Texas Freight & Rail Texas Freight & Rail StudiesStudies

Mark Werner, P.E.Mark Werner, P.E.Transportation Planning & Transportation Planning &

ProgrammingProgrammingMultimodal SectionMultimodal Section

Statewide Freight StudiesStatewide Freight Studies

Development of statewide need Development of statewide need assessment for freight movementassessment for freight movement

Evaluation of freight movements and Evaluation of freight movements and operations within specific areasoperations within specific areas

Identification of opportunities to increase Identification of opportunities to increase freight efficienciesfreight efficiencies

Feasibility of relocating freight Feasibility of relocating freight infrastructure and operations to infrastructure and operations to alternative alignmentsalternative alignments

Statewide Freight StudiesStatewide Freight Studies

Identification and analysis of potential Identification and analysis of potential freight connections to Trans Texas freight connections to Trans Texas CorridorCorridor

Development of recommendations and Development of recommendations and plans to implement identified projectsplans to implement identified projects

Other tasks associated with potential Other tasks associated with potential projects for improving freight projects for improving freight movementsmovements

Three Phase StudiesThree Phase Studies

Phase 1 – Information GatheringPhase 1 – Information Gathering Phase 2 – Alternative Analysis and Phase 2 – Alternative Analysis and

EvaluationEvaluation Phase 3 – Economic Development Phase 3 – Economic Development

and Prioritization of and Prioritization of RecommendationsRecommendations

Current StudiesCurrent Studies

San AntonioSan Antonio HoustonHouston West Texas – Amarillo, Lubbock & West Texas – Amarillo, Lubbock &

Odessa DistrictsOdessa Districts East Texas – Paris, Atlanta, Tyler, East Texas – Paris, Atlanta, Tyler,

Lufkin & Dallas DistrictsLufkin & Dallas Districts

San Antonio Region Study San Antonio Region Study AreaArea

TxDOT’s 12 County San Antonio TxDOT’s 12 County San Antonio DistrictDistrict

KerrKerr - Atascosa - Atascosa KendallKendall - Wilson - Wilson BanderaBandera - Bexar - Bexar Uvalde - ComalUvalde - Comal Medina - GuadalupeMedina - Guadalupe Frio - McMullenFrio - McMullen

Inventory of Existing Rail Inventory of Existing Rail NetworkNetwork 571 miles of railroad tracks

420 single track mainline miles 80 double track mainline miles 32 miles of yard tracks

excluding SoSan, East, and Kirby yards 40 miles of siding or industrial spur tracks

Nearly 48,000 lineal feet (over 9 miles) of railroad structures

895 grade crossings 326 other signs or signals 320 other gates 131 stop signs 107 crossbucks 9 flashing lights 2 train activated bells/wigwags

Freight Rail Movement Freight Rail Movement ConstraintsConstraints

Connectivity between existing rail lines

Capacity increase limitations Along the mainline Rail yards

Curves Roadway/Rail interface

Measuring Railroad CapacityMeasuring Railroad Capacity Develop statistical modelsDevelop statistical models Observe volume of traffic over a Observe volume of traffic over a

particular route segmentparticular route segment Observe volume of traffic over the Observe volume of traffic over the

entire rail network under considerationentire rail network under consideration Assess terminal capacityAssess terminal capacity

Provides an entirely different set of Provides an entirely different set of challengeschallenges

Institutional challengesInstitutional challenges Operational constraintsOperational constraints

Measuring Railroad CapacityMeasuring Railroad Capacity Evaluate the physical characteristics of the Evaluate the physical characteristics of the

terminal location terminal location Identify potential bottlenecks Identify potential bottlenecks Establish “base-case” operational modelEstablish “base-case” operational model Establish railroad considerations for Establish railroad considerations for

growth forecastsgrowth forecasts Requirements to handle the additional traffic Requirements to handle the additional traffic Evaluate the commodity mixEvaluate the commodity mix Assess current potential capacities of both Assess current potential capacities of both

private and publicly owned transload facilitiesprivate and publicly owned transload facilities

Rail Tonnage - 2004Rail Tonnage - 2004 Over 98 Million Gross Tons (MGT) of Over 98 Million Gross Tons (MGT) of

freight via rail came into San Antoniofreight via rail came into San Antonio Approximately 1.2 Million rail cars, and Approximately 1.2 Million rail cars, and

approximately 56 Million tons of freightapproximately 56 Million tons of freight Over 3300 cars/day averageOver 3300 cars/day average

Over 95 MGT of freight via rail left Over 95 MGT of freight via rail left San AntonioSan Antonio Over 1.17 Million rail cars and over 54 Over 1.17 Million rail cars and over 54

Million tons of freightMillion tons of freight Over 3200 cars/day averageOver 3200 cars/day average

San Antonio Bypass Study San Antonio Bypass Study CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Numerous conceptual corridors are being analyzed for Numerous conceptual corridors are being analyzed for bypassing San Antoniobypassing San Antonio Between 66 and 90 mile overall lengthsBetween 66 and 90 mile overall lengths

Existing route approximately 65 miles Existing route approximately 65 miles Bypassing municipalitiesBypassing municipalities

SeguinSeguin MarionMarion

Rail yard locations includedRail yard locations included Crew change pointsCrew change points In-line fueling facilitiesIn-line fueling facilities Local service concernsLocal service concerns

Connectivity to existing rail linesConnectivity to existing rail lines Austin Sub @ New BraunfelsAustin Sub @ New Braunfels Corpus Christi and Laredo SubdivisionsCorpus Christi and Laredo Subdivisions

ToyotaToyota

Refined Study AreaRefined Study Area

Next StepsNext Steps Develop and perform iterations to Develop and perform iterations to

determine benefits of:determine benefits of: Infrastructure improvementsInfrastructure improvements Yard relocation considerations Yard relocation considerations Rail corridor consolidationsRail corridor consolidations Rail corridor alternativesRail corridor alternatives Combinations thereofCombinations thereof

Establish cost/benefit ratiosEstablish cost/benefit ratios Establish public benefit as well as private Establish public benefit as well as private

benefitbenefit

Houston Study AreaHouston Study Area

TxDOT’s 6 County Houston District

Harris Montgomery Waller Fort Bend Brazoria Galveston

2 TxDOT Beaumont

District Counties Chambers Liberty

Inventory of Existing Rail Inventory of Existing Rail NetworkNetwork

1135 miles of railroad tracks1135 miles of railroad tracks 830 single track mainline miles830 single track mainline miles 75 double track mainline miles75 double track mainline miles 70 miles of yard tracks70 miles of yard tracks

excluding the Major yardsexcluding the Major yards 159 miles of siding or industrial spur tracks159 miles of siding or industrial spur tracks

Nearly 113,000 lineal feet (over 21 miles) of Nearly 113,000 lineal feet (over 21 miles) of railroad structuresrailroad structures

1203 grade crossings1203 grade crossings 574 other signs or signals574 other signs or signals 308 other gates308 other gates 145 stop signs145 stop signs 145 crossbucks145 crossbucks 31 flashing lights31 flashing lights

Rail Freight MovementsRail Freight Movements Over 118 Million Gross Tons (MGT) of Over 118 Million Gross Tons (MGT) of

freight via rail came into Houstonfreight via rail came into Houston Approximately 1.45 Million rail cars, and Approximately 1.45 Million rail cars, and

over 67 Million tons of freightover 67 Million tons of freight Just under 4000 cars/day averageJust under 4000 cars/day average

Over 127 MGT of freight via rail left Over 127 MGT of freight via rail left HoustonHouston Approximately 1.56 Million rail cars and Approximately 1.56 Million rail cars and

over 72 Million tons of freightover 72 Million tons of freight Nearly 4300 cars/day averageNearly 4300 cars/day average

Rail Freight MovementsRail Freight Movements

Over 217 MGT of freight via rail Over 217 MGT of freight via rail moved around “inside” of Houstonmoved around “inside” of Houston Annually, that’s nearly 2.67 Million rail Annually, that’s nearly 2.67 Million rail

cars and over 123 Million tons of freightcars and over 123 Million tons of freight Approximately 28 MGT of freight rail Approximately 28 MGT of freight rail

stayed in Houstonstayed in Houston Annually, nearly 346,000 rail cars and Annually, nearly 346,000 rail cars and

over 16 Million tons of freightover 16 Million tons of freight

Addressing Capacity Addressing Capacity ImprovementsImprovements

Must be made to handle predicted Must be made to handle predicted increases in tons of freight hauled increases in tons of freight hauled

Must make sense operationally, Must make sense operationally, especially for the Railroadsespecially for the Railroads

Must be ranked in order of Must be ranked in order of cost/benefit ratiocost/benefit ratio

Must be made to sustain growthMust be made to sustain growth

Railroad Capacity Railroad Capacity ImprovementsImprovements

Must be operationally and financially Must be operationally and financially sound sound

Will investigate previously recommended Will investigate previously recommended improvements as alternativesimprovements as alternatives

Will use Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) Will use Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) modelingmodeling Establish base (current) networkEstablish base (current) network Develop alternative alignments/upgradesDevelop alternative alignments/upgrades

Test validityTest validity Determine cost/benefit ratiosDetermine cost/benefit ratios

RTC ModelingRTC Modeling

Over 2000 train files codedOver 2000 train files coded Trains go “to” Houston. Trains go “to” Houston.

RR’s are not running a bunch of trains RR’s are not running a bunch of trains “through” Houston“through” Houston

Very small percentages of trains are Very small percentages of trains are intermodalintermodal

Very large percentages of trains are Very large percentages of trains are locallocal UP has over 900 customers in RegionUP has over 900 customers in Region

Application of RTCApplication of RTC Analyze effects of capital projects, such asAnalyze effects of capital projects, such as::

sidings, crossovers and bypass trackssidings, crossovers and bypass tracks double trackingdouble tracking new locomotives by typenew locomotives by type

Determine best time to schedule trainsDetermine best time to schedule trains Determine effects of adding and deleting Determine effects of adding and deleting

train servicetrain service Determine comparisons of improving Determine comparisons of improving

existing infrastructure vs. alternative existing infrastructure vs. alternative alignmentsalignments Key component in validating operational improvementsKey component in validating operational improvements

Rail Network Improvement Rail Network Improvement AnalysisAnalysis

Review alternative routes Review alternative routes Analyze operational changesAnalyze operational changes Review rail yard capacitiesReview rail yard capacities Investigate at-grade crossings forInvestigate at-grade crossings for

ClosuresClosures SeparationsSeparations

Provide cost/benefit per Provide cost/benefit per recommendation assumptionsrecommendation assumptions

RR validation on assumptions requiredRR validation on assumptions required

Next StepsNext Steps

Analyze vs. Base CaseAnalyze vs. Base Case Determine effectiveness of Determine effectiveness of

improvementsimprovements Establish cost/benefit rankingEstablish cost/benefit ranking

Define for near term, mid-range, and Define for near term, mid-range, and long term applicabilitylong term applicability

Amarillo District

Lubbock DistrictOdessa

District

West TexasWest Texas

Getting StartedGetting Started

Notice to Proceed issued April 16, Notice to Proceed issued April 16, 20062006

Public Meetings Public Meetings Identifying StakeholdersIdentifying Stakeholders Developed Questionnaires that have Developed Questionnaires that have

been sent to stakeholdersbeen sent to stakeholders Begun establishing an inventory of the Begun establishing an inventory of the

existing freight rail system existing freight rail system

East TexasEast TexasDallas District

Paris District

Lufkin District

AtlantaDistrict

Tyler District

Getting StartedGetting Started

Notice to Proceed Issued May 30, Notice to Proceed Issued May 30, 20062006

Public MeetingsPublic Meetings Identification of StakeholdersIdentification of Stakeholders

Future StudiesFuture Studies

Dallas Fort WorthDallas Fort Worth Area wide freight will be coordinated Area wide freight will be coordinated

with the North Central Texas Council of with the North Central Texas Council of Governments Tower 55 studyGovernments Tower 55 study

Border AreaBorder Area

Questions Questions