Lone Star Regional Rail Project - Update. Joseph Black Rail Director, Lone Star Rail District Joseph Lessard Planning Director, Knudson LP

Transcription

1 Lone Star Regional Rail Project - Update Joseph Black Rail Director, Lone Star Rail District Joseph Lessard Planning Director, Knudson LP August 20, 2015

2 Lone Star Regional Rail Project - Update Presentation Lone Star Rail s Background Connectivity/Mobility EIS Status Local Funding 1

3 Jurisdictions and Service Area Cities: Georgetown, Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, San Antonio Counties: Williamson, Travis, Hays, Bexar, Bastrop Transit Agencies: Capital Metro, CARTS, VIA, ART MPOs: CAMPO, AAMPO Other Entities: Austin Community College District Region s Board Representation: 22 members representing the political leadership and business community of Central/South Texas, plus at large members appointed by the TxTC. 3

4 How Does the LSRRP Effort Fill a Central Texas Need? Passenger Rail LSTAR is Regional Rail - hybrid of commuter & intercity rail Originally 16 stations at full service (up to 24 with split stations service) 32 round trips a day at full service 118 miles of passenger rail; San Antonio north to Georgetown New Freight Rail Line 30+ through freight trains per day rerouted to New Freight Rail Line 80+ miles of new freight rail line from Seguin to Taylor 40+ miles of improved freight rail line from San Antonio to Seguin Economic development opportunities 4

5 Lone Star Regional Rail Service Planning Targets Initial Service: Base Service: Full Service: 60 min. headway on peak 120 min. headway off peak 12 total round trips per day Weekends & holidays: per demand & budget 30 min. headway on peak 60 min. headway off peak 21 total round trips per day, including express service Weekends & holidays: per demand & budget 15 min. headway on peak 60 min. headway off peak total round trips per day, including express service Weekends & holidays: per demand & budget 5

6 Lone Star Regional Rail LSTAR Passenger Service Rider Experience Considered a higher level of transit o Dependable/predictable service o Avoids destination parking & costs o Bring your bike along o Wi-fi enabled Congestion proof option bypasses traffic bottlenecks Makes drive time available for other activities Links nearly 300,000 students, faculty and staff at 17 campuses: Texas A&M University San Antonio UTSA Downtown Campus Alamo Community Colleges Texas State University The University of Texas at Austin 6

7 Lone Star Regional Rail Connectivity/Mobility 10

8 Lone Star Regional Rail Connectivity/Mobility Highway expansion capability is limited TxDOT funding is limited, though growing Rights of way established in s Capital Area MPO data: additional lanes needed by

9 Lone Star Regional Rail Connectivity/Mobility LSTAR passenger trains can provide equivalent of 2 to 8 additional highway lanes to the region s transportation system from Williamson to Bexar County 12

10 Lone Star Regional Rail Connectivity/ Mobility Regional Core congestion commuter meters rail is traffic like unaffected an hourglass by highway you can congestion. pour more sand, but you can t make it move faster. Suburban Cities Growth results in a ring of core congestion. Core City LSTAR can add 1 to 4 lanes of capacity in each direction. Suburban Cities 13

11 Community & Economic Development Area Stations San Marcos (2) New Braunfels (1) Schertz (1) San Antonio Stations (7) Loop 1604 Loop 410/Airport San Pedro & Hildebrand (local) Fredericksburg Rd. (local) Downtown San Antonio Port San Antonio (to be added to EIS) Verano/Texas A&M San Antonio (to be added to EIS) a San Pedro & Hildebrand Fredericksburg Rd. 14

12 Lone Star Regional Rail Economic Impact Passenger 726,000 to 1,288,000 hours commute time saved annually Average annual savings to LSTAR users of $17.4 to $30.9 million Growth & land use change around stations Freight Future business potential Growth needs of Union Pacific Known corridor can direct land use Minimal impact: ~ right-of-way 15

13 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Process National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess project alternatives o LSTAR Service and New East Freight Line NEPA environmental impact categories o Threatened or endangered species impacts o Air & water quality impacts o Historic & cultural sites impacts o Social & economic community impacts o Cost-benefit analysis o Environmental Justice considerations of NEPA assess human health, economic, and social impacts on minority and low-income populations. LSRD has initiated an EIS for the passenger line and new freight line Process will take approximately 3 years with results expected Summer

14 Project Purpose Project Purpose The purpose of the proposed Project is to facilitate the safe, reliable, and efficient transport of people while improving mode choice, mobility, and access to educational, employment, and commercial centers within the communities that comprise the metropolitan areas of Austin and San Antonio. The proposed Project would expand transportation mode choice, promote connectivity, and provide an alternative to the use of major regional highways to move people to support current and forecasted growth and economic development within Central and South Texas while maintaining freight rail service and capacity. 19

15 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Process An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document that describes the effects of a large or complex project on the human and natural environment. The Lone Star Regional Rail EIS will be prepared on behalf of the Lone Star Rail District under the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Highway Administration, and the Texas Department of Transportation. At the end of the study process, the lead federal agency (FHWA, in this case) issues a Record of Decision (ROD) that will determine how if at all a project can best move forward. 20

16 The EIS Process Scoping Fall 2014 Winter

17 The EIS Process Scoping Fall 2014 Winter 2015 Alternatives Spring Fall 2015 WE ARE HERE 22

18 The EIS Process Scoping Fall 2014 Winter 2015 Alternatives Spring Fall 2015 Assess Impacts Winter 2015 Spring

19 The EIS Process Scoping Fall 2014 Winter 2015 Alternatives Spring Fall 2015 Assess Impacts Winter 2015 Spring 2016 Draft EIS Summer Fall

20 The EIS Process Scoping Fall 2014 Winter 2015 Alternatives Spring Fall 2015 Assess Impacts Winter 2015 Spring 2016 Draft EIS Summer Fall 2016 Final EIS/ROD

21 LSTAR Timeline Local funding is the gateway to capital funding from public and private sources. Local Funding Capital Funding Design Construction Commissioning Operations Timing New development influenced by rail opportunity Initiates value capture from land speculation, zoning and other entitlements 26

22 LSTAR Local Funding Estimated Capital Costs LSRD Planning Targets Psgr. Improvements East Line Totals Base $ 800 mil. $ 1.60 bil. $ 2.40 bil. Local jurisdictions NOT asked to fund major capital costs Capital Expenses covered over time with a combination of: o Federal Grants & Loans (40%-60%) o State Rail Relocation/Other Funds (20%-30%) o Private Investment, UP Cost Sharing & Other (15%-40%) 27

23 LSTAR Local Funding O&M Costs Funding Approach: Local funding primarily established through interlocal agreement o Transportation Infrastructure Zone (TIZ) around each LSTAR station o Funding approach is focused on supporting rail service O&M No City or County debt No added tax or fee on station area properties No tax increase on station area properties or City residents 28

24 LSTAR Local Funding O&M Costs 1. Transportation Infrastructure Zones (TIZ): a. New growth property tax from within ½ mile of station (50% or estimated rail influenced growth if higher) Requesting 100% as final participation level b. Direct contribution steps up from $499,500 beginning in FY 2016 to $2 mil.; thereafter 3% inflation applied c. In-kind support/contribution of Station Sites joint review of potential sites and real estate contributions d. Other Provisions: Exclude existing single family and duplex residential Tax exempt parcels added when privately developed Honor preexisting economic development agreements 29

25 LSTAR Local Funding O&M Costs 3. City retains funds in special account until LSRD meets performance measure If measure not met, City may dissolve TIZ and use funds 4. Performance measures In six years LSRD must secure capital funding & have new freight line agreement with Union Pacific Railroad 5. When in operation, LSRD will annually identify excess TIZ funding for return to contributing jurisdictions pro-rata 6. Equitable funding relationship between participating local governments Communities pay for service - provide fair share Funding agreements subject to review by previous participating local governments for funding equity 6. Agreements to-date: City of Austin (50% participation) Austin Community College District (50% participation) City of San Marcos (50% participation) 30

26 Next Steps Local Funding Agreement Timetable o San Marcos agreement Dec o Austin agreement Dec o ACC agreement Dec o Georgetown consider agreement Aug.-Sept o New Braunfels consider agreement Aug.-Sept o Schertz consider agreement Aug.-Sept o Buda & Kyle Consider agreement Sept.-Dec o San Antonio & Bexar Co. Budget Aug.-Sept o San Antonio & Bexar Co. Agreement Oct.-Nov o VIA Joint Operations Agreement Sept.-Nov

27 Next Steps 1. FY 2016 Budget include $499,500 for Lone Star 2. Local funding Agreement adopted by early Nov

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