contact Darryl Fields at 816/474-4240.
MARC Home > Transportation Department > Transportation Studies > Regional Commuter Rail Feasibility Study > Focus Group #1
Regional Commuter Rail Feasibility Study
Leadership Focus Group #1
Study completed September 2002
The Greater Kansas City Commuter Rail Leadership Focus Group met October 20, at 7:30 a.m. at Union Café in Union Station.Representatives on the focus group included community leaders, representatives from area chambers of commerce, transportation groups and railroad organizations, as well as representatives from MARC, R. L. Banks and HNTB Corporation.
Project Overview
- Regional in focus.
- An outgrowth of ongoing concerns about congestion in the greater Kansas City area.
- Separate from other transit studies, but will incorporate those findings as available and appropriate (particularly I-35 Commuter Rail and the I-70 MIS (Major Investment Study).
- Designed to help the region area determine if commuter rail is a feasible option for commuter transit in the Kansas City Metro and what should be the next step.
Commuter Rail versus Light Rail
- Commuter rail is similar to traditional passenger trains, usually powered by diesel engines, while light rail generally is powered by electricity.
- Commuter rail is better suited to longer distances than light rail
- This study is focusing on the use of existing tracks and rights of way; light rail frequently uses tracks that are in city streets.
- Commuter rail is used in outlying areas; light rail is for areas with closer and more frequent trips and stops.
- There is a role for all modes of public transit, and a special role for commuter rail.
The Study Process
The feasibility study will occur in two phases.
In the first phase, there are 19 rail lines, grouped into a series of corridors.The mission of Phase I is to look at all corridors and do a preliminary analysis of feasibility for commuter rail.MARC will look at that analysis and make a determination of which lines look most promising.
In phase II, the study will look at those most promising lines in greater detail, and develop a proposed strategy for implementation.It is likely that the lines will be developed one at a time, rather than developing several at once.
Phase I
The study team will do an initial corridor screening, including ridership, capital costs, railroad considerations such as freight traffic and railroad priorities, efficiency measures and corridor specific considerations as land use, condition of facilities.Should the plan move forward into a funding stage, the guidelines are being established to match FTA criteria.
The study covers an area 50 - 60 miles radius of Kansas City, including Warrensburg to the east and Topeka to the west. The study will investigate the amount of movement from area to area within the region (trip patterns).The study team will use a stand-alone model to develop ridership numbers.The model will provide estimates of market share for commuter rail within the corridors, with a goal of identifying the two or three most feasible corridors.
Phase II
The study team will begin to look at station locations, delve deeper into ridership numbers, and gather information on implementation.
Group Discussion:
Following focus group members' introductions, corridor maps were distributed to the group so individuals could both refer to the maps, and make notes on them for the study team.The study team noted that this focus group is not an ongoing commitment; depending on the results of Phase I, there may be additional meetings after the first of the year.The group will be kept informed on the study.
Leadership Focus Group input, and responses from the study team follow.
COMMUTER RAIL ROUTES
- Will the team look at the Higginsville route both with and without new construction on I-70?
- A. Yes
- We need representation from Union Pacific.The Rock Island Line (#11) could be rehabbed to serve Lee's Summit, Raytown, and Pleasant Hill.
- The Regional Transit Alliance (RTA) supports the study, and has recommended that in particular, there should be commuter rail studies along I-35, I-70 and Rock Island Line.
- Commuter rail looks at ways to get cars off of the highways.The RTA is looking at light rail to the north, but commuter rail along I-35 and I-70 primarily.
- Any discussion about commuter railmust consider freight rails' current and future usage, costs, and capacity on existing rails.There is a real concern about putting humans on existing freight lines without truly knowing that there is sufficient capacity to transport them safely.
- Many of the rails lines are already congested with freight use.
- Where there are two parallel lines, is it possible for freight to be consolidated on one line?
- A. Not likely as those lines are owned by competing railroad companies.
- TranSystems has done substantial research on rail capacity for NE and NW rail flyover; there are choke points.
- Commuter, passenger and freight rails can co-exist, but each is developed for its own purpose.They might schedule around each other.
- Could the Rock Island line be used for light rail?
- A. There is an issue how to connect with commuter rail on other segments; how to link two different rail technologies.
- Will abandoned lines be considered for re-opening?
- A. Abandoned lines have reverted back to property owners; the cost of reopening and reconstructing abandoned lines is high.Commuter rail is usually less expensive because of the use of existing lines.If anyone in the group knows of any inactive, existing lines not already on our map the study team would like to know about them.
- The team should evaluate station points - it may not be downtown KC.There's Johnson County, Independence, even the sport complex.
- The I-35 commuter rail will come through Wyandotte County, where KU Med is a major employer.Connecting to KU, through buses or some other means, is important.
- If coming from the north, will commuter rail use existing bridges or build new ones?
- A. One reason for commuter rail's cost-effectiveness is the its ability to use existing facilities. The construction of a new river crossing would probably make the whole project too expensive to implement.So we would anticipate that we would use existing bridges.
- It is important to focus on ridership potential and rail capacity upgrade costs so as to build those costs into your plans.
KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KCI)
- What about commuter rail to KCI?
- A. It's probably not going to be part of this study.There isn't an existing rail line near the airport.Commuter rail serves a need for high destiny, infrequent trips.The airport, by its vary nature will need frequent trips with many stops.
- There is a line through Bonner Springs to KCI; the old inter-urban line to St. Joseph.That might be close enough to KCI to make a connection.
- Kansas City Area Transit Authority is trying to preserve the existing bits and pieces of that line for future light rail.
RIDERSHIP
- The Study team will be studying corridors for ridership and look at other fatal flaws.An overwhelming fatal flaw is a lack of market/ridership.Ridership is the key in the first phase.
- What about weekend use?
- A. The team is looking at movements throughout the study area.The key to a successful system though, is the "bread-and-butter" daily commute.Other destinations, like the sports complex, etc., will be looked at, but without regular commuters, the system will not work.
- There is a significant amount of traffic from Warrensburg, even very early in the morning, mostly single occupancy cars, which is bad for the environment.
- Are we looking at multiple trips back and forth, or primarily into town in the morning, and out of town in the evening?
- A. At this point, we're looking at traditional commutes, but the ridership numbers out of phase II may support accommodating reverse commutes.
COMMUNITY
- When talking commuter rail, the issue of station locations is going to be very important, and political.Commuter rail stations need to be farther apart than light rail, partly because of the time and distance it takes for traditional trains to get up to speed.
- What about congestion at passenger facilities?
- A. That is an important part of the 2nd phase of the study.
- The team needs to be aware that in Lee's Summit, and other areas, there is development along inactive tracks.If those tracks become active, there's likely to be a problem, since development occurred after the tracks became inactive. If the inactive lines are reactivated, neighbors would probably be happier with commuter rail rather than freight.
LINKAGES
- Will the team consider rail ridership costs versus other modes of transportation?
- A. This study is focusing primarily on commuter rail, not the details of other modes.There is, necessarily, a linkage with other transit modes.
- What about coordination with Amtrak and high speed rail?
- What's the difference between light rail and commuter rail in terms of tracks? Can they share a track or a right of way?
- A. Light rail cannot operate on the same lines as traditional rail; cars and engines are constructed differently and there is a safety concern.And while they do not yet exist, rules for separation of light rail and traditional rail are probably forthcoming.
- What about the impact on costs for bus service?
- A. Most commuter rail usually results in a park and ride or "kiss and ride" use.Access issues and linkages will be part of phase II.