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Freight and Passenger Rail Transportation in Iowa Iowa State University December 6, 2010

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)

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Freight and Passenger Rail Transportation in Iowa Iowa State University December 6, 2010

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  1. Freight and Passenger Rail Transportation in Iowa Iowa State University December 6, 2010

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Iowa’s Rail System In 1915

  5. Today’s Rail System

  6. 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

  7. RRLGP 2008 Flood Recovery • $3.9 million awarded to seven Iowa railroads • Restored rail service to much of eastern Iowa by rebuilding track

  8. 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

  9. Federal Aid Highway-Railroad Crossing 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

  10. IA 17/UP mainline - Four Quadrant Gates

  11. Amtrak in Iowa Amtrak Routes- National System Serving Iowa • California Zephyr • Southwest Chief

  12. Amtrak in USA Passenger Rail- Intercity System Iowa to Chicago’s Union Station, a passenger rail hub Fifteen States have Amtrak Intercity Service (shown in pink plus Virginia)

  13. Midwest Regional Rail Initiative Plan Midwest Planning 13

  14. Commuter Service Passenger Rail - Commuter System Leave the car at home and take the train to work Source: Commuter Rail Feasibility Study for the Des Moines Metropolitan Area 2000

  15. Iowa’s Passenger Rail Vision Iowa Connections Effort 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

  16. Iowa’s Vision Implement Iowa’s Vision in Phases

  17. Iowa’s Planning and Activities to be READY for Passenger Rail • 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 5

  18. Iowa’s Planning and Activities to be READY for Passenger Rail • 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 5

  19. Passenger Rail Funding Federal 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

  20. National Planning Preliminary National Rail Plan The Groundwork for Developing Policies to Improve the United States Transportation System

  21. National Planning Preliminary National Rail Plan

  22. Future Corridor Volumes Compared to Current Corridor Capacity2035 without improvements National Planning Source: National Rail Capacity Study, 2007

  23. Strategic Transportation Goals National Planning Preliminary National Rail Plan Current Performance

  24. National Planning Preliminary National Rail Plan Next steps… State Rail Plans National Rail Plan Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA)

  25. FRA’s High Speed Rail Strategic Plan—Major Elements National Planning • Investment strategy • Express high speed—over 150 mph • Corridor high speed—over 90 mph • Conventional 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

  26. Passenger Rail Applications Funding Iowa Received • 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

  27. Passenger Rail Applications Funding Iowa Received • 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

  28. 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

  29. 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)

  30. Tammy Nicholson Office of Rail Transportation Iowa Department of Transportation 515-239-1052 Tamara.nicholson@dot.iowa.gov www.iowarail.com

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