North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study Stakeholder Meetings July 16, 2015 Ruston: 6:00 – 7:30 PM Bossier City: 11 a.m.-12:30 PM Bossier Parish Community College Lincoln Parish Library 6220 E. Texas Street 910 N. Trenton Street
Purpose of Study Conduct an assessment of potential passenger rail service between Shreveport, LA and Vicksburg, MS by evaluating: − Route alternatives − Operating characteristics − Ridership − Infrastructure needs − Station locations − Estimated costs North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Agenda • Introductions • Study Scope • Stakeholder Involvement • Study Findings − Operating Plan − Infrastructure Improvements − Ridership and Revenue − Capital and Operating Costs • Next Steps North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Team Roles • Project Management • Infrastructure analysis and cost estimates • Schedules, stop locations and operating costs • Subsidy requirements • Ridership and revenue projections • Stakeholder meeting coordination • Local coordination • Shreveport/Bossier Terminal North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Scope of Work • Route infrastructure assessment • Cost estimates • Ridership and revenue estimates • Development of schedules and stops • Estimate operating and start-up costs • Estimate state subsidy requirements • Terminal location in the Shreveport/Bossier City • Stakeholder involvement • Final report North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Stakeholder Involvement • Second set of outreach meetings to present study findings. The invitation list included key regional stakeholders such as: − Elected officials − Agency leaders − Business community leaders − Employers − Colleges and universities − Freight railroads − Amtrak • Final e-mail newsletter summarizing study distributed to stakeholder list North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Operating Plan • 170 mile corridor • Two daily round trips; Shreveport/Bossier City to Vicksburg, MS • Interim stops: Ruston and Monroe • 79 mph • Station locations – For illustrative purposes only – Subject to future alternatives analyses in each community • Facilities – Layover – Maintenance North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Schedules READ DOWN READ UP 101 103 Station 102 104 7:30 AM 5:00 PM Shreveport/Bossier City, LA 10:05 AM 7:32 PM 8:25 AM 5:55 PM Ruston, LA 9:09 AM 6:39 PM 8:59 AM 6:30 PM Monroe, LA 8:38 AM 6:09 PM 9:56 AM 7:34 PM Vicksburg, MS 7:40 AM 5:10 PM North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Operating Plan-Stations • Identified multiple potential station locations • Coordinated with local planning staff • Representative station location – To confirm feasibility and develop capital costs • Formal alternative station site analysis required before selecting a preferred station location – Detailed station analysis typically occurs during environmental (NEPA) study – Includes formal public input North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Operating Plan-Stations ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Maintenance Facilities • Station needs Station platform Traffic access Canopy Parking Lighting Safety related improvements • Station cities Shreveport/Bossier City Monroe Ruston Vicksburg • Maintenance/layover facility – Shreveport/Bossier City station site or existing freight facility to reduce capital costs North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Shreveport/Bossier Station Analysis • Site requirements Approximately 9 acres Room for station facility, parking, platforms, overnight storage track Availability of land Availability of public utilities • Location requirements On, or with direct access to KCS Mainline Walking access to casinos, motels and hotels, and other attractions Accessibility to local and regional transportation network North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Conceptual Shreveport/Bossier City Station • Traffic Street Station without • Traffic Street Station with maintenance facility maintenance facility Note: Passenger terminal building, platform, and parking are included in conceptual plan to understand maximum site constraints. North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Shreveport/Bossier City – Future Considerations • Shreveport Intermodal Transit Facility Local bus Future Intermodal Regional bus Transit Facility Taxi Bike path access North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Conceptual Ruston Station North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Conceptual Monroe Station North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Conceptual Vicksburg Station North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Existing Rail Infrastructure • Meridian Speedway Joint venture between Kansas City Southern and Norfolk Southern Key east/west freight route • Existing tracks from Shreveport - Vicksburg Maintained at FRA Class 4 standards Several locations with reduced speeds 20 sidings More than 60 business tracks serving freight customers North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ Infrastructure Improvements • Nine miles of new track Extend existing sidings • Six miles of track rehabilitation • Seven bridge replacements • Grade crossing improvements • Assumes freight railroad upgrades to signal system Additional coordination with KCS and NS required to confirm proposed improvements North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Rolling Stock • Utilize Amtrak equipment 1 Locomotive 2 coach cars (70 seats each) 1 Non-powered control unit (cab/baggage car) 3 train consists 2 Operational 1 Spare North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Capital Cost Estimates • FRA Standard Cost Categories • High level cost estimates with 35% contingency • Cost Estimates for: Track improvements Bridges Signals Right-of-way Stations Layover and Support Facilities • $85,400,000 North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ Capital Funding • State tax sources • Grant and loan programs PRIIA established an 80/20 (federal/state) cost share Federal funding availability is subject to future appropriations • Innovative funding techniques Public-private partnerships, economic development districts, tax increment financing districts and bonding • Identify financial instruments that can capture economic value from the new development of stations and their surrounding areas North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Operating Cost Estimates • Estimate costs directly associated with train operations: Train crew and other labor costs Fuel Maintenance of equipment Operation and maintenance of stations Host railroad access fees • Estimate shared costs: Administrative overhead Ticketing System marketing • $9,644,000 Annual O&M Costs North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Ridership and Revenue Projections • Annual Ridership/Revenue Shreveport-Vicksburg 81,500 annual riders $1,353,000 annual revenue With Dallas/Ft. Worth connection 181,000 annual riders $3,365,000 annual revenue North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Daily Ridership • Stand-alone Shreveport-Vicksburg service North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Daily Ridership • Shreveport-Vicksburg service, with Dallas/Ft. Worth Connection North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Operating Subsidy Requirement The difference between the operating cost and passenger revenue must be subsidized. Annual Estimated O&M Costs (9,644,000) Annual Forecasted Revenue + 1,353,000 Annual Operating Subsidy $ (8,291,000) • States are typically responsible for covering operating subsidy (per federal legislation) • Potential use of federal CMAQ grant funding to offset operating costs North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ ̶ Next Steps • Publish formal report – July/August 2015 Input from technical memoranda, stakeholder meetings, KCS and partner railroads • Investigate Future Potential Corridor Analysis • Coordination with Amtrak East Texas Study (Ft. Worth- Shreveport) and other regional stakeholders Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX -Meridian, MS (possibly Birmingham, AL) Service development planning and environmental study (NEPA) Formal station/facilities site alternatives analysis Formal coordination with KCS Rairoad North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
Next Steps Southern Rail Commission Vision North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study
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