Redesign of South Bend Airport Rail Connection

Timothy MacaskillTuesday, Sept. 11th, 2007, 8:30am

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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Tim Macaskill – Quick background• A little bit more about me

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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Tim Macaskill – Quick background• A little bit more about me

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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Tim Macaskill – Quick background

• A little bit more about me

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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Tim Macaskill – Quick background• A little bit more about me

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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Tim Macaskill – Quick background• I’m “Car free”……….. not “car less”

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Overview

• Project background• Coordination with all parties• New layout concept and plan and profile production• Simulation of time savings

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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Project Background

• Client: NICTD – Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District

• Project: South Bend Airport NICTD relocation

• Tasks: • Produce conceptual plan to explore

shorter NICTD routes to the South Bend Airport.

• Produce plan and profile sheets of four proposed alignments.

• Coordinate with adjacent highway projects

• Create RailSim TPC (Train Performance Calculator) simulation runs to compare forecast run times against existing run times.

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Project Background

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Project Background

• The benefits of this relocation include:• a reduction in running time by reducing the length of alignment• reducing slow speed zones• elimination of 25 grade crossings, several of which can be hazardous.

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Coordination with all parties

• Coordination with proposed highway elements• Early goal to build on strong social justice principals

• Cemetery• Adjacent residential structures• Other social / environmental receptors

• Proposed runway extension coordination

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New layout concept and plan and profile production

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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New layout concept and plan and profile production

A True “Multi-Modal” Facility:

• Commercial passenger air service – 5 providers, 14 gates

• NICTD commuter rail service

• Local bus service – city transit provider

• Regional bus service – charter and daily service to Chicago and O’Hare

• National bus service – Greyhound

• Rental Car service – 6 providers

• Taxi and Limo service – 9 providers

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New layout concept and plan and profile production

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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New layout concept and plan and profile production

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New layout concept and plan and profile production

Redesign of South BendAirport Rail Connection

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New layout concept and plan and profile production

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Simulation of time savings

• The goal is to produce TPC output the client can:

1. Understand.

2. Utilize in their decision making process.

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Simulation of time savings

• TPC input: Train and Train Composition.

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Simulation of time savings

• The path to TPC output.1. Basemap – concepts

typically utilize aerial photo or aerial topo, projects moving to full design typically utilize aerial topo and piecemealed survey at critical points.

2. Narrow alternatives, concept P&P in CAD. Set speeds for alignment based upon geometrics, equipment, crossings, etc.

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Simulation of time savings

• TPC output: Summary

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Simulation of time savings

• Utilizing that TPC output.A. Organize the data – raw output is in CSV file format, must be converted into Excel format.B. Interpret the data into something the client can understand.C. Comparison with existing conditions using charts, and or graphics.

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Summary

• Project background• Coordination with all parties• New layout concept• Simulation of time savings• Plan and profile production

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Happy to answer any questions

Questions?

Tim MacaskillTranSystemstimacaskill@transystems.com