ncrrp 03-01: intercity passenger rail service and development guidebook rail research forum aashto...
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NCRRP 03-01: Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development Guidebook
Rail Research ForumAASHTO SCORT 2015
September 11, 2015
NCRRP 03-01 Project Overview• Goal:
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– Jeffery Warner– Allan Rutter– Linda Cherrington
• David P. Simpson Consultants• ESH Consult (Bruce Horowitz)• Ohio University (Dr. Ben Sperry)• Office of Walter E. Zullig, Jr., Esq.
NCRRP 03-01 Project ScheduleTask 1: Literature Review• Gather Existing Resources• Identify Gaps in Resource Framework
Task 2: Guide User Outreach• Direct Outreach to Potential
Guide Users to Obtain Feedback
Task 3: Draft Outline/Interim Report
Task 4: Targeted Syntheses• Limited Original Research on
Select Topics to Fill Knowledge Gaps Identified in Tasks 1 and 2
Task 5: Final Guide/Final Report• Submitted for Panel Review• Comments expected this month
On-Going/Shifting/Changing Issues• Re-Authorization of PRIIA– Current Legislation Expired in 2013– How to Incorporate New Requirements/Regulations for
Passenger Rail Programs
• STB and other Regulatory Oversight• Availability of Information from other NCRRP Projects
– 02-01: Energy Use– 03-02: Dynamic Travel Markets– 06-01: Workforce Capacity– 07-01: Alternative Financing Approaches (NCRRP Report 1)– 07-02: Organizational Structures – 12-01: Legal Aspects– 12-02: NCRRP Strategic Research Plan
Task 1: 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
Task 2: Outreach to Potential Guide Users
• Objective: Outreach to Potential Guide Users to Identify Additional Topics and Other Guide Details
• Task 2 Activities– Develop Outreach Plan– Direct Outreach at Industry Conference(s)- Joint Rail Conference in
2013 and SCORT 2013 Annual Meeting in Columbus
• Oversight Panel Comments – Task 2– Special Emphasis on Input from FRA – Input from Users with Operational Experience– Input from Senior Executives in Rail Industry/State DOT– Engage DOTs with Range of Experience in Passenger Rail– Suggestions for Targeting Correct User Groups
Outreach Plan• SCORT Workshop– Four stations: Planning; Design & Construction;
Operations; On-going Program Management– Captured resources and needed guidance
• In-Person Interviews– Freight railroads– Amtrak– FRA– Other agencies
• Added during project: Online Survey
Planning• Network design/route selection• Environmental analysis/public
outreach• 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
Online Survey RespondentsEmployer Type 1 to 5 Yrs 6 to 10 Yrs Over 10 Yrs Total
Public Agency (Currently Sponsors and Manages Passenger Train Service) 3 1 3 7
Public Agency (Manages but does not Sponsor Passenger Train Service) 2 1 2 5
Federal Railroad Administration - 1 1 2
Consultant - - 5 5
Research & Development - - 1 1
Academic/Research Organization - 1 - 1
Other - 1 - 1
Total 5 5 12 22
*Employer types not captured: Public Agency (Direct Operator of Passenger Train Service); Private Operator of Passenger Train Service; Freight Railroad; and Supplier
Online Survey RespondentsPosition Activities 1 to 5 Yrs 6 to 10 Yrs Over 10 Yrs Total
Planning 4 4 8 16
Design & Construction 2 - 5 7
Operations 2 2 6 10
On-going Program Management 3 2 2 7
Other* 1 1 3 5
*Other responses: All of the above, Environmental Impact Assessment, Funding, Policy Counsel, and Testing
Online Survey Responses• Most Utilized Resources
– Transportation Research Record (TRR) Journal– FRA Rail Corridor Planning Guidance (2005)– FRA State Rail Plan Guidance (2013)– Amtrak Fleet Strategy (2012)– FRA Station Area Planning for High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail
(2011)– FRA Methodology for Determining the Avoidable and Fully Allocated
Costs of Amtrak Routes (2009)– Other Resources Utilized:
• Noise/vibration impact assessment• Amtrak reports and statistics• Additional FRA• Design guides, including freight rail design standards
Online Survey Responses• Lacking Information and Gaps
– “Every aspect”– Step-by-step process to start an intercity passenger rail service
• Needs to indicate how not to invalidate the process with FRA/DOT
– Planning for intercity passenger rail if not a state DOT– Guidelines throughout the process for resources (people, effort, etc.)
required for different sized operations– Challenges of associated with Amtrak operating on freight rail lines
(terms, conditions, and corresponding costs)– Detailed operating cost data and methods for identifying operating
expenses– Funding options– Process/checklist for preliminary evaluation of potential passenger rail
routes and extension proposals (first cut tool)
Task 3: Interim Report
• Submitted List of Potential Targeted Synthesis Topics• Submitted Draft Annotated Guide Outline• Developed Interim Project Report• Panel Meeting Summer 2014– Panel Selected Five Targeted Synthesis Topics– Approved General Outline for Guidebook section
Draft/General Outline of Guidebook• Chapter 1: Introduction and Purpose• Chapter 2: ICPR Program Establishment Phase• Chapter 3: ICPR Service Planning Phase• Chapter 4: ICPR Planning/Environmental• Chapter 5: Design and Construction Phase• Chapter 6: Operations Phase- Service Planning• Chapter 7: Ongoing Operations and Management• Targeted Syntheses on Additional Topics
Task 4: Targeted Syntheses• Objective: Address Gaps in Availability of Existing
Resources for Passenger Rail Service Development• Panel Selected Five Areas for “Targeted Syntheses”
Task 4 Activities– Additional Literature Review, Synthesis, Stakeholder
Contact– Original Research/Analysis by Research Team– Five Targeted Synthesis Conducted
Synthesis Topics
• Rationale for Synthesis Topic Selection– Limited Resources Available on Topic– Undocumented “Best Practices” Available on Topic (Tasks 1&2)
• Panel Selected Synthesis Topics:– Liability/Insurance Requirements Relating to ICPR– PRIIA 209 Cost Formula Transparency: Costing Granularity and
Related Issues– Building Resilient and Dependable Passenger Rail Service– Performance Measurement and Quality Assurance Techniques– Role of the US Surface Transportation Board Regarding Intercity
Rail Passenger Service
Task 5: Prepare Final Guide and Final Report
• Task 5 Activities– Prepared Draft Final Guide and Draft Final Project Report– Submitted Draft Final Guide and Report to Panel for Review– Revise/Submit Final Guide and Final Project Report
• Draft Guidebook/Targeted Syntheses/Final Report Submitted for Review in August
• Awaiting Oversight Panel Comments
Contact Information
• Curtis Morgan- [email protected](979) 458-1683
• Jeffery Warner- [email protected](979) 862-2915