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Washington, DC and Tiburon, CA

Commuter Rail Plan Update

Transportation Engineers and Economists

In Association With

R.L. Banks & Associates, Inc.

Columbia, SC and San Francisco, CA

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Study Purpose

Update ridership and cost analysis from previous studies to support the Transit Planning Board’s efforts to develop a regional transit network.

R.L. BANKS & ASSOCIATES, INC.

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Steering Committee Members:Co-Chairs & Elected Officials

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Co-chairsMichael Robison; Lanier Holdings CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber Transit Committee co-chair

Doug Tollett; American Resurgens Management Company President, TPB Vice Chair

Elected Officials:Hon. Tommy Allegood, Mayor of AcworthHon. Keith Brady, Mayor of NewnanHon. Jill Chambers, House Transportation Committee memberHon. John Douglas, Senate Transportation Committee memberHon. Bill Dunaway, Mayor of MariettaHon. Harold Logsdon, Mayor of Peachtree CityHon. Sam Olens, ARC Board ChairHon. Gary Peet, Mayor of Stone MountainHon. Jere Wood, Mayor of Roswell

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Steering Committee Members

R.L. BANKS & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Richard Bowers, Richard Bowers & Co PresidentCraig Camuso, CSX Transportation Public Affairs Regional Vice PresidentChip Cherry, Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce PresidentRobert Dallas, Governor's Office of Highway Safety DirectorSonny Deriso, GRTA Board ChairPatty Durand, Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club PresidentDoc Eldridge, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce PresidentScotty Greene, Buckhead Community Improvement District Executive DirectorOscar Harris, Turner Associates CEODoug Hooker, PBS&J Southern States DirectorJohn Izard, Cushman & Wakefield PresidentBen Johnson, Alston & Bird Managing PartnerGordon Kenna, Georgia Concrete and Products Association Executive DirectorGlenn Kurtz, Lanier Parking Holdings Vice President of Alternative Transportation

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Steering Committee Members

R.L. BANKS & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Craig Lewis, Norfolk Southern Vice PresidentMichael Mandl, Emory University Executive Vice PresidentRyland N. McClendon, MARTA Assistant General Manager of PlanningJim Maran, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce PresidentEmory Morsberger, The Morsberger Group PresidentKaren Webster Parks, Regional Atlanta Civic League PresidentSteve Parks, Georgia Highway Contractors Association Executive DirectorDr. Carl Patton, Georgia State University PresidentKay Pippin, Henry County Chamber of Commerce PresidentAJ Robinson, Central Atlanta Progress PresidentJerome Russell, Russell Urban Realty PresidentJack Seibert, CH2MHill Project EngineerShane Short, Clayton County Chamber of Commerce PresidentTimothy Stack, Piedmont Hospital PresidentDr. Jim Wagner, Emory University PresidentLarry Walker, GDOT Board member

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Current Commuter Rail Study

R.L. BANKS & ASSOCIATES, INC.

• 7 lines between Atlanta and:– Athens (CSX)– Lovejoy-Macon (NS)– Gainesville (NS)– Madison (CSX)– Bremen (NS)– Senoia (CSX)– Canton (CSX)

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• Commuter rail is feasible on all seven corridors

• Estimates potential ridership through combination of corridor modeling and analysis of peer cities with existing commuter rail

• Results show that all proposed commuter rail lines could enjoy the same level of success as the peer cities

Study Summary

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Peer City Review: 10 of the 13 Most Populated US Metro Areas Have Commuter Rail

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1. New York Yes

2. Los Angeles Yes

3. Chicago Yes

4. Philadelphia Yes

5. Dallas Yes

6. Miami Yes

7. Houston No

8. Washington, DC Yes

9. Atlanta No

10. Detroit No

11. Boston Yes

12. San Francisco Yes

13. Riverside-Bernardino Yes

U.S. Metro Areas Ranked by Population

Commuter Rail? (Yes/No)

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Peer City Review

Systems studied:

– Los Angeles (Metrolink)

– Dallas-Fort Worth (TRE)

– Southern Florida (TriRail)

– Northern Virginia/Washington DC (VRE)

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Peer Systems Ridership Trends1990-2006

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Commuter rail ridership forecasts based on:

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1. Number of employees living within the commuter rail "catchment" area

2. Number of those employees' employment destinations served by the commuter rail line

3. The propensity for those employees to choose commuter rail as their travel mode

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Athens 135,756 3,000-3,700

Bremen 52,975 1,600-2,200

Canton 98,347 2,300-3,400

Gainesville 99,655 1,200-2,500

Macon 110,283 1,700-2,200

Madison 111,981 3,200-4,700

Senoia 62,304 1,200-1,700

Study Summary: Ridership Estimates

Daily Work Trips Served by Corridor

Daily Ridership Estimate (3 Trains/Peak

Period)

Rail Corridor

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Athens $471 million $15 million

Bremen $157 million $11.7 million

Canton $144 million $10.6 million

Gainesville $144 million $11.7 million

Macon $366 million $17.2 million

Madison $150 million $13.9 million

Senoia $106 million $ 9.2 million

Study Summary: Commuter Rail Costs

Capital Costs Operation and Maintenance Costs

Rail Corridor

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• Increased likelihood for commuters to opt for rail over automobiles as gas prices increase

• Affect of land-use changes on population patterns as commuter rail stations become active

Factors NOT Considered in this Study:

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• This report reaffirms commuter rail as an attainable, viable means to connect Georgia communities using updated demographic information.

Study Summary: Conclusion