SCORT PRESENTATIONCURRENT PASSENGER RAIL IN IT IAT IVES

MARCH 15 , 2011MARK IMHOFF, DIV IS ION DIRECTOR

Colorado Department of Transportation

Division of Transit and Rail

Division of Transit and Rail (DTR)

New Division established in 2011 through Senate Bill 09-094,with Passenger & Freight Rail Section; Senate Bill 09-108: Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER)

Annual Operating budget of approximately $15M

Current Passenger Rail initiatives State Freight and Passenger Rail Plan Colorado Interregional Connectivity Study I-70 Mountain Corridor Advanced Guideway System

Feasibility Study

State of Colorado Passenger Rail Initiatives

State Freight and Passenger Rail Plan

Initiated in February 2011

Funded through FRA grant

Total study value-$800KFRA portion-$400kDTR portion-$400k

Status: Completed peer review of best rail practices, beginning inventory of existing rail services

Challenges: Incorporating into Long-

Term vision,

funding for implementation,

effective stakeholder coordination,

timing concurrent with other studies.

Colorado Interregional Connectivity Study

Anticipated to begin in Summer 2011

Partially funded through FRA HSIPR Track 3 grant

Total study value-$2.0M FRA portion-$1.0 M/DTR portion-

$1.0M

Purpose: Analyze High Speed Rail alignments and stations along east-west and north-south to interface with proposed FasTracks system to maximize ridership

Status: FRA reviewing Scope of Work (pending approval)

Colorado Interregional Connectivity Study

Challenges: Obtaining accurate ridership, not competing

with FasTracks.Finding suitable technology for east-west

Corridor.Obligation of funds, and funding for

implementation.

I-70 Mountain Corridor Advanced Guideway System (AGS) Study

Anticipated to begin in Summer 2011

Locally Funded through DTR FASTER Grant

Total study value-$2.3M

Purpose: Identify alternatives(alignments, technologies and stations) to implement an High Speed Rail (AGS) system along I-70 Mountain Corridor

Status: Draft scope under internal review, Formation of Project Advisory team under way

I-70 Mountain Corridor Advanced Guideway System (AGS) Study

Challenges: Finding suitable technology for east-west

Corridor (grades, curvature, terrain, weather).

Meeting criteria outlined in previous study. Coordinating with Connectivity Study. Phasing of Feasibility Study.Funding for implementation.

Challenges

General New Division Climate of stop studying and build! Timing and Interface of Current Rail

Studies Geography, sparsely spaced

population centers (lacking continuous density)

Attracting funding for implementation in current economic climate

State Rail Freight and Passenger Study

Incorporating into Long-Term vision. Funding for implementation. Effective stakeholder coordination, Timing concurrent with other

studies.

Colorado Interregional Connectivity Study Obtaining accurate ridership, not

competing with FasTracks Finding suitable technology for east-

west corridor Obligation of funds and funding for

implementation

I-70 Mountain Corridor Advanced Guideway System Feasibility Study Finding suitable technology for east-

west Corridor (grades, curvature, terrain, weather).

Meeting criteria outlined in previous study.

Coordinating with Connectivity Study. Phasing of Feasibility Study. Funding for implementation