FRA/Amtrak HighFRA/Amtrak High--Speed Rail Planning WorkshopSpeed Rail Planning Workshop

Status of Planning for the Gulf Status of Planning for the Gulf Coast HighCoast High--Speed Rail CorridorSpeed Rail Corridor

Houston, TXHouston, TXMay 29, 2009May 29, 2009

The Southern HighThe Southern High--Speed Rail Speed Rail CommissionCommission

Created in 1982 to study the feasibility of rapid rail Created in 1982 to study the feasibility of rapid rail service between states in the Deep Southservice between states in the Deep SouthLouisiana, Mississippi and AlabamaLouisiana, Mississippi and AlabamaAdjacent states can join by Legislative ActAdjacent states can join by Legislative Act

SHSRC AccomplishmentsSHSRC Accomplishments

Mobile Mobile -- New Orleans for the 1984 for theNew Orleans for the 1984 for theWorldWorld’’s Fairs FairSunset Limited Sunset Limited extendedextendedBirmingham to Mobile (Birmingham to Mobile (Gulf Breeze)Gulf Breeze)Gulf Coast Limited Gulf Coast Limited (1996)(1996)FederallyFederally--designated Gulf Coast Highdesignated Gulf Coast High--Speed Rail Speed Rail Corridor (1998)Corridor (1998)Eligible for HSR fundingEligible for HSR funding

FederallyFederally--designated HSR Corridorsdesignated HSR Corridors

Gulf Coast HSR CorridorGulf Coast HSR Corridor

The Gulf Coast HSR Corridor consists of three distinct The Gulf Coast HSR Corridor consists of three distinct segmentssegments::

Houston to New OrleansHouston to New Orleans………………………….362 miles.362 milesAtlanta to New OrleansAtlanta to New Orleans……………………......……518 miles518 milesMobile to New Orleans.Mobile to New Orleans.……………………............145 miles145 miles

TotalTotal…………………………............1,025 miles............1,025 miles

Gulf Coast HSR CorridorGulf Coast HSR Corridor

Previous SHSRC Planning ProjectsPrevious SHSRC Planning Projects

Segments that have been planned:Segments that have been planned:New Orleans to MobileNew Orleans to Mobile………………………….145 miles.145 milesLake Charles to New OrleansLake Charles to New Orleans…………....220 miles....220 milesNew Orleans to MeridianNew Orleans to Meridian………… …………..202 miles202 miles

TotalTotal……..……………………………………..567miles..567miles

Segments that require planning:Segments that require planning:Lake Charles to Texas state lineLake Charles to Texas state line………….35 miles.35 milesMeridian to AtlantaMeridian to Atlanta………………………………........316 miles316 miles

TotalTotal……………………........………………....351 miles....351 miles

Planned and Unplanned Segments Planned and Unplanned Segments of the Corridorof the Corridor

Ongoing SHSRC Planning ProjectsOngoing SHSRC Planning Projects

BR BR –– NO IPR Feasibility AnalysisNO IPR Feasibility AnalysisRidershipRidershipTransit Oriented DevelopmentTransit Oriented DevelopmentInitial Community ContactsInitial Community ContactsConceptual EngineeringConceptual EngineeringEconomic Impact AnalysisEconomic Impact AnalysisBusiness/Financial PlanBusiness/Financial Plan

Baton Rouge to New Orleans Baton Rouge to New Orleans HSR Intercity Passenger ServiceHSR Intercity Passenger Service

Future Projects: LouisianaFuture Projects: Louisiana

BR BR –– NO Intercity Passenger RailNO Intercity Passenger RailFRA Corridor Development PlanFRA Corridor Development PlanEnvironmental clearancesEnvironmental clearancesHost Railroad and Operating agreementsHost Railroad and Operating agreementsARRA application (Track 2 Corridor Programs)ARRA application (Track 2 Corridor Programs)

Future Projects: MississippiFuture Projects: Mississippi

Amtrak reviewing service resumption of the Amtrak reviewing service resumption of the Sunset LimitedSunset Limited in CSX corridorin CSX corridorTriTri--State Corridor ProjectState Corridor Project

Future Projects: AlabamaFuture Projects: Alabama

ADECA is new coordinating state agencyADECA is new coordinating state agencyAmtrak reviewing service resumption of the Amtrak reviewing service resumption of the Sunset LimitedSunset Limited in in CSX corridorCSX corridorMeridian Meridian –– Atlanta (316 miles)Atlanta (316 miles)

Alternate Route Analysis (Birmingham Alternate Route Analysis (Birmingham –– Atlanta, 164 mi)Atlanta, 164 mi)Corridor Development Plan (Meridian Corridor Development Plan (Meridian –– Atlanta)Atlanta)Environmental ClearancesEnvironmental Clearances

Financing and implementationFinancing and implementationARRA Application (Track 3 Planning Funds)ARRA Application (Track 3 Planning Funds)

Partners: BR Partners: BR ––

NO Intercity HSR NO Intercity HSR Passenger ServicePassenger Service

LADOTDLADOTDHost Railroads (KCS, CN)Host Railroads (KCS, CN)Amtrak/NOUPTAmtrak/NOUPTFRA FRA MPOs, Cities and parishes in the corridor:MPOs, Cities and parishes in the corridor:

Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Laplace, Kenner (NOIA), Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Laplace, Kenner (NOIA), New OrleansNew Orleans

Partners: Gulf Coast HSR CorridorPartners: Gulf Coast HSR Corridor

Current Current –– LADOTD, MDOT, ALDOT, ADECALADOTD, MDOT, ALDOT, ADECAFuture Future –– TXDOT, GDOTTXDOT, GDOTHost railroads (BNSF, CN, CSX, KCS, NOPB, NS, Host railroads (BNSF, CN, CSX, KCS, NOPB, NS, UP)UP)AmtrakAmtrakFRA FRA MPOs, cities, counties/parishes (Houston, Beaumont, Lake MPOs, cities, counties/parishes (Houston, Beaumont, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Slidell, Picayune,Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Slidell, Picayune,Hattiesburg, Laurel, Meridian, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Meridian, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Anniston, Atlanta, Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Mobile)Anniston, Atlanta, Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Mobile)

Corridor PrioritiesCorridor Priorities

Implement BR Implement BR –– NO HSR Intercity ServiceNO HSR Intercity ServiceExisting equipmentExisting equipmentImplement Corridor Development in Logical Implement Corridor Development in Logical Sequences, depending on funding:Sequences, depending on funding:

BR BR –– HoustonHoustonNO NO –– AtlantaAtlantaNO NO -- MobileMobile