March 17, 2010 PURPOSE and AGENDA PURPOSE and AGENDA This meeting - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

▶
march 17 2010
SMART_READER_LITE
LIVE PREVIEW

March 17, 2010 PURPOSE and AGENDA PURPOSE and AGENDA This meeting - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Feb 17, 2023 289 likes •841 views

March 17, 2010 PURPOSE and AGENDA PURPOSE and AGENDA This meeting is a part of the NEPA/CEPA Process. Agenda Agenda Introductions Update on the Danbury Branch CTC Project Update on Danbury Branch EIS Project Discussion

slide-1
SLIDE 1

March 17, 2010

slide-2
SLIDE 2

2

PURPOSE and AGENDA PURPOSE and AGENDA

This meeting is a part of the NEPA/CEPA Process. Agenda Agenda

  • Introductions
  • Update on the Danbury Branch CTC Project
  • Update on Danbury Branch EIS Project
  • Discussion of Conceptual Engineering to Date
  • Presentation on Transit Oriented Development
  • Questions/Comments
slide-3
SLIDE 3

3

Danbury Branch EIS: Project Purpose Danbury Branch EIS: Project Purpose

  • Improve mobility options for the traveling public in the

South Western and Housatonic Valley regions of Connecticut

  • Maintain and improve existing commuter rail service
  • n the Danbury Branch as well as improve its feeder

system and intermodal connections on the Branch

  • Help reduce congestion in the Route 7 corridor

between South Norwalk, CT and New Milford, CT *No Build Alternative assumes CTC project completed

slide-4
SLIDE 4

4

DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT

What is CTC? What is CTC?

  • Danbury Centralized Train Control & Signalization

Project – State Project 302-0007

  • Replaces existing “manual block” system
  • Allows remote control of train movements and switches

from Metro-North Control Center in GCT

  • Train movements, switches and signals are integrated over

24.2 miles of single track

  • Signalized segments into one (1) mile long blocks providing

cab signal indication based on condition of track ahead

slide-5
SLIDE 5

5

DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT

Benefits of CTC Project Benefits of CTC Project:

  • Safety and Reliability Improvements
  • Flexibility of Service
  • Ability to provide more shuttle service on the

Branch

  • Integration with existing New Haven Mainline

service

  • Compatible with federally-mandated Positive

Train Control (PTC) by December 2015

slide-6
SLIDE 6

6

DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT

  • CT DOT/FTA/ARRA funded
  • CT DOT administered
  • MNR undertaking work through CT DOT Office of

Rails agreement

slide-7
SLIDE 7

7

DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT

Project Components: Project Components:

  • Cable Plow Contract (Communications & Power Cables)
  • Pre-wired Signal Houses procurement
  • Two Signal Power Substations
  • Related Track Work
  • Connections, Testing & Commissioning
slide-8
SLIDE 8

8

DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT

slide-9
SLIDE 9

9

DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT

Public Involvement Efforts Public Involvement Efforts

  • Develop Public Outreach Plan
  • Project Website Updates
  • Information Program – Police, Fire, Residents, Businesses,

Elected Officials, General Public

  • Disseminate Project Information to Media through CT DOT
  • Website Updates
  • Stakeholder and Public Meetings
slide-10
SLIDE 10

10

DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT

Project Contacts: Project Contacts: Pamela Sucato Pamela Sucato

Legislative Program Manager (860) 594-3013 pamela.sucato@ct.gov

Richard Funk Richard Funk

Engineer-in-Charge Direct: (203) 210-7968

  • Danbury Branch CTC Webpage will be set up on existing

CT DOT website: http://www.ct.gov/dot

  • Updates on Danbury Branch Study website:

http://www.danburybranchstudy.com

slide-11
SLIDE 11

11

DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT DANBURY BRANCH CTC PROJECT

Questions? Questions?

slide-12
SLIDE 12

12

Alternatives Development & Evaluation Alternatives Development & Evaluation

  • A. No Build Alternative
  • A. No Build Alternative
  • Metro-North 2030 Plan (14 Trains Each Direction)
  • B. Transportation System Manag
  • B. Transportation System Management (TSM)

ement (TSM)

  • Consider Additional Reverse Service and Improved Bus

Connections

  • C. South Norwalk to Danbury Improvements
  • C. South Norwalk to Danbury Improvements
  • Track Re-Alignments and Passing Sidings
  • Station Enhancements
  • Bridge Upgrades
  • Electrification
  • D. Extension from Danbury to New Milford
  • D. Extension from Danbury to New Milford
  • Alternative DD: Diesel
  • Alternative DE: Electric
  • New Stations and Track Upgrade
  • E. Improvements from South Norwalk to
  • E. Improvements from South Norwalk to

Merritt 7 Merritt 7

  • Same Improvements as C, only to Wilton
slide-13
SLIDE 13

13

Danbury Branch Corridor Map Danbury Branch Corridor Map

3 Segments 3 Segments

  • South Norwalk to Danbury
  • 23.6 miles
  • Existing Passenger Rail Service

(Metro North)

  • 8 Stations
  • Danbury to New Milford
  • 14 miles
  • Existing Freight (HRRC)
  • No Passenger Rail
  • 3 Proposed Stations
  • New Milford to Pittsfield, MA
  • 38 miles to MA State Line
  • Existing Freight (HRRC)
  • No Passenger Rail
slide-14
SLIDE 14

14

Completed Activities To Date Completed Activities To Date

 Task 2: Task 2: Coordination Meetings  Task 3: Task 3: Scoping Meetings and Scoping Report  Task 4: Task 4: Base Mapping  Task 5: Task 5: Environmental Data Collection –  18 Tech Memos, reviewed and approved by regulatory agencies and CT DOT

slide-15
SLIDE 15

15

Completed Activities To Date (continued) Completed Activities To Date (continued)

 Task 6: Task 6: Existing Transportation Systems Report

 Initial Train Performance Calculations (TPCs)  Data File To Initiate Travel Demand Forecasting  Draft TOD Report

 Task 7: Task 7: Existing Rail Infrastructure Report  Task 8: Task 8: Draft EIS Outline

slide-16
SLIDE 16

16

Coordination and Project Meetings Update Coordination and Project Meetings Update

  • Ongoing coordination meetings: more than 50

meetings to date. Process is ongoing with:

  • Railroads, State and Federal Officials
  • Representatives from the 10 municipalities in the corridor
  • Regional Planning Agencies and Transit Districts
  • Other Stakeholders
  • Scoping Meetings -2008
  • Study Advisory Meeting 2009
  • Study Advisory Meetings 2010 (March and Late

Spring)

  • Public Pre-DEIS Meeting – Late Spring 2010
slide-17
SLIDE 17

17

CURRENT ACTIVITIES CURRENT ACTIVITIES

  • Conceptual Engineering

Conceptual Engineering

  • Transit Oriented Development

Transit Oriented Development Opportunities Opportunities

  • Impact Evaluations and DRAFT EIS

Impact Evaluations and DRAFT EIS

slide-18
SLIDE 18

18

CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING CONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING Proposed Improvements – Proposed Improvements – Today’s Discussion

  • day’s Discussion
  • Track Upgrades
  • Curve Realignments
  • Bridge Replacements
  • Yard Layout
  • Traction Power

For Next Meeting For Next Meeting

  • Utility Relocation
  • Communication and

Signaling

slide-19
SLIDE 19

19

Proposed Operating Speeds – Proposed Operating Speeds – South Norwalk to Danbury

  • uth Norwalk to Danbury

Increase Superelevation @ 5 Curves Realign 33 Curves 61 Existing Curves

slide-20
SLIDE 20

20

Proposed Operating Speeds – Proposed Operating Speeds – Danbury to New Milford anbury to New Milford

Replace Rail, Ties, & Ballast Superelevate 10 Curves Realign 5 Curves 27 Existing Curves

slide-21
SLIDE 21

21

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – South Norwalk

  • uth Norwalk
slide-22
SLIDE 22

22

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – South Norwalk

  • uth Norwalk
slide-23
SLIDE 23

23

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – Norwalk

  • rwalk
slide-24
SLIDE 24

24

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – Norwalk

  • rwalk
slide-25
SLIDE 25

25

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – Wilton ilton

slide-26
SLIDE 26

26

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – Wilton ilton

slide-27
SLIDE 27

27

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – Redding edding

slide-28
SLIDE 28

28

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – Redding edding

slide-29
SLIDE 29

29

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – Redding edding

slide-30
SLIDE 30

30

Track Realignments – Track Realignments – Berkshire Junction erkshire Junction

slide-31
SLIDE 31

31

TPC Results Diesel TPC Results Diesel

slide-32
SLIDE 32

32

TPC Results Electric TPC Results Electric

El Electri ectric Over Over Di Diesel Ti esel Time me Savings Savings

  • Approximately 21 minutes

faster from New Milford to South Norwalk

  • Nearly 25% time savings
slide-33
SLIDE 33

33

Travel Demand Forecasting – Travel Demand Forecasting – Input Data nput Data

slide-34
SLIDE 34

34

Travel Demand Forecasting – Travel Demand Forecasting – Input Data nput Data

slide-35
SLIDE 35

35

Existing RR Bridges Existing RR Bridges South Norwalk to Danbury South Norwalk to Danbury

  • 27 Bridges
  • 15 Open Deck

Danbury to New Milford Danbury to New Milford

  • 9 Bridges
  • 5 Open Deck
slide-36
SLIDE 36

36

Proposed Ballast Deck RR Bridges Proposed Ballast Deck RR Bridges South Norwalk to Danbury South Norwalk to Danbury

  • Replace 15 Open Deck

Bridges with Ballast Deck

Danbury to New Milford Danbury to New Milford

  • Replace 5 Open Deck

Bridges with Ballast Deck

slide-37
SLIDE 37

37

Yard Layout – Yard Layout – Danbury anbury

slide-38
SLIDE 38

38

Yard Layout – Yard Layout – New Milford New Milford

slide-39
SLIDE 39

39

Traction Power – Traction Power – Single Line Diagram Alternative C Single Line Diagram Alternative C

slide-40
SLIDE 40

40

Traction Power – Traction Power – Single Line Diagram Alternative D Single Line Diagram Alternative D

slide-41
SLIDE 41

41

Traction Power – Traction Power – Single Line Diagram Alternate E ingle Line Diagram Alternate E

slide-42
SLIDE 42

42

Transit Oriented Development Transit Oriented Development Summary Of TOD Report

slide-43
SLIDE 43

43

Transit Oriented Development Transit Oriented Development

  • Definition of TOD and relevant examples elsewhere
  • Document status of station area planning efforts

by local municipalities

  • Identify potential new development adjacent to the

corridor and station areas

  • Identify opportunities and constraints related to

TOD in potential station areas

slide-44
SLIDE 44

44

Transit Oriented Development Transit Oriented Development

What is TOD? What is TOD?

  • Mixed Use Community Within Average

2000-ft walking distance of a transit stop and core commercial area

  • CT Definition: the development of residential,

commercial and employment centers within one-half mile or walking distance

  • f public transportation facilities…that meet

transit supportive standards for land uses, built environment densities, and walkable environments

slide-45
SLIDE 45

45

Transit Oriented Development Transit Oriented Development

FTA Guidance and the National TOD Picture What is a livable community? “It’s a community where if people don’t want an automobile, they don’t have to have one. A community where you can walk to work, your doctor’s appointment, pharmacy or grocery

  • store. Or you could take… rail, a bus, or ride a

bike.”

  • U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, October 2009
slide-46
SLIDE 46

46

Sample TOD Communities Outside CT Sample TOD Communities Outside CT

slide-47
SLIDE 47

47

Transit Oriented Development Transit Oriented Development

TOD Guiding Principles for the Danbury Branch Corridor:

  • Quality and Level of commuter rail service
  • Level of Parking
  • Quality of Pedestrian Access and Walkability Within Each

TOD site

  • Control of Traffic Congestion At Each TOD Location
  • Balance of New Residential and Mixed Use Development
slide-48
SLIDE 48

48

Station Locations Station Locations

slide-49
SLIDE 49

49

Population and Density of Communities Population and Density of Communities

slide-50
SLIDE 50

50

TOD Types TOD Types

slide-51
SLIDE 51

51

Ongoing TOD Initiatives Ongoing TOD Initiatives

slide-52
SLIDE 52

52

NEXT STEPS NEXT STEPS

  • Service Plan Development
  • Alternatives Evaluation
  • Third Study Advisory Committee Meeting – Late Spring

2010

  • Pre-DEIS Public Meeting – Late Spring 2010
slide-53
SLIDE 53

53

Alternatives Evaluation Alternatives Evaluation

Example Criteria: Example Criteria:

Operational Impact Environmental Impact Fleet Impact Time Savings Existing Roadway Conditions Existing Land Use Planned Roadway Improvements Capital Cost Existing Transit Services Operational Cost Bicycle & Pedestrian Access TOD Potential Constructability ROW Requirements Local Acceptance Potential for Transit Existing Rail Facilities & Operations Travel Demand: 2015, 2025, 2035

slide-54
SLIDE 54

54

Alternatives Evaluation Alternatives Evaluation

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Criteria:

  • Mobility Improvement
  • Environmental Benefits
  • Operating Efficiencies
  • Cost Effectiveness
  • Transit Supportive Land Use Policies and Future

Patterns

slide-55
SLIDE 55

55

DISCUSSION DISCUSSION

Questions/Comments? Questions/Comments?