Intercity Passenger Rail Development: The State Perspective

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Intercity Passenger Rail Development The State
Perspective
Randy Wade Wisconsin Department of Development
Arizona Transit AssociationSeptember 28, 2007

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States Play a Key Role in the National Passenger
Rail System

• States focus on providing regional corridor
  services
• 100 to 500 miles in length
• Connecting major city pairs
• US travel markets 80 percent of all trips
  greater than 100 miles are less than 500 miles

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States Play a Key Role in the National Passenger
Rail System

• 14 states support intercity passenger rail
  corridor services
• State-supported services 35 percent of total
  Amtrak daily ridership, half of all passenger
  trains
• Virtually all of Amtrak ridership gains in past 5
  years have been on state-supported services
• State corridor ridership increased 15 percent
  the rest of the system has been flat

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States Play a Key Role in the National Passenger
Rail System

• States have made substantial investments in
  intercity passenger rail improvements
• Track, signals, stations, operating equipment
• Over 3 billion according to AASHTO

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States Support Intercity Passenger Rail Service
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The States are Planning for the Future

• At least 35 states have developed plans for
  future intercity passenger rail service
• Environmental analyses
• Engineering studies
• Market feasibility studies
• Final design

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The States are Planning for the Future
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The States are Planning for the Future

• State plans confirm that rail is competitive with
  auto and air modes
• 100 to 500 mile corridors
• Top speeds of up to 110 mph (average speeds
  greater than auto)
• Increased frequencies (6-10 daily round trips)
• New equipment with amenities for travelers
• Revenues cover operating costs

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INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

• Infrastructure Investments
• Increased Speeds
• Passenger and Freight Operations
• Safety
• Track, Sidings, Grade Crossings, Signals
• 12.7 billion over 6-years for state corridors
  AASHTO

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Talgo
Siemens
Bistro car
Modern Equipment Technology
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Midwest Regional Rail Initiative
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Cascades Service
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Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor
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Intercity Passenger Rail Benefits

• Energy Benefits
• Passenger rail development as a part of our
  national energy policy
• 21 percent less energy consumed per passenger
  mile than auto
• 17 percent less than airlines
• 10 percent mode shift to rail -- equivalent to
  imported Saudi oil 550 million barrels
• 9.7 million gallons annually in Charlotte-Wash DC
  corridor

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Intercity Passenger Rail Benefits

• Global Warming and Environmental Benefits
• 60 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than
  auto
• Half the emissions of airplanes
• Net reduction of 531,000 pounds of NOX annually
  in Charlotte-Wash DC corridor

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Intercity Passenger Rail Benefits

• Mobility and access benefits will generate
  additional employment in manufacturing, service
  and tourism sectors
• City-center to city-center service supports
  downtown revitalization
• Increased land values near stations

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Intercity Passenger Rail Benefits

• Midwest Regional Rail System Economic Impact
• 23.1 billion in user benefits travel time
  savings, congestion relief, emission reductions
  over life of project
• 57,400 permanent jobs
• 1.1 billion in additional household income
• 4.9 billion in increased property values at
  stations
• Milwaukee 227 million in property values 3,075
  jobs

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Federal Capital Program The Missing Link

• Dedicated federal passenger rail capital program
• 80/20 federal/state partnership
• Modeled on successful federal highway, transit
  and airport programs
• A federal/state partnership is the key to the
  future of U.S. passenger rail development

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States for Passenger Rail Coalition
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National Surface Transportation Policy and
Revenue Study Commission

• WisDOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi is a member of
  the National Surface Transportation Policy and
  Revenue Study Commission
• 12 members appointed by Congress
• Will recommend the structure and funding levels
  for next 6-year transportation bill
• Congressional charge explicitly includes rail
• Report to Congress due December 31, 2007

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Congressional Outlook Senate

• S. 294 Passenger Rail Investment and
  Improvement Act of 2007
• Reauthorizes Amtrak
• Introduced by Senators Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Lott
  (R-MS)
• 96-3 floor vote in budget bill last year
• 1.4 bil. 80/20 grants to states (6 years)
• 3.5 bil. Amtrak capital funding (6 years)
• 3.3 bil. Amtrak operating funding (6 yrs)
• On hold

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Congressional Outlook Senate

• American Infrastructure Investment and
  Improvement Act
• Aviation Trust Fund and funding for Highway
  Programs
• Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of
  2007
• An amendment by Senators Kerry, Lott and Smith
• 900 million annual tax credit bonding
  authorization for states for calendar years
  2008-2010 - 2.7 billion
• Fully offset
• Reported out of Senate Finance 16 to 5
• Floor vote expected

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Congressional Outlook House

• TI Committee Chair Jim Oberstar (D-MN) is
  expected to introduce passenger rail legislation
• Will be based in part on S. 294
• Could contain tax credit bonding for states
• Or separate bonding bill might move as in Senate
• Ways and Means Committee approval needed

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2008 Appropriations

• Senate Appropriations Committee S 1789
• Amtrak 1.375 billion
• State grant program 100 million
• Rail Line Relocation 0 million
• House passed HR 3074
• Amtrak 1.4 billion
• State grant program 50 million
• Rail Line Relocation 35 million

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Next Steps

• At the national level all politics are local
• Local officials and citizens need to weigh in
  with Congressional leadership and members of
  their delegations
• Emphasize the local and regional importance of
  passenger rail development
• Highlight local economic development benefits
• Begin planning, environmental and engineering
  work to be funding ready

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Questions or Comments?
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For More Information Contact

• Randy Wade
• Passenger Rail Manager
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• P. O. Box 7914
• Madison, WI 53707
• 608/266-9498
• randall.wade_at_dot.state.wi.us