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Federal Railroad Administration. The Future of Rail. Standing Committee on Rail Transportation (SCORT) September 20, 2010. The President’s Infrastructure Proposal. The Plan: $50 billion up-front investment Establish infrastructure bank with public and private funding
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Federal Railroad Administration The Future of Rail Standing Committee on Rail Transportation (SCORT) September 20, 2010
The President’s Infrastructure Proposal The Plan: $50 billion up-front investment Establish infrastructure bank with public and private funding Construct and maintain 4,000 miles of rail Target investments at US DOT’s five key strategic goals Develop performance-driven program Streamline, modernize, and prioritize surface transportation investments • “Over the next six years… we’re going to lay and maintain 4,000 miles of our railways – enough to stretch coast-to-coast.” • President Obama in Milwaukee, WI • September 6, 2010
National Rail System Development Development approach modeled after Interstate Highway System • Principles of development: • Strong national vision, leadership, and support • State-led implementation • Predictable and sustained funding • National standards-settings • Planned and phased system development 1 2 3 4 5 Interstate System routes designated in September 1955
Why do we need high-speed rail? America is growing by 70 million people over next 25 years—80% of them will live in a “megaregion”
How will high-speed rail help connect a growing America? Sweet Spot for High-Speed Rail Half of the country’s flights carry 30% of all passengers and are less than 500 miles
World Passenger and Freight Rail Volume Comparisons What level of investment is needed to implement this program? Passenger (million passenger-miles) Freight (billion ton-miles) Maintain market share, grow domestic intermodal Room for significant improvement
When Population Grows Freight needs grow proportionally Analysis of freight movements shows that the transportation system consistently moves 40 tons of freight per person per year 1. Building materials Auto parts Raw Materials Fuel Food Durable goods Consumer goods Chemicals Sources: 1. Source: Commodity Flow Survey 1993-2007, US Census Bureau (Gross amount of aggregate, consumable and durable goods, waste, etc.)
Freight Transportation Mode Share Tons Ton-miles
Freight Rail’s Strengths and Opportunities • Capitalize on inherent advantages over long distances • Enhance capacity to reduce highway congestion, pavement wear, accidents, and harmful emissions • Facilitate public/private partnershipsfor improvements with public benefits that are low priority for railroads Freight Transportation Mode Share by Distance Traveled One long-distance, double-stack train from Chicago to Los Angeles can replace 300 trucks and save 75,000 gallons of fuel. = 3,000 gallons = 10 trucks
Ton-miles per gallon of diesel fuel Fatalities per billion ton-miles Relative Efficiency of Modes As one of the most fuel efficient and safest transportation modes, rail is positioned to offer the most significant contribution to improving America’s transportation system to accommodate forecast growth.
TIGER Funding Freight Rail receives funding from Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
Lessons Learned Understanding the Process
NRP Outreach: What We Heard • Biweekly conference calls • Informational webinars
Challenges • Capacity • Culture Change • Communication • Construction • Commitment (long term)
Conclusion "The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of bold projects and new ideas. Rather, it will belong to those who can blend passion, reason and courage in a personal commitment to the ideals of American society.“ Robert Francis Kennedy