Lone Star Rail Dec 2011

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Georgetown City Council Workshop SessionGeorgetown City Council Workshop Session

Lone Star Rail District Leadership and Staff

December 13, 2011


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Public Safety Issues with trains of up to 2 miles in length running

through the urban cores of cities up and down the Austin-SanAntonio corridor

Reduced Mobility as population growth and trade growth (twopositive indicators for the region) result in increased congestion

NAFTA Traffic is growing every year; many businesses in thecorridor self-identify as NAFTA-related

Economic Development is needed, supporting job creation and

mitigating the effects of a negative world economy Lack of Transportation Choices in the corridor leaves people no

alternatives to highway travel

Decreasing Reliability as congestion increases, and bothproductive time for commuters and freight deliveries is negativelyaffected

Air Quality is negatively affected by sole reliance on highway mode

What are the Challenges?What are the Challenges?


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Public Safety Issues with trains of up to 2 miles in length running

through the urban cores of cities up and down the Austin-SanAntonio corridor

Reduced Mobility as population growth and trade growth (twopositive indicators for the region) result in increased congestion

NAFTA Traffic is growing every year; many businesses in thecorridor self-identify as NAFTA-related

Economic Development is needed, supporting job creation and

mitigating the effects of a negative world economy Lack of Transportation Choices in the corridor leaves people no

alternatives to highway travel

Decreasing Reliability as congestion increases, and bothproductive time for commuters and freight deliveries is negativelyaffected

Air Quality is negatively affected by sole reliance on highway mode

What are the Challenges?What are the Challenges?


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Created by the Legislature to:

Improve Public Safety throughout the corridor by moving through freighttrains out of cities and urban cores

Improve Mobility throughout the corridor by reducing congestion

Speed NAFTA Freight Deliveries through development of a new FreightService Urban Bypass

Create New Tax Base Possibilities for city and county governments

Offer an Energy-Efficient Transportation Alternative to nearly 300,000

students, faculty, and staff at colleges and universities along the routeProvide Predictable, Reliable Travel Choice allowing people to make moreproductive use of their time

Maintain Air Quality Status by removing cars and trucks from the roads

Create a Seamless Multi-Modal Transportation System

Provide a Catalyst for Exciting Economic Development Opportunities;provide impetus for directing growth & development in preferred areas

What are the Objectives of the Lone Star Rail District?What are the Objectives of the Lone Star Rail District?


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Recommended by the My35 team (a

multidisciplinary, multijurisdictional team ofcitizens appointed by the Governor to studysolutions for congestion on IH-35) for near-term implementation.

Congestion-proof method to provide newcapacity (2,400 passengers per hour andup) using mostly existing rights of way (noneed to purchase extensive new property service will operate for the most part in theexisting Union Pacific Railroad corridor).

Expandability is easier and much less

costly with rail than highways; rail providesan excellent adjunct to improved highways,helping to mitigate congestion by providinga high-quality, attractive alternative todriving for many trips.

Why Regional Rail for Georgetown?Why Regional Rail for Georgetown?


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Jurisdictions and Service AreaJurisdictions and Service Area

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Cities:

Georgetown, Austin, San Marcos,New Braunfels, Schertz, San Antonio

Counties:

Travis, Hays, Bexar Transit Agencies:

Capital Metro, CARTS, VIA, ART

MPOs:CAMPO, SA-BC MPO

Regions Board Representation: Georgetown: Patty Eason CARTS: Debbie Ingalsbe


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Forecast Through 2030:Personal income: cumulative increase of $20.4 billion

State tax revenues: increase of $1.02 billion

Regional and local tax revenues: increase of $1.31 billionCity/County/Ad Valorem tax revenues: increase of $578 million

Local and school district property tax revenues: increase of $915 million

Sales tax revenues: increase of $415 millionStation area property values: increase between $445 million to over $4.4 billion

Billions of dollars of savings by decreasing travel times, congestion costs, fuelcosts, highway maintenance costs, and accident costs.

* Sources: 2004 Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail Project Feasibility Report Update(Texas Perspectives)2006 Economic Impact Analysis(Carter Burgess & Capitol Market Research)

Financial and Economic Benefits of LSTAR *Financial and Economic Benefits of LSTAR *


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Basic Facts about the LSTAR Proposed ServiceBasic Facts about the LSTAR Proposed Service

117 miles of passenger rail fromGeorgetown to south San Antonio.

Up to 16 stations at full service, linkingcommunities and destinations all along the

corridor.

20 to 30 trains a day at full service, sevendays a week, in each direction, includingmidday and evening service.

Express service of 75 minutes or less atfull service between downtown San Antonioand downtown Austin.

Primarily routed in existing rail right-of-way upon relocation of Union Pacificsthrough freight operations to urban bypassline.

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AnAn Education CorridorEducation Corridor

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But FirstBut FirstUrban Freight Rail BypassUrban Freight Rail Bypass

80+ miles of new freight railline from Seguin to Taylor.

40+ miles of improved freightrail line from San Antonio toSeguin.

80 mph maximum freight trainspeed.

20 to 30+ through freight trains

per day to be rerouted via UrbanFreight Rail Bypass.

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TheThe Tail Wagging the DogTail Wagging the Dog

Benefits of the Urban Freight RailBypass include:

Enhancement of regional mobility(taking slow, 1- to 2-mile long freighttrains out of the urban cores),

Increased public safety (grade crossingelimination),

Enhanced freight mobility (higher

velocity and capacity),

Improvement/maintenance of airquality (reduction in vehicle idling atgrade crossings),

Increased economic development(opportunity to develop regionaldistribution centers), and

Creation of capacity for passenger rail

on current route

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Raised $7.7 million in federal funding, $8.7 million state

appropriation, $50 million in Texas Rail Relocation Fund, and

secured $20 million SA-BC MPO and $20 million CAMPO funds

Completed feasibility, ridership, preliminary revenue/cost studies,

and financial benefits/economic impact studies

Evaluated and rejected FTA New Starts process

Developed local funding concepts

Conducted public meetings

Conducted jurisdictional meetings

Completed branding program for Rail District

Signed Union Pacific Memorandum of Understanding in late 2010

WhatWhats Happened So Far?s Happened So Far?


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WhatWhats Happening Now?s Happening Now?

Working on environmental &engineering on passenger route

Station location studies

Updating financing plan andbusiness plan

Updating ridership studies (incooperation with State Rail Plan forI-35 corridor)

Working on urban bypass railstudies with Union Pacific partners

Conducting local fundingdiscussions for annual Operations

& Maintenance (O&M) costs

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What Happens Next?What Happens Next?

Engineering and environmental

studies are expected to take 3+ years

After federal approval, move to finaldesign and construction expected totake 2 to 3 years.

Freight rail relocation studies, financingplan, passenger rail environmental andengineering studies going onconcurrently

Solicit interest from potential privatesector partners

Federal funding requests (e.g. HSIPR,

RRIF, appropriations, reauthorization) Establish local funding mechanisms

Partner to evaluate funding approaches

Establish interlocal agreements with LSRD

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Annual operations and maintenance(O&M) costs spread between localjurisdictions

1/3 to San Antonio/Bexar County region: app

$10 mil. initial service, $14 mil. full service

1/3 to Austin/Travis County region: app$10 mil. initial service, $14 mil. full service

1/3 to smaller cities and their counties: app$10 mil. initial service, $14 mil. full service

Local O&M funding is needed to applyfor federal grants and to solicit public-

private financing options; it is theGateway to construction capital

Local FundingLocal FundingOperations and Maintenance CostsOperations and Maintenance Costs


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Financial StrategyFinancial StrategyCapital CostsCapital Costs

Capital cost for regional passenger rail: $394 million initial serviceincreasing to $613 million full service (2006 $)

Capital cost for Union Pacific freight service urban bypass: $1.7 billion*(2006 $)

Capital expenses covered overtime through a combination of:

UP cost-sharing

Public-private partnerships

Federal grants and loans

(FRA, FHWA)

State Rail Relocation funds

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* Total cost. To be shared


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Project CONNECTProject CONNECT

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City of Austin, Capital Metro, Lone StarRail District, and others

Coordinate regional rail networkdevelopment in Austin to anchor urban core

Expedite freight rail relocation

Create opportunity for Federal funding andpublic-private investment agreements

Evaluate annual O&M funding alternativesand develop Austin regions approach

Support economic development

within station areas and rail corridors

Create and operate a seamless, coordinatedhigh-capacity transit system in Central Texas


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San Antonio Rail PartnershipSan Antonio Rail Partnership

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City of San Antonio, Bexar County, VIA,and Lone Star Rail District

Coordinate rail network development in

San Antonio to anchor urban core Expedite freight rail relocation

Create opportunity for Federal funding andpublic-private investment agreements

Evaluate annual O&M funding alternativesand develop San Antonio regions approach

Support economic development

within station areas and rail corridors


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Seamless, CostSeamless, Cost--Effective, TimeEffective, Time--Competitive, EasyCompetitive, Easy--toto--UseUseTransit for Central and South TexasTransit for Central and South Texas

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Fare coordination

Schedulecoordination

Transfer facilities

Commonmarketing/systemimage

Shared customerservice

Integrated,

common web andmobile presence

Leveragingtechnology


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Lone Star Rail DistrictLone Star Rail Districts Pledge to the Regions Pledge to the Region

LSTAR will give Central and South Texans independence fromcongested highways:

by providing a reliable, predictable and safe regional transportation

alternative that allows people to improve their lives and expand theirhorizons.

We will also deliver benefits to those Central and South Texans

who choose not to ride the LSTAR with:

Improved safety, mobility, and environmental quality

Positive economic impact at the local and regional level

New opportunities for community vitality, prosperity, and quality of life

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Thank youfor your support!

Thank youThank youfor your support!for your support!

www.LoneStarRail.com

Lone Star Rail Dec 2011

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