TRT Construction Local Officials Briefing Alton, IL April 5, 2012 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 www.idothsr.org www.connectthemidwest.com TRT Construction Local Officials Briefing Alton, IL April 5, 2012 w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

2 www.idothsr.org www.connectthemidwest.com Overview: Chicago to St. Louis Program w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

3 OVERVIEW: CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS Why the Chicago to St. Louis Corridor? » IDOT has studied the development of HSR on the corridor since the mid 1980s » Federally designated a HSR Corridor in 1992 » Previously completed studies (2004 ROD) » Added frequencies in 2006 w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

4 OVERVIEW: CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS Project Overview » The overall purpose of this project is to enhance the passenger transportation network within the Chicago to St. Louis corridor. » The current Chicago to St. Louis corridor operates on only one set of track, however, future visions for this corridor include the full build out of an additional second track . w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

5 5 OVERVIEW: CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS Key Program Milestones w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

6 6 OVERVIEW: CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS Who’s Involved? Project Partners • Illinois Department of Business Elected Officials Transportation (IDOT) Community • Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) • Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR): General Public & Regional Agencies Owner/Dispatcher Interest Groups • Amtrak: Service Provider • Other Railroads • Illinois Commerce Commission Transportation City/County (ICC) Providers Technical Staff • Stakeholders Project Management Team • Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) • Sub-Consultants w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

7 www.idothsr.org www.connectthemidwest.com 2012 Construction w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

8 2012 CONSTRUCTION 2012 Construction: Fast Facts » East Alton to Godfrey – Scheduled to begin April 16, 2012 – Work is scheduled to be completed about April 23, 2012 – Improvements include: • Installation of new concrete ties • Renewal of crossing surfaces and approaches • Installation of switches • Installation of new premium rail w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

9 2012 CONSTRUCTION 2012 Construction: Fast Facts » Godfrey to Chicago (as needed) – Work will begin following completion of the East Alton to Godfrey section – Work is scheduled for completion in late summer – Improvements include: • Installation of new concrete ties • Renewal of crossing surfaces and approaches • Installation of switches • Installation of new premium rail w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

10 2012 CONSTRUCTION 2012 Construction: Fast Facts » Construction Disruptions – Crossings will be temporarily closed during construction – Local officials will be notified of dates and times of closures – IDOT and the Union Pacific Railroad will work with municipalities and counties to plan and post detours and minimize interruptions w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

11 www.idothsr.org www.connectthemidwest.com 2010/2011 Construction w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

12 2010/2011 CONSTRUCTION Construction Improvements » Installed rail over 187 miles of new track » Installed 491,294 new concrete ties » Spread 1,042,357 tons of stone ballast » Renewed 180 crossing surfaces and approaches » Installed 25 switches w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

13 2010/2011 CONSTRUCTION Construction: Before & After Before After w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

14 2010/2011 CONSTRUCTION Construction: Before & After After Before Before After w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

15 www.idothsr.org www.connectthemidwest.com Higher Speed Trains w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

16 HIGHER SPEED TRAINS Coming Soon… Higher Speeds » Dwight to Pontiac Initial segment for higher speed trains » Public Outreach Program – What to expect in your community – Educational efforts – Safety improvements w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

17 HIGHER SPEED TRAINS Coming Soon… Higher Speeds » Amtrak cars will be upgraded with new seats, new food & beverage cars, and Wi-Fi » New stations are in the process of being built » Improved safety with enhanced grade crossing warnings and signals w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

18 www.idothsr.org www.connectthemidwest.com Overall Program Benefits w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

19 PROGRAM BENEFITS Benefits » Safety – Enhanced grade crossing warning: four quadrant gates and pedestrian gates (subject to federal and state approvals) – Implementation of enhanced signals and crossing warning systems – Installation of new premium rail and concrete ties to support higher speed operations w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

20 PROGRAM BENEFITS Benefits (continued) » Economic and Community – New or restored station facilities with technology enhancements to promote economic development – Improved transportation connections at stations – Business opportunities for rail and station construction, train operation and maintenance – Improve the movement of people, goods, and services w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

21 PROGRAM BENEFITS Benefits (continued) » Economic and Community – Creation of approximately 6,000 jobs* – 80,000 new tourists will visit Chicago each year* – $510 million in direct and indirect spending, of which $320 million will be from new tourist direct spending * – State and local tax revenues will increase by $120 million* – $2.6 billion of additional income from job creation* *Source: Metropolitan Planning Council Occurring over then next ten years w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

22 PROGRAM BENEFITS Benefits (continued) » New Passenger Cars and Locomotives (Train sets) – Purchase of new high-speed train sets for improved ride quality and passenger comfort – New state-of-art coach and business class seating – Premium onboard amenities: Wi-Fi, variable message signs, food/beverage service and automated announcements w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

23 PROGRAM BENEFITS Benefits (continued) » Stations – Improved aesthetics with new or renovated facilities – New ADA compliant boarding platforms – Increased passenger safety, comfort and convenience – Lighting, site, and parking improvements – Generate additional ridership and commercial development activity w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

24 PROGRAM BENEFITS Benefits (continued) » Environmental – Improves air quality and energy efficiency – Reduces greenhouse gases – Reduces Illinois’ demand for oil w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

25 PROGRAM BENEFITS Benefits (continued) » Service Reliability and Time Savings – Faster and more convenient travel- no security check points or congestion – Existing five daily round trips will include three high-speed round trips – On-time performance of at least 85% w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

26 RIDERSHIP & RELIABILITY Ridership & Reliability 2006-2010 w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

27 www.idothsr.org www.connectthemidwest.com Corridor Level Environmental Review (Tier 1 EIS) w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

28 OVERVIEW: CHICAGO TO ST. LOUIS Environmental Study » In early 2011, a corridor level environmental review (Tier 1 EIS) began for the Chicago to St. Louis corridor » This study will identify necessary improvements to accommodate train travel at higher speeds and additional daily round trips » Public Hearings on the EIS will be held this summer w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m

29 29 CORRIDOR LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Alternatives Chicago to Joliet 16 potential alternatives and no-build Joliet to Alton Excluding Springfield area Build and no-build Springfield Area 11 potential alternatives and no-build Alton to St. Louis 5 potential alternatives and no-build w w w . i d o t h s r . o r g w w w . c o n n e c t t h e m i d w e s t . c o m