WisDOT Passenger Rail Update

WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017

Arun Rao, Passenger Rail Manager Wisconsin Department of Transportation

WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

WisDOT update

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• Current department focus for passenger rail: Maintain and improve existing passenger rail service and corridors

• Presentation Overview• WisDOT Passenger

Rail Program and Planning Update

• Amtrak update• Midwest regional

passenger rail improvements implementation

• Federal Outlook

WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Milwaukee-Chicago Amtrak Hiawatha Service

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• Wisconsin’s state-supported intercity passenger rail route• 7 Round-trips daily Milwaukee Intermodal- Milwaukee

Airport – Sturtevant – Glenview - Chicago Union Station

WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawatha Service Performance

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• 829,000 riders SFY17; 3.4% increase over 2016

• Highest ridership in MW, 6th highest state-supported route in nation

• Over 95% on-time performance over the past year

• In state fiscal year 2017, 75% of total costs were covered by ticket revenues.

• Seating capacity issues persist on peak trains

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WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Recent Hiawatha Service Initiatives• New equipment: locomotives in service

• Schedule changes for weekend service• New Friday late-night train• Restored Saturday early AM train

• Promotions and Advertising program

• Services added over the past few years• Wi-Fi• Roll on trackside checked bike service• Pets program

• Fare structure changes in 2016: Peak/Off-peak fares

• Intercity Bus Thruway Connections

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WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Empire Builder Update from Amtrak

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• Empire Builder an Amtrak long-distance train, not financially supported by states.

• On-time performance YTD 59%

• Sep on-time performance 90%

• Ridership just over 454,000 for federal fiscal year ending Sep. 20th, same as previous year

• Highest ridership long-distance route

WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

• Environmental Assessment and Service Development Plan for the Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha Service corridor to:

• add 3 additional daily round-trip frequencies, for a total of 10 round-trips daily

• reduce travel time and improve reliability

• Corridor has 65 Metra commuter rail trains, 25 freight trains , and 16 Amtrak trains daily (proposed increase to 22 Amtrak)

• Over $155 million (2014 dollars) in railroad infrastructure improvements; total capital $200 million

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WisDOT

IDOT

FRA

In partnership with Amtrak

Chicago-Milwaukee ICPR Corridor EA and SDP: 10 Round-trips

WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Chicago-Milwaukee ICPR Corridor EA and SDP: 10 Round-trips

• Purpose: • Address growing demand for rail service in the

corridor, and seating capacity issues on existing trains

• Address increasing traffic congestion and other mobility issues, and support economic development in the corridor

• Create a viable option for more travelers by adding more schedule options, improving reliability, and potentially reducing travel time

• Facilitating multimodal connections• Objective: Eligibility for federal funding for final

design and construction

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WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Chicago-Milwaukee EA and SDP ProjectsRailroad infrastructure projects (7 in Illinois, 3 in Wisconsin) needed to accommodate additional trains and maintain reliability• 2 universal crossovers in Glenview & Lake Forest• UPRR siding extension at A20 in Glenview, IL• Freight speed increase A20 to Rondout• Metra holding track at Deerfield• Rondout 3rd track extension to the south• Metra Fox Lake 2nd Track• Milwaukee Airport Rail Station 2nd platform• Muskego Yard signalization for 2 freight

through-tracks• Milwaukee Intermodal Station – Cutoff CTC

installation

Total Railroad Infrastructure cost: over $155 million

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WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Chicago-Milwaukee ICPR Corridor EA and SDP: 10 Round-trips• Draft Completed; Released October 2016 with

public involvement

• Public comments:

• Strong support from Wisconsin stakeholders and public

• Strong support from the business community in Southeast Wisconsin and Illinois, including major corporations.

• Opposition from some north-shore Illinois suburban communities due to track projects and freight noise and vibration

• Additional environmental analysis is underway to address public comments and a design change

• Final agency/stakeholder webinar late 2017

• Anticipated final EA to FRA in early 2018

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WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

2nd Empire Builder FrequencyTwin Cities –La Crosse- Milwaukee-Chicago

• Existing Empire Builder Chicago-Seattle/Portland

• Over 100,000 riders annually Chicago-TC

• Most using for regional travel: 70% of ons/offs in Wisconsin are travelling to locations within that corridor segment

• Feasibility study for 2nd train between Chicago, Milwaukee, and TC completed in 2015:

• Existing stations; convenient times that complement the Empire Builder schedule

• Favorable ridership and revenue projections

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WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

2nd Empire Builder Frequency: TCMC Current Study

• Twin Cities - Milwaukee - Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Service Study ongoing

• TCMC study phase 1 includes:• Analysis of integration with Hiawatha Service• Further operations/capacity modeling and

infrastructure needs identification• Concept engineering and capital cost estimates

for identified infrastructure• Pre-NEPA (environmental requirements)

activities (Purpose and need, alternatives analysis, outreach)

• Service alternatives and how they integrate with the Hiawatha Service

• Public and agency outreach

• Expected completion late fall 2017

• Phase 2 (starting 2018 pending funding) will complete the remaining environmental clearance and service development planning requirements for federal funding to implement

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Partners

• MnDOT

• WisDOT

• IDOT

• FRA

• Ramsey County, MN

• La Crosse, WI MPO TCMC Schedule

Depart St. Paul: Before 12 PMArrive Chicago: 7:14 PMDepart Chicago: 10:20AMArrive St. Paul: 6 PM

WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

• Illinois procured locomotives on behalf of Midwest states, using federal funds.

• Multi-state ownership agreement signed for new equipment: IL, MI, MO, WI

• 33 Midwest locomotives (2017) – 12 now in Chicago. Leased to Amtrak for maintenance and operation during warranty period

• Milwaukee-Chicago Amtrak Hiawatha Serviceis equipped with locomotives – revenue service has started.

• New coaches for the Midwest: quantity and timing being negotiated and news should be coming this fall/winter.

Midwest Regional ActivitiesMidwest Passenger Rail Equipment Pool

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Midwest Regional ActivitiesMidwest Passenger Rail Equipment Pool

Siemens Charger locomotives• Diesel electric • Standardized design – based on national

specification• Up to 125 mph capable• 16% more fuel efficient• LED lighting, regenerative breaking• Tier 4 emission standards – a 90% improvement• Fully FRA and FTA Buy America compliant• Faster acceleration and deceleration • Designed for easier maintenance

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Illinois

Michigan

Wisconsin

Missouri

Indiana

Improving and promoting Midwest connections: Milwaukee – Detroit 2 round-trips dailyMilwaukee – St. Louis 3 round-trips daily

WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Other states corridor plans and studies impacting WI communities• Minnesota: Northern Lights Express Tier 2 EA,

Preliminary Engineering, and Service Development Plan

• 4 round-trips daily Duluth-Twin Cities at 90 mph

• Completed draft EA; submitted to FRA

• Published for public comment Spring 2017

• Public meetings took place in Sandstone, MN, Duluth, MN, and Coon Rapids, MN in May 2017.

• Responded to comments and submitted to FRA

• Eligible for federal funds pending Finding of No Significant Impact

• City of Superior joined the Northern Lights Express Alliance in 2017 and is a voting member

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WisDOT Freight Rail Conference 2017. Madison, WI

Federal Rail Funding Outlook

• FY 18 budget proposals in Congress• Budget proposals from committees in both houses of

congress have fully funded Amtrak and provide funding for most FAST act grant programs eligible for passenger rail

• Continuing resolution until DEC 8th, then an FY18 appropriations bill is needed

• FY 17 Fast Act Grant Program Funding • Consolidated Rail Infrastructure/Safety $68 million – NOFA

coming soon• State of good repair: $25 million NOFA coming soon• Restoration/Enhancement of PR service: $10 million NOFA

coming soon• TIGER: $500 million Applications were due Oct 16th

• Metra TIGER application for Rondout• INFRA: NOFA is out, applications due Nov 2nd

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