DRPT Update Almost 4 months operating all of Virginias regional - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

DRPT Update  Almost 4 months operating all of Virginia’s regional passenger rail service  Finalized Statewide Rail Plan  Reviewing grants in preparation for the new SYIP  Final design underway for Arkendale to Powell’s Creek  Reviewing consultant proposals for RAPS  VA/NC Rail Compact meeting January 7, 2014  New DRPT Director – Jennifer Mitchell 1

Chapter 2: Rail Plan Context Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA)  PRIIA changed America’s approach to intercity passenger rail development – High Speed Corridor Program is identified – Section 201 Defined Amtrak’s national system – Section 209 Defined the Role of the States and Amtrak to establish a consistent cost structure • Federal government transition to invest only in long distance routes of greater then 750 miles between endpoints and in Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor • Operating costs for regional routes under 750 miles will transition to the states • Capital program funding identified with no operating funding to states to cover costs 2

Setting Up a Passenger Rail Program  PRIIA 2008 Section 209 was a game changer for Virginia – Not only did Virginia want to continue its existing Amtrak Regional Services, it wanted to add new regional intercity passenger rail services at the same time.  Virginia reacted quickly to begin setting up a funding program for regional intercity passenger rail and capital development of expanding conventional service and higher speed rail  DRPT secured a seat for COO Kevin Page at the negotiating table as a member of the State Working Group to assist in the negotiations of the Amtrak PRIIA Section 209 requirements and agreement 3

Setting Up a Passenger Rail Program How we got there  Virginia followed a three step approach to program development: – SJ63 2010 called for DRPT to study and recommend funding strategies for state sponsored intercity and high speed passenger rail. Report published as Senate Document 14 of the VA General Assembly • The SJ63 report laid out the foundation of an intercity passenger rail program and gave suggestions to the state lawmakers on how a program could be funded – 2011 DRPT authors legislation to establish the Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund (IPROC) and 2012 provided 2 years of funding for stop gap security to start Amtrak Section 209 funding • Legislation established the fund, but no dedicated revenue source – 2013 Landmark transportation funding legislation includes dedicated funding for IPROC • Funding capacity for existing and future intercity passenger rail services 4

Setting Up the Program Transportation Funding Bill HB2313  Impact to DRPT – Designated revenue source for Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund (IPROC) – Approx. $44.3M in the first year to $56.1M in fifth year • First time intercity passenger rail has had dedicated funding – Virginia was fully funded and the first state to execute the Section 209 Regional State Supported Service agreement with Amtrak. – Funding .3% increase statewide sales and use tax increase • .125% Dedicated to Rail and Transit: – .075% Transit (60%) – .05% IPROC (40%) 5 5

PRIIA’s Virginia Impact  Virginia will continues to support the two state supported services operating pre-PRIIA, as well as the Norfolk extension.  Virginia is now supporting four additional regional trains in 2014 – Two trains, Richmond to Washington, D.C. – Two trains, Newport News to Washington, D.C. 6

Intercity Passenger Rail Operating and Capital Fund  Virginia initiated intercity passenger rail service starts – 2009 – Lynchburg – 2010 – Richmond – 2012 – Richmond service extended to Norfolk – 2013 – Section 209 service begins – VA picks up 4 more trains  Future Near and Mid Term Projects – Within 4 years – Roanoke – 7 Year Option to Purchase S-Line Right of Way Petersburg to Norlina – Within 10 years – Trains 2 and 3 Norfolk • DRPT is working with CSX on evaluating and identifying improvements 7

DRPT Rail Grants  Rail Enhancement Fund  Rail Industrial Access Funds  Rail Preservation Fund 8

Passenger Rail Service In Virginia Present and Future Amtrak VA – Lynchburg, Richmond/Norfolk  Amtrak Regional – 2 Newport News, 2 Richmond   All go into Northeast Corridor  All same seat to Boston Amtrak Long Distance – Cardinal, Crescent, Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star   Auto Train 9 9

Virginia Regional Amtrak Passenger Service Projected Population Areas 10

Rail Plan Feedback Themes  Coordination between freight and passenger interests  Grade Crossings  Mode-neutral transportation planning  Funding  Land use  Stations  Rails with Trails  Passenger rail support – in general and in specific locations: Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, I-95 Corridor (Southeast High Speed Rail), I-81 Corridor, Lynchburg, Roanoke, US Route 29 Corridor 11

Future Intercity Passenger Rail Projects – Statewide Virginia Rail Plan  Amtrak Virginia Near Future - 1 Lynchburg train extended to Roanoke (approx. 2016 - 2017) - 2 Richmond trains extended to Norfolk (approx. 2022)  Amtrak Virginia Future - 1 new train to Lynchburg - 1 Roanoke train extended to Bristol - 1 Lynchburg train extended to Roanoke - 1 new train Richmond to Lynchburg  Richmond to Hampton Roads Passenger Rail – 1 new to Newport News + 6 total Norfolk from Richmond  SEHSR – 4 new trains DC to Raleigh 12

I-95/U.S.460 Passenger Service Norfolk  SYIP - funded – Capacity improvements, yard rehabilitation and connection tracks for service to Norfolk – Operating costs for existing intercity service  Future Phases - funded – Continued capacity improvements for additional trains to Norfolk – Continued operating costs for service at current levels, plus additional Norfolk service 13

I-95/I64 Passenger Service Newport News  SYIP - funded – Amtrak capital and operating costs  Future Phases - funded – Station area improvements and increased capacity at Bland Boulevard – Continued operating support for service 14

Chapter 5: Resource Allocation Plan Port of Virginia  SYIP – Craney Island Connector NEPA and PE – NIT Marshalling Yard expansion  Future Phases – Construct Craney Island Connector – APM terminal yard expansion 15

Southeast High Speed Rail  SYIP - funded – Tier II EIS from Richmond to DC – Arkendale to Powells Creek 3 rd Main construction – Tier II EIS from Richmond to Raleigh  Future Phases - unfunded – Tier II EIS from Richmond to Hampton Roads – Capacity improvements to initiate service 16

Federal High Speed Rail – Current VA Projects  Two Federal Railroad Administration stimulus grants totaling $119 million – Arkendale to Powell’s Creek third track - $75 million (100%) – Study of high speed rail form Washington, DC to Richmond - $44 million (80%) 17

Arkendale to Powells Creek ARRA Funded Stimulus Project  $75M 100% Federal ARRA Stimulus Funded Project  11 Mile Third Track Design Build Project  CSX will construct for DRPT  Project completion 9/2017 18

Federal HSR Planning Process- Richmond Area to Potomac River Segment “RAPS” Tier II EIS  110 mile segment  Extends from junction of CSX A-Line and CSX S-Line at Centralia (MP A-11) northward via the S-Line through Richmond's Main Street Station.  Rejoins A-Line near Staples Mill Station.  Extends northward along the CSX Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Subdivision (RF&P) to Control Point RO in Arlington (MP CFP-110).  Also includes the following improvement areas: - CSX Peninsula Subdivision in the Richmond area between AM Junction and Beulah to the east. - Buckingham Branch Railroad from AM Junction to Ruffin. 19

Virginia-North Carolina Interstate High-Speed Rail Compact  Established in 1994 in VA by SB 126 2004 and in NC by NC General Statutes - Chapter 136 Article 18 § 136-220.  Made up of ten members of the VA and NC legislature. Three of the five VA members are from Hampton Roads: Senator Kenneth Alexander, Delegate Ronald Villanueva, and Delegate Jeion Ward. Compact Purpose  To study, develop, and promote a plan for the design, construction, financing, and operation of interstate high-speed rail service through and between points in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of North Carolina and adjacent states.  To coordinate efforts to establish high-speed rail service at the federal, state, and local governmental levels.  To advocate for federal funding to support the establishment of high-speed interstate rail service within and through Virginia and North Carolina and to receive federal funds made available for rail development. January 7, 2014 Compact Meeting  Major point of discussion: Service Development Plan for rail service in the Southeast High Speed Rail corridor (includes Hampton Roads).  Compact to meet again in June or July. 20