± Legend. Tower 55. Trinity Railway Express Fort Worth & Western Railroad. UP Railroad BNSF Railway

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "± Legend. Tower 55. Trinity Railway Express Fort Worth & Western Railroad. UP Railroad BNSF Railway"

Transcription

1 Blue Skyways Collaborative Annual Meeting San Antonio, TX October 30, 2008 North Central Texas Council of Governments Transportation Department

2 ± Legend Tower 55 UP Railroad BNSF Railway Trinity Railway Express Fort Worth & Western Railroad

3 Regional Importance of Freight Rail 1. The Dallas-Fort Worth Region is considered the primary truck, rail, and air cargo center in the southwestern United States. 2. Dallas-Fort Worth is also the primary urban gateway between the United States and Mexico % of the United States population can be reached by truck or rail within 48 hours from Dallas-Fort Worth.

4 Why is Tower 55 Important? t? 1. Growth in North/South Movements 2. Growth in East/West Movements 3. Passenger Rail Access 4. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 5. Pacific Rim Shipments 6. Military Shipments 7. Hazardous Materials Shipments 8. Local Noise, Air Quality, and Neighborhood Impacts

5 Problems Solved by Fixing i Tower 55 Interruption of operations at the Alliance Intermodal Terminal, the South Dallas Global Logistic Center, and other freight rail hubs in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Region Impact on Free Trade Zone (FTZ) logistic efficiencies at DFW and other satellite FTZ s Impact on freight rail on-time deliveries to industries and retailers in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, and Tarrant counties Shippers placing cargo on trucks instead of rail, increasing freight truck volumes on I.H. 30, I.H. 35E, I.H. 35W, I.H. 20, I.H. 635, S.H. 183, and other congested urban roadways

6 Problems Solved by Fixing i Tower 55 (cont.) Increased diesel exhaust along all railroad lines in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as trains stop and wait up to 50 miles away from Tower 55 for their opportunity to cross the intersection Deteriorated safety and reliability of adjacent roadway system due to increased blockage of road-rail intersections by trains Commuter rail operations potential inability to access Southeast t Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, i and West Dallas Future complications of commuter rail operations to Future complications of commuter rail operations to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Grapevine, Texas Motor Speedway, and the Fort Worth Stockyards

7 Commuter Rail Requires Freight Rail Solution

8 Safety/Reliability Requires Freight Rail Solution Schools Near Tower 55 1) Terrell Elementary 2) Gunn-Van Zandt Elementary 3) Nash Elementary 4) Williams Elementary 5) Trimble Technical High School 6) De Zavala Elementary 7) Carroll Peak Texas is #1 in railroad crossing fatalities with 42 in * Union Pacific and 1 st Street (Walking Route to Nash Elementary) Texas is #2 in trespass fatalities with 51 in * *According to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) statistics

9 Approaching Current Capacity Limits it Based on BNSF Train Counts Jan Sep 2006 Trains Growth at 3% per Year Estimated Capacity Growth at 2% per Year 21-Month Trend Line

10 Future Freight Rail Volume Impacts Rail Volumes Legend BNSF Union Pacif fic DART BNSF DART KCS Rail Freight Rail Volume (trains per day) Union Pacific FWWR Union PacificBNSF Tower 55 TRE Union Pacific BNSF BNSF Un nion Pacific Union Pacific MPA Boundary Counties Tower 55 Signal Occupancy hours Min nutes Occupied hours 24 hours 0 Current 2025 Transportation Department North Central Texas Council of Governments

11 Environmental la Assessment (EA) Process Identify Transportation Needs, Problems & Goals Develop & Evaluate Conceptual Alternatives Develop Promising Alternatives in More Detail We Are Here Prepare Draft EA Conduct Formal Public Hearing Select Locally Preferred Alternative Complete Preliminary Design & EA Environmental & Design Approval by FHWA

12 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) In order to meet the goals of the NEPA process and comply with laws, regulations, and policies, projects need to be carried out in such a way that they: Avoid adverse (negative) impacts. Minimize adverse impacts that cannot be avoided. Mitigate unavoidable adverse impacts. Develop environmental enhancements as appropriate. Where feasible, develop mitigation and enhancement measures that meet eligibility requirements for federal funding. Avoid, Minimize, Mitigate, Enhance

13 NCTCOG Project Goal The Tower 55 Rail Reliever Study Environmental Assessment (EA) will determine if a local solution can be developed that is structurally feasible but also environmentally, socially, culturally, economically, and politically feasible. Photograph taken December 20, 2007

14 Regional Transportation Council Oversight Structure t Pub blic Invo olvement Intermodal, Freight, and Safety Subcommittee Tower 55 Technical Advisory Group NCTCOG Staff Tower 55 Memorandum of Understanding Texas Department of Transportation Staff Jacobs Team HNTB Team

15 Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Voting Membe ers BNSF Railway City of Arlington City of Fort Worth North Central Texas Council of Governments 1 Tarrant County Texas Department of Transportation Union Pacific Fort Worth Transportation Authority Non-V Voting Me embers Amtrak Dallas, Garland, & Northeastern Railroad Federal Highway Administration 2 Federal Railroad Association Federal Transit Authority City of Haltom City Kansas City Southern Railroad City of Saginaw Surface Transportation Board 1. NCTCOG serves as the lead local sponsor. 2. FHWA serves as the lead federal sponsor.

16 Preliminary i Alternative ti Concepts 1. No-Build 2. Additional At-Grade Capacity 3. East/West Flyover 4. North/South Trench 5. Fort Worth & Western Railroad Bypass 6. Regional Outer Loop/Rail Bypass 6. Regional Outer Loop/Rail Bypass (Separate Study)

17 $ Million * At-Grade Improvements Short Term Improvements Direct traffic to routes that have multiple existing tracks and establish directional routes Crossovers for route usage Grade crossing closures and/or grade separations to increase freight capacity and public safety Implementation: 1 3 years * Cost estimates are subject to further planning and engineering review.

18 Texas Emission i Reduction Plan (TERP) Estimated $25 million in potential funding available for Tower 55 through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Two applications submitted at April 11, 2008 deadline: NCTCOG 3 rd Party Application Requested funding assistance to implement at-grade improvements identified in Alternative #1C BNSF Railway/Union Pacific Railroad Joint Application Requested $9.17 Million to supplement $68 Million package of at-grade improvements at Tower 55 (estimated completion December 2010) Improvements will significantly improve freight operations and capacity at Tower 55 Improvements will not preclude abilities to reroute Amtrak to the Trinity Railway Express or implement the FWTA Southwest-to-Northeast Commuter Rail Project Improvements will not preclude proposed designs for the Mid-Term Improvements Improvements will not preclude proposed designs for the Mid Term Improvements (East/West Flyover; North/South Trench; FWWR Bypass)

19 Texas Emission i Reduction Plan (TERP) NCTCOG recommends that TCEQ give BNSF/UP Joint Application primary consideration for funding NCTCOG, through a partnership with the City of Fort Worth, FWTA, and the Trinity Railway Express, revised and submitted its 3 rd Party Application on October 3, 2008 Revised 3 rd Party Application removes improvements that duplicate those identified in the BNSF/UP Joint Application Revised 3 rd Party Application contains an improvement package that further complements BNSF/UP Plan but also enhances potential Commuter Rail opportunities, facilitates relocation of Amtrak to the TRE corridor, and substantially ti reduces locomotive and vehicular NOx emissions i 11 overall improvements have been identified (Total Cost = $162 Million) DART/TRE 3 improvements FWTA 5 improvements City of Fort Worth 3 improvements

20 $ Million * Mid-Term Improvement Grade Separated Alternative Dovetails with at-grade improvements East/West t Flyover Eliminates conflicting North/South and East/West movements Potential for additional East/West capacity Estimated length = ~15,000 feet Implementation: ti 5 10 years * Cost estimates are subject to further planning and engineering review.

21 East/West t Flyover (cont.) X X X X X X Alternative 3a: East-West Flyover

22 $ Million * Mid-Term Improvement North/South Trench Grade Separated Alternative Dovetails with at-grade improvements Creates additional North/South capacity with third track and eliminates conflicting North/South and East/West movements Implementation: 5 10 years * Cost estimates are subject to further planning and engineering review.

23 North/South Trench (cont.) X X X X Alternative 2b East Side Trench

24 Fort Worth & Western Railroad Bypass $ million * Mid-Term Improvement Construction Phase Bypass Option Diverts some North/South movements around Tower 55 Improved single track or new double track bypass Implementation: 5 10 years * Cost estimates are subject to further planning and engineering review.

25 Fort Worth & Western Railroad Bypass (cont.) X X X X X X X X X X X X Alternative 4a FWWR Single Track Bypass Alternative 4b FWWR Double Track Bypass

26 Potential ti Funding Options Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund (TRRIF) Direct Funding out of Railroad Revenues, State/Local t Appropriations, and Congressional Earmarks as available Federal Rail Assistance Programs (Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing i Program; Transportation ti Infrastructure t Finance and Innovation Act) Federal-Aid Formula Grant Programs (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program) Highway and Rail-Safety Programs Federal Tax Credit Bond Programs Toll or User-Charges on Increased Freight Rail Traffic and Revenue (Comprehensive Development Agreements) Sale of Freight Assets for Passenger Use Other State/Local Approaches (i.e. Property Tax Relief in exchange for Public-Purpose Improvements)

27 Upcoming Steps Assist TxDOT/HNTB in the completion of Railroad Traffic Control (RTC) Modeling to test the effectiveness of the Preliminary Alternatives under various growth scenarios Complete Schematic Development and identify Preliminary Cost Estimates of the Grade-Separated Alternatives and the Fort Worth & Western Railroad Bypass Alternative Initiate strategies with BNSF/UP and other partners to implement At-Grade Improvements pending TERP funding Begin development of initial iti Financing i Plan for phased construction of Preferred Grade-Separated Alternative Complete Environmental Assessment documentation and Complete Environmental Assessment documentation and obtain Federal Approval (FONSI) prior to December 2009

28 For More Information: Jeffrey C. Neal Program Manager org (817) North Central Texas Council of Governments Transportation Department