John Spain, Executive Vice President Baton Rouge Area Foundation Karen Parsons AICP, Principal Planner - New Orleans Regional Planning Commission

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1 John Spain, Executive Vice President Baton Rouge Area Foundation Karen Parsons AICP, Principal Planner - New Orleans Regional Planning Commission

2 Updated Passenger Rail Vision 2013/early 2014 as part of State Transportation Plan Freight and Passenger Rail Components Meets PRIIA requirements for future funding Established Passenger Rail Objectives Established Future Study Areas Shreveport - Baton Rouge - New Orleans Dallas - Shreveport - Meridian

3 Recommendations Work with neighboring states on rail initiatives Continued participation with SRC Support for existing Amtrak services and stations Support development of new intercity rail service Investment Plan/unfunded Years 1 to 4 - $105M Years $717M

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5 Feasibility Study of Proposed New Service North Louisiana Council of Governments MPO managing project Shreveport/Bossier City, LA to Vicksburg, MS Funded by Louisiana Legislature/$250,000 Existing track condition, station stops, hours of operation, estimate capital and operations costs

6 Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi Compact Established TEA-21 Convinced Congress to designate High Speed Rail Corridors in Gulf South

7 Garnered $6.7M Federal High Speed Rail funding for Corridor Planning Studies New Orleans to Meridian Corridor Feasibility Plan 2000 Lake Charles New Orleans Meridian Corridor Development Plan 2007 New Orleans Mobile Corridor Development Plan 2006 New Orleans to Baton Rouge EA /preparation for ARRA capital grant application 2009 Halted Amtrak from de-authorizing Sunset service route east of New Orleans (2007) Convinced Congress to make Amtrak conduct a Restoration of Service Plan east of New Orleans (PRIIA 2008) SRC Commissioner/State Representative Michael Jackson introduced enabling legislation (Act 858) allowing the establishment of Louisiana Intrastate Rail Compacts to develop railways and transitways (2010)

8 State Enabling legislation 2010 Establishes Louisiana Intrastate Rail Compact with powers, duties to facilitate construction and operation of passenger rail Formal collaboration of local governments in Baton Rouge to New Orleans Corridor Develop policy, plans and implement improvements, administer and manage the operations and marketing for intercity rail service Negotiate, apply for and accept funds Negotiate operations, usage and service agrmts Advocate before local, regional, state and federal officials and agencies 6 parishes have designated 4 members each plus 1 SRC designee

9 FRA grant for NEPA and preliminary engineering of UPT terminal track Oct 2012 to December 2014 Design for highest functionality & capacity; ADA compliant platforms Tasks include: Amtrak Coach Yard Improvements (all utilities, security, lighting, drainage) Platforms/track redesign to meet new 15 above top of rail standards PTC and Signalization Modeling future train forecasts based on SRC studies and long-distance service TIGER V & VI not yet funded

10 Funded by TIGER II (2010) $45M Construction completed in 2012 Connects the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal to the French Quarter

11 Funded by TIGER VI (2014) $1,765,341 Nicholson Corridor High Capacity Transit System Planning Grant Improve connectivity and circulation serving LSU Campus and State Government

12 Identify and work with organizations to lead the advancement of the rail corridor project Build Public/Private Partnerships Pursue federal funding sources for the initial capital investments Identify state, regional and local funding sources for capital match and operating expenses

13 COALITION of organizations promoting a Super-Regional Transportation System ADVOCATES for expanded mobility choices throughout the New Orleans to Baton Rouge metro region that offer improved access to affordable homes, job centers and equitable economic opportunity. CONTINUED development of stakeholder and public support

14 A critical transportation project for future growth of the Southeast Super Region Choice, TOD, Creation of Economic advantage Better integration of land use, transportation & housing policies & practices Critical evacuation route

15 Jointly funded by New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, Capital Regional Planning Commission and Baton Rouge Area Foundation Review of Southern Rail Commission study findings of 2010 study Develop leaner alternative scenario to reduce capital and operating costs

16 The Case for Passenger Rail Service Proposed Operations Capital Improvements Operating Costs and Revenues Potential Funding Sources

17 2010 Study 2013 Study Savings Capital Costs $447.8M Annual Operating Subsidy $18.51M Capital Costs $254.9M Annual Operating Subsidy $8.88M 8 Round mph 2 Round 79 mph $192.9 Million $9.63 Million

18 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge * Two mile long timber bridge across the spillway in poor condition freight speeds are limited to 10 mph * Cost of building new bridge at this location approximately $62 Million

19 Regional Planning Commission seeking appropriate strategy and funding to initiate NEPA for Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge or Corridor-wide EA Encourage investments in rail corridor through existing programs - Grade Crossing Improvements - Other Opportunities