical
RFI
Technical
Response
Alignment
Study
Finance RFI
– Determine the technological and financial feasibility
of an AGS on I-70
– Assess feasibility of alignments based on
technology
– Coordinate with local and regional transit network
• Technology Request for Information to
be released in mid-September
•
Finance
Response
•
Technology provider responses due mid-October
with presentations at Tech Forum in late October
Study unique for Industry outreach approach
PENDING PASSENGER RAIL
SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PLAN:
DENVER TO FORT COLLINS
(COMMUTER RAIL)
• Follow-on to North I-25 EIS Record of Decision
• Highest Ranked Commuter Rail Project in State Rail
Plan
• Proposed to be State Funded
• Follow FRA Passenger Rail Service Development Plan
Guidelines