Upstart to Start Up: Colorado’s High Speed & Intercity Transit Vision & State Rail Plan

September 2014

30 Years Makes A Difference30 Years Ago – 1984

Colorado had intercity Amtrak as the state’s only passenger rail

Colorado had no bus / HOV lanes Colorado had a Department of Highways

20 Years Ago – 1992-1996 Colorado had its first light rail segment Colorado implemented its first bus / HOV lanes Colorado entered the Department of Transportation

era

10 Years Ago – 2004 FasTracks rapid transit expansion ballot measure

passes Light Rail, Commuter Rail, Bus Rapid Transit

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30 Years Makes A DifferenceToday – 2014

Colorado has the first rural Bus Rapid Transit

Fort Collins Colorado opened its BRT

FasTracks is well on the way to completion

State and Local agencies are planning for growth with all modes & choices in mind

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CDOT Division of Transit & Rail

The Division of Transit & Rail established in 2009Senate Bill 09-094Authority to plan, design, finance, operate,

maintain and contract for transit services.Also in 2009 Senate Bill 09-108 (FASTER)

Funding Advancement for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER)

Increased Vehicle Registration FeesFunds Highway Safety projects and Bridge

replacement and refurbishmentsDedicated State funding for transit$15 M per year

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Division of Transit & RailAnnual Budget – approx. $30M/year

Historically pass through grant administrationTransit Section – 9 employees

Transit Grants Unit Administer FTA Grants to rural and small urban transit

entities Administer FASTER Transit Grants

Planning & Infrastructure Unit Statewide Transit Data Base Transit Asset Management Transit Planning Intercity Bus

Rail and Special Projects – 2 employees Planning Studies/Environmental clearance Financing and implementation strategies Railroad coordination

Transit Operations – 2 employees 2

Statewide Transit Plan - 2014Regional Transit

PlansStrategy-basedReflects a

combination of service, facility, vehicle, & marketing / communication needs.

Financial Constraints

State is 450 x 300 miles

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Interregional Express BusCDOT becomes a transit operator (using a private

operator) Begins to fulfill multimodal mission

Interregional element to statewide transit networkConnect population & employment centersPeak period commuter & “essential service” express

Fast/minimize travel times Limited stops/significant spacing Utilize park-and-rides for broad local access

Maximize fare box recovery Expect at least 40% over time Guarantee 20% within two years

Expand service as demand builds & farebox revenue allows 2

Interregional Express Bus

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FRISCO

State Freight & Passenger Rail Plan - 2012 Develop intercity and

regional passenger rail

Facilitate Freight RR Communication

Railroads & Communities

Economic Development Opportunities

Coordinate, Integrate, Connect

Position Colorado for Federal Funding

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AGS & ICS Studies 2012-2014 Purpose:

The purpose of the AGS & ICS projects are to provide Colorado with a well supported modal option for the State’s transportation network that connects communities and destinations for interregional business and tourism travel; builds on and strengthens Colorado’s existing transportation infrastructure; supports the State’s Vision, as articulated in the ‘State Rail Plan’; and offers statewide social, environmental, and economic benefits that are greater than the capital and operating costs of its implementation. Needs:

Address the mobility demands of future population growth. Improve mobility through provision of a travel option. Enhance economic development through improved

connectivity. Improve the State’s environmental quality and energy

efficiency. Provide economic benefits sufficient to receive new funding

sources.

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What the AGS & ICS Studies Accomplished

Assessed TechnologiesDefined AlignmentsDeveloped Engineering Based Cost

EstimatesDeveloped Ridership ModelsEvaluated Funding & Financing

PossibilitiesAssessed Benefits

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Process - 24 months

Stakeholder Involvement ICS Project Leadership Team

70 members 10 meetings up & down the I-25 Front Range Corridor

AGS Project Leadership Team 17 members 16 meetings east & west along the I-70 Mountain Corridor

Update the State Freight & Passenger Rail Plan

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Outcomes

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High Speed Transit demand for Longer-Distance Trips Two commercially available technologies: rail &

maglev Alignments

Shared Railroad corridors impractical Greenfield alignments along I-25 & I-70 facilitate HST $75 M/mile front range – electric, dbl track, high-speed rail $105 M/mile mountains – electric, dbl guideway, high-speed

maglev Significant local station development potential

Ridership DIA is a critical long-term ridership market for both I-25 and I-70 75-80% of ridership is I-25 Front Range, 20-25% I-70 Mountain,

18 M/yr Front Range System is Key to I-70 Mountain Ridership Success

Outcomes, continued

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HST Not Financially Feasible at this Time Full System $30.1B; Front Range $13.6B, Mountain Corridor

$16.5B Substantial Federal funds needed Substantial new local (non-federal) funding source needed

Phased approach to get started? Start along the Front Range Commuter rail/upgradable to HST? Phase 1, top priority?

Interoperability with RTD is a potential component DUS / Central Area access is important to commuters Maximize utilization of existing infrastructure, minimize

transfers Maximum flexibility to phase system development

Outcomes, continued

DIA Is One of Colorado’s Growth Hubs Grow from 60 M passengers in 2015 to over 100

M passengers in 2030 Master Planned for 13 runways Envisions an “Airport City” whose employment

numbers will rival Downtown Denver and DTC in 2030; 70,000 employees

RTD’s Light & Commuter Rail System Is Key to Statewide Connectivity Grow from 20 M rail passengers in 2012 to over

80 M rail passengers in 2035 Largest voter-approved transit expansion in the

nation

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High Speed Transit (HST) Vision for Colorado

N: N. Suburban to Ft Collins S: So. Suburban to Pueblo W: West Suburban to Eagle County Regional Airport Metro:

West Suburban to DIA via C-470, I-76 or NWQ

North to South Suburban via E-470

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Total Length: 340 mi Capital Cost: $30.1 B Operating Cost: $198.4

M/yr Fare Revenue: $344 M/yr Ridership: 18.3 M/yr

(2035)

Vision Description

Vision Facts

High Speed Transit Next Steps

State Rail Plan 2012: Goals & Policy Statements

Position Colorado for future Federal Funding

Integrate into Statewide Transportation Plan

Develop & Explore Implementation Options for a Regional Commuter Rail System

Support Linkages of Colorado’s Passenger Rail Systems to National Intercity & High Speed Networks

Proposed 2014 Amendments to the State Rail Plan

Include Vision Network into unconstrained elements of State Rail Transit & Transportation Plans, MPO Plans, & Intermountain TPR

Recommendation to complete an Inter-Operate Assessment

Recommendation to explore an FRA-sanctioned prioritization process along the Front Range

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Next Steps - Pipeline Ready

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RTD Interoperability Assessment Forthcoming FRA – FTA Joint Policy & Shared Use

• Coordinated safety authority• Primarily addresses freight and urban transit• HST and RTD covered

Partners: CDOT, RTD, FRA & FTA Manageable, meaningful next step Precursor to system prioritization Leverage existing investment

FRA Pipeline Process Next step to prioritize/define Front Range phasing

plan – FRA Tier 1 Study Exploring the pursuit of future funding for such

efforts

Questions?

For More Information:Mark Imhoff, DirectorDivision of Transit & Rail303-757-9007mark.imhoff@state.co.us

David Krutsinger, AICP Tracey MacDonaldRail & Special Projects Manager Senior Transit Planner303-757-9008 303-757-9753david.krutsinger@state.co.us tracey.macdonald@state.co.us

CDOT – Division of Transit & Rail4201 East Arkansas, Suite 227Denver, CO 80222

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