trailway4b

Eastside TRailway

TheEastside TRailway

Making Trail and RailHappen for the Eastside

Cascadia CenterDiscovery Institute208 Columbia Street • Seattle WA 98104www.cascadiaproject.org • 206 . 292 . 0401

Eastside TRailway

Introduction

Track & Corridor

Train Options TRailway& Beyond

From Here to There

Eastside TRailway

The Area’sBasic Mobility Challenge

• Over 200,000 commuters a day among North End and Eastside communities from Snohomish to Renton

• Over 460,000 Eastside residents & visitors

– making shopping & personal trips

– wanting recreation opportunities

Eastside TRailway

Rail – Green and PopularTrains use 75% less Land 50% less Energy 50% less Money Generating 50% - 100% less

Greenhouse Gases. . . than Autos

Trains becoming popular Amtrak enjoying record ridership

nationwide Many rail transit operations

exceeding ridership projections

Eastside TRailway

Trails & Livable CommunitiesTrails make Communities Better

Bicycle Trails between neighborhoods and communities becoming more important and desirable

Trails can be a foundation of safe, livable communities

Bicycling is healthier, and bicycles cost 97% less to own and maintain than cars

Every $1 invested in Trails and Community Walkability yields $2.94 in direct medical and health benefits

Trails part of Multi-modal System“It is important to link pedestrian and bicycle systems into public transit, and especially to

connect with commuter train service.”– Kane County, IL Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan

Eastside TRailway

The Opportunity A typically 100-foot wide

Corridor Rail & Trail

Allowing residents easier access to work & leisure

Enabling visitors to more easily tour the Eastside

Helping the Eastside become more Attractive Sustainable and Prosperous

Eastside TRailway

Snohomish - Eastside Stake 11 miles (26%) of Corridor in

Snohomish County Current no direct Snohomish -

Eastside Bus Service SR-9 increasingly congested,

despite expansion Rising fuel prices & Global

Warming concerns make longer-distance car commuting & travel less desirable or sustainable

Eastside TRailway

Cascadia Center Independent voice for

Regional Transportation & Sustainable Development solutions

No Commercial or Real Estate Interests

No intent to operate rail or other services

Formed Eastside TRailway Partnership to bring Rail, Trail & Community interests together

Eastside TRailway

Introduction

Track & Corridor


From Here to There

Eastside TRailway

Existing Track ConditionsUsable, but Needs Upgrading Federal Class II Track

too slow at 25 mph for Commuter Trains

Old jointed rail and wooden ties requires regular, and more expensive, maintenance

Deteriorated roadbed needs rebuilding

Eastside TRailway

Repairs & UpgradesFor a quality Commuter Rail operation New 141-lb Continuous

Welded Rail for higher speeds, low maintenance, and smoother ride

New bridges in some places, including a newsteel arch span overI-405 in South Bellevue

Estimated $110 million for Corridor – more than a private rail operator would invest alone

Eastside TRailway

Eastside TRailway ConstructionP-811 Track Layer Can lay a quarter-mile of

high-quality track an hour Cost: Approximately $1

million a mile Track will need almost no

maintenance for years at a time (no train service disruptions)

Can be co-developed with a Trail

Eastside TRailway

Introduction

Track & Corridor


From Here to There

Eastside TRailway

Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Combines Propulsion and

Seating in the same Vehicle 1 DMU equals

1 Locomotive + 1.3 Coaches More Neighborhood-friendly

Can run in streets like Streetcars

Attractive to Passengers Low-floor boarding (fewer steps) More spacious interiors Space for bicycles

Can burn Biodiesel High Reliability, Easy Repairs

Components can be swapped out

Eastside TRailway

Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU)Better than Locomotive-

hauled Trains Cleaner

72% less pollution

Quieter75% less noise

More Fuel Efficient60% less fuel used per mile

Lower Costs Less Equipment to Buy, Operate &

Maintain Smaller Platforms & Maintenance

Facilities

Eastside TRailway

Diesel Multiple Unit Video

Eastside TRailway

DMU Train OptionsSiemens Desiro Selected for San Diego’s

Oceanside – Escondido Sprinter Line

55 mph max speed 136 Seats / 90 Standees $4.17 million per 2-car

set

Eastside TRailway

DMU Train OptionsStadler GTW DMU 2-2/6 Selected for Austin TX

Capital MetroRail 74 mph max speed 108 Seats / 92

Standees $5.4 million per 2-car

set

Eastside TRailway

DMU Train OptionsColorado Railcar

Single-level DMU Selected for Oregon

TriMet Washington County Commuter Rail

90 mph max speed 188 Seats / 120


train

Eastside TRailway

DMU Train OptionsColorado Railcar

Double-deck DMU Selected for Florida

RTA Commuter Rail 90 mph max speed 376 Seats / 240


train

Eastside TRailway

Introduction

Track & Corridor


From Here to There

Eastside TRailway

Eastside TRailway

The Vision Publicly-owned corridors

– Snohomish - Renton– Woodinville - Redmond

Providing a Safe, Enjoyable & Green way

To get up and down the Eastside

For people on Foot, Bike, or Train

Eastside TRailway

The TRailway TrailTrails will be Paved, with Safe

Crossings and Separation from Track

Includes pathways for Cyclists, Walkers, and in places Equestrians

Regularly Monitored And offer a Ride Back if

you’re wet, tired, or want to go twice as far!

Eastside TRailway

The TRailway TrailWill integrate with The Centennial Trail

The Sammamish Slough Trail

The Burke Gilman Trail

The Mountains to Sound Greenway

The Maple Valley Trail

and many area parks

Eastside TRailway

TRailway StationsStations will be Boarding Points for

Rail Riders Clean, Attractive

Trailheads & Rest Stops for Trail Users

Potentially offering Refreshments & Services for Both

Eastside TRailway

TRailway Stations Will integrate with

Communities Can be designed to suit

local needs Can be built as

Community projects Will have Transit

Connections And many will have Park

& Rides for both Train and Trail Users

Eastside TRailway

TRailway TrainsTrains will . . . Eventually run

throughout the Day & Evening

Offer plenty of space for Cyclists, Gear & Bags, even Kayaks

Potentially offer extras like Onboard Coffee and Snack Service

Eastside TRailway

Comparable CorridorsAustin, TX

Capital MetroRail 32 miles / 9 stations between

Austin & Leander 50 min trips / 38.4 mph average

speed Trains initially every 30 min

during AM & PM rush hours 1,700 - 2,000 riders per day System cost $112 million

or $3.5 million per mile First Phase starts 2008 Trails to be developed along

system rail lines

Eastside TRailway

Comparable CorridorsPortland, OR

TriMet Washington County Commuter Rail

14.7 miles / 5 stations between Beaverton & Wilsonville

27 min trips / 32.7 mph average speed

Trains every 30 min AM & PMrush hours

3,000 - 4,000 riders per dayby 2020

System cost $117.3 millionor $7.98 million per mile

Starts Fall 2008

Eastside TRailway

Comparable CorridorsAlbuquerque, NM

Rail Runner Express 47 miles / 9 stations between

Belen & Sandoval 67 min trips / 42 mph average

speed Trains every 1 - 3 hours initially 2,500 - 4,000 riders per day System cost $135 million

or $2.87 million per mile in Phase I Started July 14, 2006 Eventually will extend north to

Santa Fe in Phase II

Eastside TRailway

Eastside TRailway ImpactsQuieter Trains DMUs 75% quieter than freight trains

Horn-free Quiet Zones can be created at Rail Crossings

Property values not harmed Homes next to Commuter Rail lines

keep pace with area home values– URS 2007 study

Property values next to trails rise over other homes– Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and National Association of Realtors™ studies

Eastside TRailway

Eastside TRailway PotentialsEastside Services Initial Snohomish - Bellevue service Subsequent Snohomish - Bellevue -

Renton/Tukwila service SeaTac Airport service

Potential Rail Connections Skykomish Corridor North Sound Corridor Seattle Connections Kittitas Regional Rail Possible through Amtrak services

Eastside TRailway

Introduction

Track & Corridor


From Here to There

Eastside TRailway

Eastside Corridor ProcessPort of Seattle Acquisition Open Process that

considers Community Needs & Perspectives

No Operator guaranteed to be selected

BNSF to aid in Operator selection

Eastside TRailway

Eastside Corridor ProcessIt’s important that the Community have a role in Station and Facility

location, design, and development

Train service hours and frequencies

On-train and station community events, and extra train service in support of community events and needs

Eastside TRailway

Eastside Corridor ProcessPossible Sound Transit Roles

Eastside Sub-area Equity Funding Rep Loomis $100K for Ridership analysis

($200K from Sound Transit) ST 2020 Plan - Proposed $50 million for

Eastside Commuter Rail Possible participation or partnering in

Corridor Development & Operations

Corridor Funding Options & Scenarios

US DOT FTA Small Starts Other State & Local funding options Transportation Benefit District Business & Developer Co-Investment

Eastside TRailway

Public and Private PartnershipBetter than Private Sector alone

Strictly Private Sector options are not necessarily a free lunch

Community needs and interests may not be served

Private sector will only offer services where it makes money

Trail development & connectivity options could suffer, or not be realized

Community Rail Partnership Balance between Communities and Rail

interests, as well as between Public and Private sectors

Works in Texas (TEMPO), as well as in UK, Germany, Canada, and elsewhere

Possible Corridor Development Authority with Rail, Trail, & Utilities as tenants

SorryNo Midday

orWeekend

Train Service

Eastside TRailway

Bottom Line VisionCommunities and the Public should be in control

of the Eastside Corridor, and full partners in shaping its uses and services – so that the most

benefits possible are realized for the region.

Eastside TRailway

Thank You

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