Midwest High SpeedRailCase Study September 29th,2004AndyInserra,KristinThompson,T.J.Thurlow,NatalieVillwockMidwest Regional RailInitiative (MWRRI)Began in 1996 among9 Midwest states:•Indiana•Illinois•Iowa•Michigan•Minnesota•Missouri•Nebraska•Ohio•WisconsinGeneral Data• Trainswilloperateatspeedsupto110mph• Willconvert3000milesofexistingrail• Faresestimatedtobe50%higherthanexistingAmtrakfares• Feederbussystemwillhelpincreaseaccessibility• Estimatedcost:$4.1billionGoals for High SpeedRail• Shortertraveltimes• Morefrequenttraintrips• Increasedconnectionsbetweenurbanandruralcommunities• ImprovedreliabilityChicago to Twin Cities•Intermediate stops – Milwaukee, Madison, LaCrosse•Chicago terminal – Chicago Union Station•Twin Cities terminal – St Paul Union Station•Possible continuation of service to Minneapolis downtown station Mpls station is proposed for Rapid Park area joined with the Northstar Commuter Rail stationRoute to the Twin CitiesBus ConnectionsBus ConnectionsCoach bus service to smaller cities to bring riders to the stationsCities proposed to be served by bus•Mankato•Duluth-Superior•Eau Claire•Rhinelander •Wausau•EscanabaTwin Cities Transit connectionsTwin Cities Transit connections•St Paul Union Station•Metro Transit •Central LRT•Red Rock Commuter Rail•Minneapolis•Hiawatha LRT•Metro Transit•Southwest LRT•Northstar Commuter Rail•Currently in Service•Proposed ServiceWisconsin Transit connectionsWisconsin Transit connectionsMadisonMadisonMetro Transit SystemMetro Transit SystemMilwaukeeMilwaukeeMilwaukee County TransitMilwaukee County TransitLaCrosseLaCrosseLaCrosse TransitLaCrosse TransitChicago Transit connectionsChicago Transit connectionsChicago Union Station•Metra•CTA Subway•CTA Bus•Walking distance to the Loop•Possible shuttles to •Oligvie Station•Randolph St Station•LaSalle St StationComparison• MidwestRegionalRailInitiative• AmtrakCascade(NorthwestPassengerSystem)• DifferencesandSimilaritiesDifferences• CascadesownedbyAmtrak– Scheduling– TicketSales– Promotion– Infrastructure– TrackusageDifferences cont.• Stops/Stations– Cascadesmanystops– MajorcitiesinMidwestplan.• Tracks– Cascadeshasoneroute– MidwestisanetworkconnectingdistributionofcitiesSimilarities• Funding– Stateandlocalfunding• StateDOT– MajorimprovementtotracksandhighwayoverpassespaidforbyDOTandFederalGrants– MidwestdecidingboardwouldprobablyhaverepresentativesfromeachstateDOTandalsocityrepslocationsofstations.• TicketSales– MidwestSystemclaimstobeabletopayforsystemcostswithticketsales.Similarities cont.• Track– Cascadesimprovingtracksfor110mphserviceby2015– Midwesthassimilarplan• Upgradeexistingtrack.Conclusions• Overallbothsystemsverysimilar• DifferencesinMidwestmakesitmorechallengingtodesignandinitiate.• Cascadeasuccessfulsystemthatcouldbemodeledafter.Advantages• CleanerEnvironment• Efficiency• Economicbenefitsofstationrevitalization• Fills“tooshorttofly,toolongtodrive”transportationgapCleaner Environment• Lessairpollution• Betterfuelefficiency– Chicago-St.Louiscorridorcouldsave6.5milliongallonsoffuelin2010Efficiency• Lowerconstructioncost– Upgradedtrackis6-7timescheaperthanbuildinghighway• Betterlanduse– Railrequires10%theamountoflandasInterstatehighwaysEconomic Benefits ofStation Revitalization• Increasedpassengervolumes• Increasedemployment• Slowgrowthofautocongestion• IncreasedpropertyvaluesnearrevitalizedstationsFills TransportationGap• Canbefasterthanflyingfortripsofafewhundredmiles• Saferandmoreproductivethandrivingformid-distancetripsDisadvantages• Unclearwherecostburdenwillfall• Highusercosts• Projectionsvs.realityWho Will Pay?• Supportersclaimthatticketsaleswillcoveroperatingandmaintenancecosts• Currentrailnetwork(Amtrak)loses$20perticketHigh User Costs• EstimatedSt.PaultoMadisonone-wayfareis$83• Planefareforthesamedistance,round-trip,isoftenaslowas$120• ThoseaccustomedtodrivingmaynotbewillingtopaythatmuchforaddedconvenienceorproductivityProponents• CityandCountygovernmentsalongproposedroutes• Railroad,transit,andothernon-profitgroups• Newspapers(includingStarTribune)• ChambersofCommerce• EnvironmentalAssociationsOpponents• Somecitizensconcernedaboutnoise,safety,andpropertyvalues• CongressmanRayLaHoodofIL“aMidwestrailpassengersystemoffersthehighestlevelofeconomicbenefitassociatedwithrailinvestmentanywhereintheU.S.exceptforAmtrak’ sNortheastCorridor”http://www.dot.state.mn.us/passengerrail/onepagers/midwest.html#mwmapQuestions forDiscussion• Whoisthetargetrider?• Whodoyouthinkaretheopponentsofthisproject?• WhereshouldthehighspeedtrainstopintheMidwest?• Woulditbepositiveornegativetodesignforhigherspeeds?•
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