7) Commuter Rail Demonstration Project

OBJECTIVE: Implement a recommended action of the CDTC New Visions regional transportation plan by operating commuter rail service from Saratoga County to Albany for up to two years, using existing rail alignments.

PROJECT JUSTIFICATION: The project derives from both local interest and regional policy. In CDTC's New Visions for Regional Transportation plan, adopted as regional policy in 1997, CDTC calls for pursuit of "low risk opportunities to test commuter rail options" (p. 143). Commuter rail is held by CDTC to be one of the prime candidates for long-range large-scale investment to help manage growth and congestion in the I-87 corridor through Saratoga County. Further, CDTC’s Transit futures report which led to the CDTC policy, noted that commuter rail options have the potential to serve urban revitalization objectives, given existing track alignment through the older cities.

In CDTC’s technical work leading up to the New Visions plan adoption, significant effort was made to identify primary markets. This led CDTC to look at service both through Schenectady and through Mechanicville and other Hudson River communities – to best offer the service as an alternative to Northway use. Ridership estimates could not attempt to assess the “intangible” attractiveness of rail over bus service. As a result, a demonstration effort is necessary to assess market dynamics and determine the scale of capital and operating expenses for permanent operation.

DESIGN/SCOPE: The Commuter Rail Demonstration Project will be designed to explore service options using existing rail alignments. Two routes are potentially feasible. One is via the St. Lawrence and Hudson (D&H) through Glenville Junction to Mechanicville, Cohoes, Watervliet, and Albany. The other option is to continue on the St.L&H (D&H) to Mohawk Junction to intersect with the Chicago Main Line owned by CSXT and used extensively by Amtrak for high speed service. A loop serving both routes has the potential to minimize needed track improvements.

Some track work will be inevitably required to support commuter rail service. This could include new sidings, a freight bypass track of the Saratoga Yard, signals, grade crossing upgrades and other work. The exact scope of these improvements has not yet been determined and will vary with the service plan.

There are a number of undetermined items in the project scope including equipment to be used, the operator, and temporary station locations. The inclusion of a strong local marketing component, as well as ample feeder and distributor bus service will be crucial to the demonstration's success.

BUDGET: The following budget contains a number of assumptions. Because the project is early in the scoping phase, these assumptions, and thus the budget is subject to change. These assumptions include:

· Two year demonstration period

· Two peak direction train trips in the morning and evening peaks

· Four temporary stations

· Feeder/Shuttle bus at all stations

· Push/pull, cab signaled equipment (lease or purchase, undecided)

· Negotiated trackage rights and dispatch fees

· Administration includes Operation Lifesaver education, fare collection, engineering, and other overhead expenses associated with contract administration

· NYSDOT-Amtrak MOU will pay for Saratoga to Schenectady $4M upgrade and Rensselaer to Schenectady Double Track ($15M)

· Capital costs of upgrades to the Colonie Main Line (Mechanicville to Albany) not included

Table 1 - Project Financial Requirements
Train Operations and Maintenance (Includes equipment and fees)	$6,500,000
Feeder/Shuttle Bus	$1,300,000
Temporary Stations	$450,000
Insurance	$1,000,000
Marketing	$800,000
Administration/Engineering	$600,000
	$10,650,000
Table 2 -Project Revenue
Federal Demonstration Funds	$5,320,000
Funding gap	$5,330,000

STATUS/SCHEDULE: CDTA has agreed to be the project administrator. The project is in the early stages of scoping. A goal of implementation in 2001/2002 has been set. Federal funds were secured with the assistance of former Congressman Jerry Solomon and TEA-21 funds. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is the agency with federal funding approval authority over the Commuter Rail Demonstration Project. The FTA is facing strong interest nationwide in rail transit service of all types, including commuter rail. The stiff competition for these limited "New Starts" funds are governed by a rigorous set of regulations. The FTA will support the Demonstration project if its purpose is to gather data to provide input into the feasibility of a permanent commuter rail service. The FTA will be requiring specific assurances and evidence that the project is truly a "demonstration", or study of concept, rather than a permanent system.

CDTA is working cooperatively with its partners in the project to develop a project scope and schedule that will respect the federal funding restrictions while accomplishing the project goals.

RESPONSIBLE AGENCY: Capital District Transportation Authority

Contact Person: Kristina Younger, CDTA Manager of Planning, 518-482-4199.

Partner Agencies: New York State Department of Transportation; Saratoga County Economic Development; Amtrak.