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Salt Lake City Gateway Area

Railroad Consolidation Project

Grant G. Schultz, Ph.D., P.E.,

PTOEAssistant Professor

Brigham Young University

CE En 361

October 1, 2004

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Topics of Discussion

• Background on the creation and development of the Gateway Railroad Consolidation Project

• The environmental approval process

• Project results• Lessons Learned

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A Multi-Modal Project...

• Freeways• Surface Streets• Freight Rail• Commuter Rail• Passenger Rail• Light Rail

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A Multi-Jurisdictional Project...

• Salt Lake City• Utah Department of

Transportation• Utah Transit Authority• Federal Highway Administration• Federal Transit Administration

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Salt Lake Gateway Project

Area

• Approximately 800 Acres West of the Salt Lake City Central Business District

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Salt Lake Gateway Project

Area

• An area of declining rail-served industrial uses

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Salt Lake Gateway Project

Area

• An area of opportunity for expansion of commercial, light industrial and residential land uses

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Salt Lake Gateway Project

Area

• Challenges– Freeway viaducts inhibited access to the area

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Salt Lake Gateway Project

Area

• Challenges– Railroad spurs in 400 and 500 West

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Salt Lake Gateway Project

Area

• Challenges– Rail traffic blocked streets on at-grade crossings

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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

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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

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Gateway Project

Creation

• June 16, 1995, Salt Lake City awarded 2002 Olympic Winter Games– Increased urgency to complete

projects – Opportunity for funding increased

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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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 1997; 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

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• 1997, 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

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• 1997, Commuter Rail Study– Commuter Rail is feasible – need

for a station in the Gateway Area

Gateway Project

Creation

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Environmental Analysis

• Two separate environmental documents – Viaduct Shortening – FHWA

(remember – option must be exercised by November 1, 1997)

– Intermodal Center - FTA

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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

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Viaduct Environmental

• Holnam Cement

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Viaduct Environmental

• Cereal Food Processors

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Viaduct Environmental

• PCA Tenneco

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Viaduct Environmental

• Amtrak

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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!

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Intermodal Center Environmental

• Key Issues:– Modes to be included at the site– Location– Hazardous Waste– Historical Properties

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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

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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

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Intermodal Center Environmental

• Union Pacific Depot

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Intermodal Center Environmental

• Rio Grande Depot

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Intermodal Center Environmental

• 200 South/600 West

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Intermodal Center Environmental

Location Alternative/Criteria 1a. 1b. 2. 3. 4a. 4b.

Remove heavy rail lines and at-grade rail crossings east of UP mainline.

- - N Y Y Y

Relocate Amtrak within construction timeframe. Y Y - Y Y Y

Federal funding available. N N N N Y Y

Within 1,200 feet of LRT Connection or final destination. N N N - - Y

North Temple underpass or overpass must be reconstructed with 400 West intersection remaining.

N X Y N Y Y

Must provide 800 feet of platform length for RCR. X Y X Y Y Y

Must provide 1,500 feet of platform length for Amtrak. X X X X Y Y

Must use technology compatible for use on existing freight rail lines.

Y Y Y Y Y Y

Land must be available within construction timeframe. X X Y N Y Y

XPotential Fatal Flaw - Disadvantage N Neutral Y Advantage

1a. Union Pacific Depot Head-In Station 1b. Union Pacific Depot Parallel Platform 2. Rio Grande Depot Head-In Station 3. 600 West South Temple Commuter Rail 200 South 600 West Amtrak 4a. 200 South 600 West Intermodal Center without LRT Connection 4b. 200 South 600 West Intermodal Center with LRT Connection

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• 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

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Gateway Area Map

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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

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Project Results

• Viaduct shortening

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Project Results

• Intermodal Center– Environmental document

approved October 21, 1998– Temporary Amtrak Station

currently being used– Final design approved and under

construction

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Project Results

• Intermodal Center

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Project Results

• Intermodal Center

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Project Results

• Intermodal Center

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Project Results

• Intermodal Center

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Project Results

• Intermodal Center

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Project Results

• Intermodal Center Before

Today

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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

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Project Results

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Project Results

• Gateway Land Use

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Project Results

• Gateway Land Use

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Project Results

• Gateway Land Use

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• Gateway Land Use

Project Results

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• Gateway Land Use

Project Results

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The Gateway

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The Gateway

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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

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Project Results

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Project Results

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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

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Project Results

• I-15 Corridor Utah County – Salt Lake County Study Area

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Lessons Learned

• Make no small plans.…• One project begets another...• Develop public support for

your project• Have the Olympics come to

your community!

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Transportation Planningat 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

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Questions?

Dr. Grant G. Schultz, P.E., PTOEgschultz@byu.edu368S CB