FEASIBILITY STUDY DANBURY BRANCH ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT

Transcription

1 FEASIBILITY STUDY DANBURY BRANCH ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT PROJECT UPDATE FOR THE NEW MILFORD RAIL RESTORATION SOCIETY OCTOBER 28, 2003 PROJECT UPDATE FOR THE NEW MILFORD RAIL SERVICE RESTORATION SOCIETY OCTOBER 28, 2003

2 STUDY TEAM CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDY; DIRECTS THE FOLLOWING TEAM: WASHINGTON GROUP INTERNATIONAL (PRIME CONSULTANT) SUBCONSULTANTS GANNETT FLEMING TRANSIT & RAIL SYSTEMS URBITRAN ASSOCIATES MULTISYSTEMS JAC PLANNING PROJECT PLANNING AND ANALYSIS

3 STUDY PURPOSE & GOALS AND OBJECTIVES STUDY PURPOSE EVALUATE A RANGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS DETERMINE POTENTIAL TO ENHANCE THE BRANCH S ATTRACTION ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING ROUTE 7 ALTERNATIVE TO COMMUTING ON THE HARLEM LINE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES INCREASE UTILITY OF THE BRANCH, ALLOWING FOR REDUCED TRAVEL TIME AND MORE FREQUENT SERVICE EXPLORE FEASIBILITY OF PASSENGER SERVICE, DANBURY TO NEW MILFORD HELP REDUCE AUTOMOBILE CONGESTION IN THE ROUTE 7 CORRIDOR AND OTHER ADJACENT NORTH/SOUTH CORRIDORS IMPROVE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE DANBURY BRANCH AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE HARLEM LINE IN NEW YORK STATE FOR CONNECTICUT RAIL COMMUTERS

4 STUDY OUTLINE FIVE TASKS DATA COLLECTION, REVIEW, PUBLIC OUTREACH EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING ALTERNATIVES RIDERSHIP FORECASTING EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF ELECTRIFICATION FINAL REPORT

5 Danbury Branch Study - Phase I Project Work Schedule Revised Prepared by Washington Group - September 18, 2003 Task or Activity Mar-03 Apr-03 May-03 Jun-03 Jul-03 Aug-03 Sep-03 Oct-03 Nov-03 Dec-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Task 1 - Data Collection & Public Outreach Plan 1.0 Review Previous Studies, Reports, Plans 1.1 Review Existing Rail Schedules/Service Patterns 1.3 Review Freight Service Sched./Service Patterns 1.4 Review Transit Interface 1.5 Review Existing Road Netw ork 1.6 Review Existing Rail Ridership 1.7 Public Outreach Plan Advisory Committee Meetings Public Meetings Purpose and Needs Report Study Web Page Placed on Line/Updated placed online open to public Task 2 - Evaluation of Engineering Alternatives 2.1 Review Branch Line Rights of Way Boundaries 2.2 Evaluate Track geometry Improvements 2.3 evaluate Feasibility of Double Tracking 2.4 Evaluate Feasibility of Pasing Sidings Alternative 2.5 Evaluate Innovative Technologies Prepare Draft Task 2 Report Review and Comment Period Prepare Final Task 2 Report Task 3 - Ridership Forecasting Interface w ith DOT Forecasting Unit Ridership Forecast Model Runs by DOT Task 4 - Evaluate the Impact of Electrification Capital Cost Estimates Effect of Electrification on Running Time Prepare Draft Task 4 Report Review and Comment Prepare Final Task 4 Report Task 5 - Phase I Final Report & Presentation Prepare Phase I Final Report Prepare Phase I Presentation Presentations to Public

6 PROJECT MILESTONES TASK ONE DATA COLLECTION, PUBLIC OUTREACH PLAN (JUNE, 2003); PURPOSE AND NEEDS REPORT (SEPTEMBER, 2003) TASK TWO EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING ALTERNATIVES (JANUARY, 2004) TASK THREE RIDERSHIP FORECASTING (SPRING, 2004) TASK FOUR EVALUATION OF IMPACTS OF ELECTRIFICATION (FEBRUARY, 2004) TASK FIVE FINAL REPORT & PRESENTATION (SPRING, 2004)

7 Public Outreach Goal 1 - Establish effective communication with the public Goal 2 - Encourage early and continuing public participation Goal 3 - Present complete information to the public Goal 4 - Determine public sentiment

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9 Public Meetings

10 Danbury to New Milford Extension of Passenger Service

11 Danbury to New Milford Section Study of this section resulting from Transportation Strategy Board priority Study of this section follows completion of Branch line review in Task 2 Involves thorough on-site investigation Will involve discussions between Housatonic Railroad, ConnDOT, Metro-North, HVCEO, Study Team and local representatives

12 Danbury to New Milford Section Maybrook Line (Danbury to Berkshire Junction) 2.9 miles Berkshire Line (Berkshire Junction to New Milford) 11.5 miles 9 Grade Crossings 7 Overhead Bridges 3 Sidings (New Milford Station, Kimberly-Clark, Berkshire Junction) ROW owned by Housatonic Railroad Co.

13 Danbury to New Milford Issues Implementing Passenger Service on Existing Freight Lines Compensation Liability Insurance Grade Crossing Safety Signaling and Train Control Requirements Right-of-Way Capacity Constraints Maintaining Integrity of Freight Service Track Upgrade Requirements Freight Clearances (electrification)

14 Overview of Engineering Task 2 Potential Improvement Strategies

15 Potential Improvement Strategies Track Geometry Improvements - Curvature, Grades, Super Elevations, Clearances, Grade Crossings Potential for Double Tracking Feasibility of Passing Sidings Electrification Application of Innovative Technologies

16 KEY: RED INBOUND, DANBURY TO SOUTH NORWALK 0.0 BLUE OUTBOUND, SOUTH NORWALK TO DANBURY GREEN INBOUND/OUTBOUND TRAINS WITH SCHEDULED MEETS 4:30 a 5:00 a 5:30 a 6:00 a 6:30 a 7:00 a 7:30 a 8:00 a 8:30 a 9:00 a 9:30 a 10:00 a 10:30 a 11:00 a 11:30 a 12:00 p 12:30 p 1:00 p 1:30 p 2:00 p 2:30 p 3:00 p 3:30 p 4:00 p 4:30 p 5:00 p 5:30 p 6:00 p 6:30 p 7:00 p 7:30 p 8:00 p 8:30 p 9:00 p 9:30 p 10:00 p 10:30 p 11:00 p 11:30 p 12:00 a 12:30 a 1:00 a 1:30 a DANBURY BRANCH CURRENT MNR WEEKDAY SCHEDULE SOUTH NORWALK TO DANBURY NEW MILFORD 11.1 BROOKFIELD 4.4 HOUSATONIC R.R. STA. EQUATION 24.1=0.0 DANBURY 23.6 BETHEL 21.0 REDDING 17.3 BRANCHVILLE 12.7 CANNONDALE 8.9 WILTON 7.3 MERRITT 3.7 SOUTH NORWALK

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18 BRANCHVILLE REDDING BETHEL Milepost S. NORWALK MERRITT 7 WILTON CANNONDALE DANBURY EXISTING MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED RESTRICTIONS South Norwalk to Danbury PASSENGER STATIONS Speed (mph)

19 70 65 INCREASED SPEED DUE TO INCREASE IN SUPERELEVATION AND UNDERBALANCE. PROPOSED MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED EXISTING SPEED INCREASED SPEED PASSENGER STATIONS Speed (mph) S. NORWALK MERRITT WILTON CANNONDALE Milepost BRANCHVILLE REDDING BETHEL DANBURY 24 South Norwalk to Danbury

20 EXISTING SPEED VS. TIME CHART TIME IN MINUTES SPEED IN MPH SOUTH NORWALK STATION MERRIT 7 STATION WILTON STATION CANNONDALE STATION BRANCHVILLE STATION REDDING STATION BETHEL STATION DANBURY STATION South Norwalk to Danbury

21 INCREASED SPEED VS. TIME CHART TIME IN MINUTES SPEED IN MPH SOUTH NORWALK STATION MERRIT 7 STATION WILTON STATION CANNONDALE STATION BRANCHVILLE STATION REDDING STATION BETHEL STATION DANBURY STATION South Norwalk to Danbury

22 UNRESTRICTED SPEED VS. TIME CHART TIME IN MINUTES SPEED IN MPH SOUTH NORWALK STATION MERRIT 7 STATION WILTON STATION CANNONDALE STATION BRANCHVILLE STATION REDDING STATION BETHEL STATION DANBURY STATION South Norwalk to Danbury

23 * NOTE: TRAINS WILL HAVE TO STOP TO MANUALLY OPERATE HAND-THROW SWITCHES PASSENGER STATIONS Speed (mph) DANBURY * MAYBROOK LINE * BERKSHIRE LINE NORTH DANBURY BROOKFIELD 23.9/ / NEW MILFORD EXISTING MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH RESTRICTIONS Danbury to New Milford Milepost

24 ESTIMATED RUN TIMES VERSUS SPEED SOUTH NORWALK TO DANBURY CURRENT SCHEDULE INBOUND: 47 MINUTES OUTBOUND: MINUTES BASELINE 50 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH SPEED RESTRICTIONS MINUTES INCREASED SUPERELEVATION 60 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH SPEED RESTRICTIONS MINUTES UN-RESTRICTED TIME 60 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH SPEED RESTRICTIONS MINUTES RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION REQUIRED DWELL STATIONS - 60 SECONDS

25 EXISTING SPEED VS. TIME CHART TIME IN MINUTES DANBURY STATION MAYBROOK LINE BERKSHIRE LINE NORTH DANBURY BROOKFIELD NEW MILFORD Danbury to New Milford

26 INCREASED SPEED DUE TO INCREASE IN SUPERELEVATION AND UNDERBALANCE. 40 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH RESTRICTIONS Danbury to New Milford EXISTING SPEED 50 INCREASED SPEED / Milepost 5.0 DANBURY 6.0 * MAYBROOK LINE 7.0 * BERKSHIRE LINE / NORTH DANBURY 2.0 BROOKFIELD NEW MILFORD * NOTE: TRAINS WILL HAVE TO STOP TO MANUALLY OPERATE HAND-THROW SWITCHES

27 INCREASE MAS TO 40 MPH VS. TIME CHART TIME IN MINUTES SPEED IN MPH DANBURY STATION MAYBROOK LINE BERKSHIRE LINE NORTH DANBURY BROOKFIELD NEW MILFORD Danbury to New Milford

28 * NOTE: TRAINS WILL HAVE TO STOP TO MANUALLY OPERATE HAND-THROW SWITCHES DANBURY * MAYBROOK LINE * BERKSHIRE LINE NORTH DANBURY BROOKFIELD 23.9/ / NEW MILFORD 9.0 INCREASED SPEED DUE TO INCREASE IN SUPERELEVATION AND UNDERBALANCE. PASSENGER STATIONS Speed (mph) Danbury to New Milford 50 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH RESTRICTIONS Milepost EXISTING SPEED INCREASED SPEED

29 INCREASE MAS TO 50 MPH VS. TIME CHART TIME IN MINUTES SPEED IN MPH DANBURY STATION MAYBROOK LINE BERKSHIRE LINE NORTH DANBURY BROOKFIELD NEW MILFORD Danbury to New Milford

30 75 70 INCREASED SPEED DUE TO: 1) INCREASE IN SUPERELEVATION AND UNDERBALANCE. 2) REALIGNING RAILROAD. EXTENT OF REALIGNMENT AND ROW ACQUISITION NOT DETERMINED 60 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH RESTRICTIONS EXISTING SPEED Danbury to New Milford INCREASED SPEED Speed (mph) Milepost PASSENGER STATIONS DANBURY * MAYBROOK LINE 23.9/ / * BERKSHIRE LINE NEW MILFORD BROOKFIELD 1.0 NORTH DANBURY * NOTE: THIS ALTERNATIVE ASSUMES REMOTE CONTROL, POWER-OPERATED SWITCHES. TRAINS WILL NOT HAVE TO STOP.

31 INCREASE MAS TO 60 MPH VS. TIME CHART TIME IN MINUTES SPEED IN MPH DANBURY STATION MAYBROOK LINE BERKSHIRE LINE NORTH DANBURY BROOKFIELD NEW MILFORD Danbury to New Milford

32 ESTIMATED RUN TIMES VERSUS SPEED DANBURY TO NEW MILFORD ESTIMATED SCHEDULE EXISTING SPEEDS FROM HOUSATONIC RAILROAD TRACK CHARTS RUNTIME BASED ON MNR GENESIS LOCOMOTIVES DMU s CAN ACCELERATE FASTER, MAY REDUCE ANOTHER MINUTE OFF OF SCHEDULE BASELINE 30 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH SPEED RESTRICTIONS 41.4 MINUTES ESTIMATED RUNTIMES INCLUDE 5 MINUTES TO OPERATE HAND-THROW SWITCHES IN DANBURY AND AT BERKSHIRE JUNCTION DWELL STATIONS - 60 SECONDS

33 ESTIMATED RUN TIMES VERSUS SPEED DANBURY TO NEW MILFORD INCREASED SUPERELEVATION/UNDERBALANCE 40 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH SPEED RESTRICTIONS 34.3 MINUTES 50 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITH SPEED RESTRICTIONS 31.3 MINUTES ESTIMATED RUNTIMES INCLUDE 5 MINUTES TO OPERATE HAND-THROW SWITCHES IN DANBURY AND AT BERKSHIRE JUNCTION UN-RESTRICTED SPEED 60 MPH MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SPEED WITHOUT SPEED RESTRICTIONS 23.0 MINUTES RIGHT-OF-WAY AQUISITION REQUIRED WAYSIDE SIGNAL SYSTEM WITH POWER OPERATED SWITCHES REQUIRED DWELL STATIONS - 60 SECONDS

34 CURVE RE-ALIGNMENT TO INCREASE SPEED EXISTING TRACK RE-ALIGNED TRACK RIGHT-OF-WAY GRADE CROSSING

35 CURVE RE-ALIGNMENT TO INCREASE SPEED RE-ALIGNED TRACK RIGHT-OF-WAY TAKE GRADE CROSSING RIGHT-OF-WAY EXISTING TRACK

36 THANK YOU FOR COMING! QUESTIONS???