Rochester-Twin Cities

Passenger Rail Corridor

February 28, 2013

Investment Plan

Technical Advisory Committee

Meeting

Meeting Overview

1. Introductions

2. TAC Member Roles and Responsibilities

3. Policy Advisory Committee

4. Project Background

5. Project Development Process

6. Alternatives Development and Analysis

7. Environmental Process

8. Public Involvement

9. Questions/Comments

10.Next Meeting

Introductions

• Minnesota Department of Transportation

• Olmsted County Regional Rail Authority

• Consultant Team

– Parsons Brinckerhoff

– Short, Elliott, Hendrickson

– Zan Associates

Introductions

Technical Advisory Committee • Dakota, Dodge, Goodhue, Hennepin, Olmsted,

and Ramsey Counties

• MnDOT

• Metropolitan Airports Commission

• Metropolitan Council

• Rochester International Airport

• City of Rochester

• ROCOG

• SE Minnesota Rail Alliance

TAC Roles and Responsibilities

• Meeting frequency approximately every other month

• Attendance by Primary or Alternate Representative

• Provide input on technical approach and technical documentation

• Provide input on local issues of importance

• Report back to respective Board or Agency

• Periodic attendance by respective Policy representatives at TAC meetings

• Attend Public Meetings in respective area if possible

Project Background

• Corridor approximately 100 miles in length

• Twin-Cities to Rochester

• US Route 52 is existing connection

• Potential Termini Include

– St. Paul Union Depot

– Minneapolis Transportation Interchange

– MSP Airport

– RST Airport

– Downtown Rochester

Project Background

Study Area

Project Schedule

Project Development Process

• Preliminary Service Development Planning

• Environmental Document (Tier-1 NEPA)

• Final SDP

Project Development Process

Preliminary Reports being Prepared

• Notice of Intent

• Public Involvement Plan

• Draft Purpose and Need Statement

• Preliminary Service Development Plan

– Identification and Evaluation of potential routes,

schedules and other service options

Service Development Plan (SDP)

Business case justifying Federal investment

• Purpose & need

• Alternatives Development and Analysis

• Capital & operating costs

• Service & operating plan

• Ridership and benefits

• Land use impacts

• Implementation plan

Service Development Plan (SDP)

Purpose & Need Statement (P&N)

• NEPA required

• Establishes a basis for developing and

evaluating reasonable alternatives required in an

Environmental Impact Statement

• Drives identification and eventual selection of a

Preferred Alternative

• Describes the transportation challenges and

opportunities

Alternatives vs. Measures of Effectiveness

Screening Analysis

Conceptual

Refined Detailed Analyses

*The process moves from many proposed solutions to identifying and evaluating the best, most viable solutions. Technical analysis and public/agency input is included at every step.

Level 2

Level 3

Fatal Flaw

Universe* Level 1

Screening Process

Alternatives Development & Analysis

Elements of Alternatives

• Path on the ground

• Station locations

• Intermodal connectivity

• Train performance

– Capacity

– Speed, Acceleration, Grades, Curves

– Comfort and convenience

• Future Uses

Alternatives Development & Analysis

Expectations of passengers

• On-time reliability

• Service frequency

• Comfort, ease of access

• Trip time

Alternatives Development & Analysis

Demand & Ridership Projections

• In parallel with the alternatives analysis

• Principal tasks: – Establish required input data

– Forecast baseline trip making

• Auto, Bus, Air

• Market segments (business/leisure split)

• Develop Demand Model

• Establish ridership & revenue for identified alternative parameters

Alternatives Development & Analysis

Development of a Business Plan

• The Business Plan built from:

– Alternatives analysis

– Demand model and revenue forecasts

– Capital costs, O&M data, user and non user benefits

etc

• By optimizing demand, revenue and costs,

opportunities for private sector financing are

enhanced

Implementation Plan

• Phased Development

– Phase 1 can stand alone

• Evolve track capacity

– Start with single track including sidings

– Evolve to track capacity as demand develops

• Increase Speeds

• Expand Service Options

Service Development Plan (SDP)

Benefits of Incremental Approach

• Recognizes infrastructure and cost challenges

• Competitive travel times

• Demonstrated success

NEPA and MEPA Requirements

• Both Federal and State requirements

addressed through a single document

• Early and continuous interagency and public

involvement

• Meaningful evaluation of alternatives

• Mitigation of adverse effects

• Decisions made in the best overall public

interest

Environmental Resources Considered

• Communities, residences and businesses

• Farmlands

• Wetlands and water bodies

• Air quality

• Parklands

• Historic and archaeological sites

• Wildlife

• Geology

Environmental Resources

• Fort Snelling State Park

• Fort Snelling National Cemetery

• Minnesota River Wildlife Refuge

• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

• Douglas State Trail

• Karst geology near Rochester

Session F-1 24

Impact Context and Intensity

• Setting influences the significance of impacts:

– National, statewide, regional, local

• Public health or safety involved

• High degree of public controversy

• Are there land use changes? Relocations?

• Are there historic properties or parklands?

• Are impacts to Threatened or Endangered

Species Anticipated?

40 CFR 1508.27 2C-8

Mitigate

• Avoid

• Minimize

• Repair, Rehabilitate, Restore

• Preserve

• Compensate

Public Involvement

Stakeholders

• Federal, State, Regional and Local Agencies

• Businesses and Business Associations

• Non-Profit Organizations and Institutions

• Residents and Neighborhoods

• General Public

Public Involvement

Activities

• Prepare Public Involvement Plan

• Compile and maintain outreach contacts database

• Provide quarterly newsletter

• Draft news releases

• Public meetings

Public Involvement

Communications Strategies

• Project website

– Updated site to go live in March

• Social Media

• Email Updates

• News Media

• Public Workshops

Public Involvement

Public Involvement Goals

• Provide early, open and continuous engagement

• Manage expectations

• Ensure all interested stakeholders have opportunity to participate

• Proactive efforts to engage the public in the process, particularly under-represented groups

• Build relationships and trust

• Build understanding and support for the project

Public Involvement

Outreach to Under-Represented

Populations

• Meeting notices and project information

translated to non-English languages

• News releases to non-English language media

outlets (print, radio, television)

• Public Workshops

– Interpreters or bi-lingual staff

at public meetings

– Accessible meeting locations

Next Steps

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) • April 2013: Preliminary screening of alternatives

prior to first series of public meetings • May 2013: Review alternatives presentation and

introduction of environmental field work prior to second series of public meetings (scoping)

• Summer 2013: Details of remaining alternatives, preliminary costs, potential impacts, expected performance

Next Steps

Public Meetings • First Series – April 2013

– Dates and Locations Coming Soon

• Second Series - Summer/Fall 2013