Regional and Local Traffic Impacts from Coal Train...

June 2014

ENERGY EXPORT CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

Regional and Local Traf f ic Impacts f rom Coal Tra in Traf f ic

Agenda

• Regional Impacts from PSRC Study

• Daily Train Capacity and Utilization

• Vehicle Delay at At-Grade Crossings

• Environmental Impacts

• Local Impacts in Seattle

• Impacts from Gate Down Time

• Collisions and Emergency Vehicle Access

• Potential Crossing Improvements

Study Purpose

Evaluate the impacts to local roads and the environment from potential coal train operations in Seattle and the Puget Sound Region.

Proposed Gateway Paci f ic Terminal

• Construction in two phases.

• At full build out, the Terminal would be able to handle 54 million metric tons of dry bulk commodities per year.

• There would be 18 trains at approximately 1.6 miles in length at full build out.

Freight Rai l in Washington State

Freight Tonnage Traveling by Rail in Washington State (1991-2007)

Mill

ions

of T

ons

• Rail freight volume in the region has significantly increased over the years and is projected to continue increasing over the next twenty years – consistent with national and statewide trends.

• Between 1991 and 2010, rail freight volume traveling through Washington grew by 81 percent – from 64 million tons to 116 million tons.

Source: 2010 Washington State 2010-2030 Freight Rail Plan

Projected Growth in Fre ight Rai l in Washington State

116

238

0

50

100

150

200

250

2010 2035 proj.

Tons

(mill

ions

)

Tons of Freight Moved by Railin Washington State (millions)

Tons of Freight Moved by Rail (millions)

Tons of Freight Moved by Rail in Washington State (millions)

• The State Department of Transportation projects that statewide rail volume will grow by an additional 130 percent by 2035.

• In the Puget Sound region, marine-related rail freight is projected to grow by at least 52.2 million tons by 2030 – a 160 percent increase.

Freight Rai l Volumes in Washington State

Passenger Rai l Volumes in Washington State

Exist ing Dai ly Tra in Capaci ty Ut i l izat ion

WSDOT Washington State Freight Mobility Plan

2010 Daily Train Capacity Utilization

Future Dai ly Tra in Capaci ty Ut i l izat ion

2035 Daily Train Capacity Utilization

WSDOT Washington State Freight Mobility Plan

At-Grade Crossings in the Puget Sound Region

5 At-Grade Crossings



BNSF Mainline

Stevens Pass

Stampede Pass

• 81 At-Grade Crossings in the Central Puget Sound

At-Grade Crossings by Communi ty

Community Number of At-Grade Crossings

North/South Line(shown north to south)

Stanwood 1Marysville 10Mukilteo 1Edmonds 2Seattle 9Kent 8Auburn 4Sumner 5Puyallup 7Tacoma 3Steilacoom 1

Community Number of At-Grade Crossings

Stevens Pass Line(shown west to east)

Everett 3Snohomish 1Monroe 9Sultan 5Gold Bar 2Index 1Baring 1Skykomish 3

Stampede Pass(shown west to east)

Auburn 1Kent 1Maple Valley 1Ravensdale 2

Regional Envi ronmenta l Impacts

• Additional coal trains could impact long-term planning efforts.

• North of Everett, GPT coal trains could depreciate property values.

• Air and water quality could be impacted from added diesel emissions and fugitive coal dust.

Regional Envi ronmenta l Impacts to Envi ronmenta l Just ice

Seattle

Kent

Tacoma

Everett

Bellevue

Marysville

Puyallup

Edmonds

Sumner

Monroe

Mukilteo

Maple Valley

Sultan

Auburn

Baring

Steilacoom

Gold Bar

Ravensdale

Index

Skykomish

K ing C o u n t yK ing C o u n t y

90

5

Date: 4/9/2014 Path: P:\555_7190_001_GatewayCoal\Figures_R2\Figure_GatewayCoal_King_Minority.mxd

Figure 14:Minority PopulationsKing County

0 5 10

Miles

Puget SoundWashington

BNSF Rail Line 0.5-Mile Study Rail Line Buffer

At-Grade Rail Line Crossing

King County

Percent Minority Population

< 10%

10 - 20%

20-25%

25-35%

35-50%

> 50%

US Census Tracts (2010)

• Environmental Justice populations could be disproportionately impacted in Seattle and Kent.

North Water f ront Study Area

StakeholderS

• Port of Seattle

• Cruise ships

• Olympic Sculpture Park

• Victoria Clipper

• Waterfront businesses

• Freight Community

• Area residents

• Edgewater Hotel

• Marriott Waterfront Hotel

• Washington State Ferries

Dai ly Vehic le Volumes at Rai l road Crossings

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

vehi

cles

per

hou

r

BROAD STREET

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

vehi

cles

per

hou

r

CLAY STREET

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

vehi

cles

per

hou

r

VINE STREET

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

vehi

cles

per

hou

r

WALL STREET

ADT 8,900

ADT 1,350

ADT 840

ADT 3,680

AM PEAK PM PEAK

AM PEAK PM PEAK

AM PEAK PM PEAK

AM PEAK PM PEAK

SODO

StakeholderS

• SODO businesses

• Industries

• Stadiums

• Port of Seattle facilities

• Washington State Ferries

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

vehi

cles

per

hou

r

HOLGATE STREET

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

vehi

cles

per

hou

r

LANDER STREET

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

vehi

cles

per

hou

r

HORTON STREET

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

vehi

cles

per

hou

r

SPOKANE STREET

Dai ly Vehic le Volumes at Rai l road Crossings

ADT 10,490

ADT 14,080

ADT 3,440

ADT 14,600

AM PEAK PM PEAK

AM PEAK PM PEAK

AM PEAK PM PEAK

AM PEAK PM PEAK

Freight rail

• Approximately 30 freight trains (North Waterfront) and 65 to 85 freight trains (SODO) each day.

• Includes long-haul trains that are 1.6 miles long.PaSSenger rail

• Sound Transit operates 4 Sounder trains north and 9 trains south.

• Amtrak operates 14 trains daily through Seattle.

Exist ing Rai l Operat ions

Exist ing Rai l Operat ions

Number of Train Crossing Events

Total Gate Down Time (hours)

Average Gate Down Time (minutes)

Minimum/ Maximum Gate Down Time (minutes)

Average Train Speed (mph)

Minimum/Maximum Train Speed (mph)

Broad Street

52

2.8

3.3

1.1 - 11.6

6.7

0.3 – 22.7

Holgate Street

107

3.6

2.0

0.3 – 8.2

7.4

0.4 – 24.6

Lander Street

87

3.7

2.5

0.5 – 8.1

8.1

0.5 – 22.9

NOTE: Train speed is calculated from the observed number of railroad cars per train, observed gate down time subtracting an assumed gate down time in advance of the train and following the train (approximately 30 seconds), and an assumed railcar length of 60’.

Coal Tra in Assumpt ions

30 mph

20 mph

10 mph

1.3 miles 1.6 milesTrain Length

Gate down time

TrainSpeed

3.1 min 3.7 min

4.4 min

8.4 min

5.3 min

10.2 min

2015 2026• From: www.coaltrainfacts.org/pid

• 2015: 10 daily 1.3 mile long trains

• 2026: 18 daily 1.6 mile long trains

• Operating speed based on existing track observation (24-hours)

oPerating Year

Observed Gate Down Time

MIDNIGHT 6 AM NOON 6 PM

LANDER STREET

MIDNIGHT NOON 6 PM

BROAD STREET AM PEAK PERIOD6:00 AM to 9:00 AM

PM PEAK PERIOD3:30 PM to 6:30 PM

HOLGATE STREET

1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM MIDNIGHT

6 AM1 AM 2 AM 3 AM 4 AM 5 AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 1 PM 2 PM 3 PM 4 PM 5 PM 7 PM 8 PM 9 PM 10 PM 11 PM MIDNIGHT

Coal Train Gate Down Time

Legend

Rai l road Track Schedule wi th Coal Tra in (AM)

• One day of observed gate down times

• 18 total coal train trips equally distributed (2026)

• Coal trains assumed to be 1.6 miles long, operating at 20 mph



LANDER STREET

MIDNIGHT NOON 6 PM



HOLGATE STREET




Legend

Rai l road Track Schedule wi th Coal Tra in (PM)



LANDER STREET

MIDNIGHT NOON 6 PM



HOLGATE STREET




Legend

Broad Street

holgate Street

lander Street

Ant ic ipated Dai ly Gate Down Times

170

213 219201

244 250

214

257 264253

297 303

0

100

200

300

400

Broad Street

Gat

e D

own

Tim

e (m

inut

es)

Existing

30 mph

20 mph

10 mph

Holgate Street Lander Street

170

213 219237

280 286266

309 315

353

396 402Existing

30 mph

20 mph

10 mph

0

100

200

300

400

Broad Street

Gat

e D

own

Tim

e (m

inut

es)

Holgate Street Lander Street

2015 dailY gate down time

• 10 trains

• 1.3 miles long

• 20 mph

2026 dailY gate down time

• 18 trains

• 1.6 miles long

• 20 mph

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Que

ue L

engt

h (fe

et)

10 mph

20 mph

30 mph

Existing

Lander Street Hour ly Queues

• Slower coal train operating speed will have a greater impact on vehicles queues.

• Upward trends = Crossing gates down (queue builds)

• Downward trends = Crossing gates up (queue dissipates)

Col l is ions

• 4 train/vehicle collisions in the past 10 years.

• 127 improper crossings within a 24-hour period at Broad Street, South Holgate Street, and South Lander Street crossings.

• Safety concerns increase with more trains.

observed improper crossings 2012

Broad Street

Lander Street

Holgate Street

Total

Bicycle

6

0

0

6

Pedestrian

1

15

0

16

Vehicle

26

34

45

105

Total

33

49

45

127

Emergency Vehic le Access

• Three fire stations directly impacted by rail delays in the SODO and North Waterfront districts.

• Station 14 - 3224 4th Avenue South (Under Construction)

• Station 5 - 925 Alaskan Way

• Station 2 - 2320 4th Avenue

• Blockage from the proposed coal trains would impact emergency vehicle trips to/from the waterfront.

• Delays caused by the coal train affect local area responses and the ability to send emergency resources across the SODO district.

Potent ia l Crossing Improvements

recommendation From PreviouS rePortS

• Grade separated overpasses at Broad Street and Lander Street

• Closure of Holgate Street

• Other possible improvements include:

• Streetscape, such as fencing and plantings

• Consolidating crossing gates

• Raised medians

• Pedestrian gates

• Electronic message signs

Summary

• 10 total coal train trips (5 round trips) are expected each day or one train approximately every 2.4 hours.

• In 2026, the number of daily trains would increase to 18 total daily trips (9 round trips) or one train every 1.3 hours.

• Assumed coal train operating speed of 20 mph; slower speeds would create additional delay.

• In 2015, estimated additional daily gate down time for coal trains could be 31 to 83 minutes; increase of 15% to 49%

• In 2026, the estimated additional daily gate down time for coal trains could be approximately 67 to 183 minutes; increase of 31% to 108%

Regional and Local Traffic Impacts from Coal Train...

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