Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

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Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail
Projects
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• Mr. Charles A. Poltenson, Sr.
• Senior Intermodal PlannerSyracuse Metropolitan
  Transportation Council (SMTC)Syracuse, New York

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Session Objectives
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Foster a better understanding of the public
  benefits of micro freight rail projects
• l Provide examples of success stories
• l Provide examples of unfulfilled
  opportunities.
• l Illustrate some of the constraints MPOs face
  in implementing freight rail projects.

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What is a Micro Scale Project?
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Generally low cost
• l Localized
• l Easier to implement

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Intermodal Yard Check-In Facility
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects
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Transload (Crossdock) Facility
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects
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Sidings/Additional Yard Trackage
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects
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Intermodal Connectors
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects
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What are the benefits of Micro Scale Projects?
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Environmental
• l Infrastructure
• Quality of Life
• Economic Benefits

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Finger Lakes Railway
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Started Operations in 1995 (formerly Conrail)

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Finger Lakes Railway
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Started Operations in 1995 (formerly Conrail)
• l 5,600 carloads in 1995

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Finger Lakes Railway
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Started Operations in 1995 (formerly Conrail)
• l 5,600 carloads in 1995
• l 14,347 carloads in 2002

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Finger Lakes Railway
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Started Operations in 1995 (formerly Conrail)
• l 5,600 carloads in 1995
• l 14,347 carloads in 2002
• l Direct job creation 4 in 1995 to 31 currently

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Finger Lakes Railway
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Started Operations in 1995 (formerly Conrail)
• l 5,600 carloads in 1995
• l 14,347 carloads in 2002
• l Direct job creation 4 in 1995 to 31 currently
• l Indirect new or more secure jobs 1,037

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Access and its Impact
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects
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Solvay Paperboard Yard
Syracuse Area Success Story

• l Finger Lakes Railway
• l Privately Funded
• l Additional Direct Sidings
• l Benefits Improved Air Quality, Congestion
  Reduction, Improved Market Penetration,
  Quality of Life

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Coatesville Transload/ Intermodal Facility
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

• l Brandywine Valley Railroad Company
• l CMAQ Funded
• l Facility Allows Bulk Commodity Shippers and
  receivers to be accommodated by rail instead of
  long haul truck service.
• l Benefits Improved Air Quality, Congestion
  Reduction

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Philadelphia Food Distribution Center Cross-Dock
Facility
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

• l Philadelphia Industrial Development
  Corporation
• l CMAQ Funded
• l Railroad Boxcar-to-Truck Cross Dock Transfer
  Terminal for frozen/ refrigerated food
• l Benefits Improved Air Quality, Congestion
  Reduction

18
New Rail Line Track to Former Philadelphia Navy
Yard
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

• l Norfolk Southern Corporation
• l CMAQ Funded
• l New Intermodal Double-Stack Rail Facility
• l Benefits Improved Air Quality, Congestion
  Reduction

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Factors in DVRPCs Success
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

• l Active Goods Movement Task Force
• l Task Force Has A Voice in the MPO
• l Interest on Behalf of Member Agencies to
  Support Freight Rail Projects.

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Auburn, Maine Intermodal Terminal
Other Success Stories

• l St. Lawrence and Atlantic
• l CMAQ Funded
• l New Intermodal Terminal
• l Benefits Improved Air Quality, Congestion
  Reduction, Improved Market Penetration

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Opportunities Unfulfilled
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Solvay Rail-Truck Transload Facility
•   -- Finger Lakes Railway
• -- Not Funded
• -- Facility would have allowed Bulk Commodity
  Shippers and receivers to be accommodated
  by rail instead of long haul truck service.
• -- Benefits Lost Improved Air Quality,
  Congestion Reduction
• l Scrap Metal Yard Rail Siding
•   -- Finger Lakes Railway
• -- Not Funded
•        -- Direct Access to major scrap dealer
• -- Benefits Lost Improved Air Quality,
  Congestion Reduction

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Factors in Opportunities Lost / MPO Constraints
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• l Institutional constraints
• l Lack of voice in MPO structure
• l Inability to present projects for funding at
  MPO level
• l Limited funding eligibility
• l Limited funding/increasing competition for
  funds
• l Lack of familiarity with rail operations and
  benefits at MPO level
• l State and Federal Guidance
• l Timeframe Required for Utilization of Federal
  Funds

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Micro Scale Projects and the Big Picture
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Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail
Projects
Public Investment in Micro Freight Rail Projects

• Questions / Discussion