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Freight and Passenger Rail Transportation in Iowa Iowa State University December 6, 2010. Rail in Iowa. Passenger Rail Background Iowa’s Vision Activities HSIPR applications. Freight Rail Rail in Iowa Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant Program Rail Port Funding (2010) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Freight and Passenger Rail Transportation in Iowa
Iowa State University
December 6, 2010
Rail in Iowa
Passenger Rail– Background– Iowa’s Vision– Activities– HSIPR applications
Freight Rail –Rail in Iowa–Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant Program–Rail Port Funding (2010)–2008 Flood Relief
Iowa’s Railroads
19 railroad companies
3,716 railroad employees
4,023 track miles (over 50,000 acres of land)
4471 public at-grade crossings; 718 grade separations
In Iowa, railroads spend nearly $300 million annually for maintenance and improvements.
Pay over $245 million in wages & benefits to Iowans; $128 million in retirement benefits
Pay income, sales and property taxes
Iowa’s Rail System In 1915
Today’s Rail System
Rail Revolving Loan and Grant Program (RRLGP)
•Building access to rail for Iowa’s businesses•Rail network improvement projects for Iowa’s communities •New for 2010- Rail Port Funding
• $3.9 million awarded to seven Iowa railroads
• Restored rail service to much of eastern Iowa by rebuilding track
RRLGP 2008 Flood Recovery
• Program began in 1976• Funding Source – State
$900,000 and $1M from Federal Aid Crossing Safety Program
In 2000 Primary Program created
• Crossing life was 4-5 years• DOT staff hired• Partnership in construction
with DOT and Railroad field staff
Highway/Railroad Surface Repair Program
Federal Aid Highway-Railroad Federal Aid Highway-Railroad Crossing Safety ProgramCrossing Safety Program
• All Funding Source – – Section 1401 of SAFETEA-LU – FY 2009 - $4.2 million– FY 2010 - $3.6 million
• Project Eligibility - all safety improvements on public roads including new crossing signal devices, upgrading of existing signals, increased sight distance, increased lens size, crossing surface rebuilds, crossing closures, raised medians and other safety improvements.
• Project Participation – flexible 10% match by railroad and/or highway authority on signal work
• Project Prioritization – B/C ratio for warning devices
IA 17/UP mainline - Four Quadrant Gates
Amtrak Routes-National System
Serving Iowa
California ZephyrSouthwest Chief
Amtrak in Iowa
Passenger Rail - Intercity System
Fifteen States have Amtrak Intercity Service (shown in pink plus Virginia)
Iowa to Chicago’s Union Station, a passenger rail hub
Amtrak in USA
13
Midwest Regional Rail Initiative Plan
Midwest Planning
Passenger Rail - Commuter System
Source: Commuter Rail Feasibility Study for the Des Moines Metropolitan Area 2000
Leave the car at home
and take the train to work
Commuter Service
Iowa’s Passenger Rail Vision
Create a passenger rail network that connects Iowans to each other and the country, and makes Iowa a more attractive place to live, work and
visit.
Insert Iowa Connections front page
Iowa Connections Effort
Implement Iowa’s Vision in Phases
Iowa’s Vision
• 1990’s legislation creating Passenger Rail Service Revolving Fund
• 1996 Midwest Regional Rail Initiative member state• 1998 Route Feasibility Study (Chicago to Omaha)• 2000 Rail System Plan• 2006/2007 Transportation Enhancement funding of
depot improvements on California Zephyr route• 2006/2007 Requested Amtrak feasibility studies• 2007 Amtrak feasibility study Chicago to Dubuque
Iowa’s Planning and Activities to be READY for Passenger Rail
5
• 2007 Iowa passed legislation joining the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact
• 2008 Amtrak feasibility study Chicago to Iowa City• 2008 Formed Passenger Rail Advisory Committee (statewide
membership)• 2009 Appropriated $3 million to the Passenger Rail Service
Revolving Fund• 2009 Updating State Rail Plan• 2010 Appropriated Funding to Match Federal Funds for future
grant opportunities• 2010 Prepared a Draft 10 Year Strategic Plan
Iowa’s Planning and Activities to be READY for Passenger Rail
5
Passenger Rail Funding• Federal Funding
– American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (Recovery Act) February 2009
• $8 billion ~ High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail
– FY10 Appropriations Funding• $2.5 billion ~ High Speed and
Intercity Passenger Rail
• Competitive Grants– States must apply for funds
Federal Funding
The Groundwork for Developing Policies to Improve the United States Transportation System
Preliminary National Rail Plan
National Planning
Preliminary National Rail Plan
National Planning
Future Corridor Volumes Compared to Current Corridor Capacity2035 without improvements
Source: National Rail Capacity Study, 2007
National Planning
Strategic Transportation Goals
Current PerformanceCurrent Performance
Preliminary National Rail Plan
National Planning
Passenger Rail Investment andImprovement Act of 2008 (PRIIA)Passenger Rail Investment and
Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA)
State Rail PlansState Rail Plans National Rail PlanNational Rail Plan
Next steps…Next steps…
Preliminary National Rail Plan
National Planning
FRA’s High Speed Rail Strategic Plan—Major Elements
• Investment strategyExpress high speed—over 150 mphCorridor high speed—over 90 mphConventional intercity rail—up to 90 mph
• Focuses on 100 to 600 mile trip lengths• Federal Funding is a down payment - A starting
point only—will not build the full system
National Planning
• American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (Recovery Act)
– Iowa awarded funding for:• California Zephyr route – BNSF Ottumwa
Subdivision/Crossovers – $17.3 million federal grant– No state match required– Installation for 4 new crossovers to reduce congestion
and improve On-Time Performance
• Chicago to Omaha (for planning)– $1 million federal grant– $1 million state match required– For planning, environmental analysis, route study and
preliminary engineering
Funding Iowa Received
Passenger Rail Applications Passenger Rail Applications
Passenger Rail Applications Passenger Rail Applications • FY 2010 funding
– Iowa and Illinois awarded funding for:
• Chicago to Iowa City– $230 million federal funding– Total Project Cost = $310 million (80 % federal funding/ 20% state match)– For environmental analysis, track construction and improvements,
layover facility, equipment acquisition, and station improvements– Complete funding for implementing new service– Future costs for operating subsidy
Funding Iowa Received
What’s next?
Chicago to Iowa City • Two daily round trips • Maximum 79 mph• Each train carries 230 passengers• Total route 219.5 miles• Travel time = less than 5 hours• New station at Iowa City• 246,800 riders per year
What’s next?
Chicago to Iowa City - Benefits• Transportation options for Iowans• Create jobs – during construction and after
service is in operation• Improve Iowa’s infrastructure• Sustainable/Livable communities• Positive Economic Benefits (B/C=1.7)• Highway user safety benefits ($7.4 M/year)• Increased business activity ($25 M/year)
Tammy NicholsonOffice of Rail Transportation
Iowa Department of Transportation
Tammy NicholsonOffice of Rail Transportation
Iowa Department of Transportation
www.iowarail.com
