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NCRRP 03-01: Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development Guidebook

A comprehensive guidebook providing strategies and tools for developing intercity passenger rail service, identifying user needs and filling knowledge gaps.

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NCRRP 03-01: Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development Guidebook

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  1. NCRRP 03-01: Intercity Passenger Rail Service and Development Guidebook Rail Research Forum AASHTO SCORT 2015 September 11, 2015

  2. 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: • Conduct Comprehensive Review of Existing Resources to Support Intercity Passenger Rail Service Planning • Identify User Needs and Knowledge Gaps • Conduct Targeted Syntheses to Fill Knowledge Gaps • Generate Comprehensive, User-Friendly Guide

  3. 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.

  4. NCRRP 03-01 Project Schedule • Task 1: Literature Review • Gather Existing Resources • Identify Gaps in Resource Framework • Task 5: Final Guide/Final Report • Submitted for Panel Review • Comments expected this month Task 3: Draft Outline/Interim Report • Task 2: Guide User Outreach • Direct Outreach to Potential Guide Users to Obtain Feedback • Task 4: Targeted Syntheses • Limited Original Research on Select Topics to Fill Knowledge Gaps Identified in Tasks 1 and 2

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Online Survey Respondents *Employer types not captured: Public Agency (Direct Operator of Passenger Train Service); Private Operator of Passenger Train Service; Freight Railroad; and Supplier

  10. Online Survey Respondents *Other responses: All of the above, Environmental Impact Assessment, Funding, Policy Counsel, and Testing

  11. 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

  12. 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)

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. Contact Information • Curtis Morgan- TTIc-morgan@tti.tamu.edu(979) 458-1683 • Jeffery Warner- TTIj-warner@tti.tamu.edu(979) 862-2915

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