[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16562-16564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7338]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of solicitation for proposals for Federally-led multi-
state passenger rail corridor planning demonstration projects.
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SUMMARY: On January 28, 2010, President Obama announced the first grant
awards for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program. The
Department of Transportation Appropriations Act of 2010 (FY 2010 DOT
Appropriations Act) allocated an additional $2.5 billion for the HSIPR
Program, of which up to $50 million can be used for planning
activities. The appropriations act permits the Secretary of
Transportation to retain a portion of this planning funding to
facilitate, at the Federal level, the preparation of planning documents
for high-speed rail corridors that cross multiple States. This is a
solicitation for proposals from groups of States that wish to be
considered for this innovative approach to planning multi-state
passenger rail corridors.
Concurrent with this solicitation, FRA has issued a notice of
funding availability (NOFA) for the FY 2010 planning funds, also
published in this edition of the Federal Register.
DATES: Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. EST, May 19, 2010 and
must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. The form for these
proposals can be found at http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/2243.shtml.
Materials that cannot be submitted electronically may be mailed or
hand delivered to: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., MS-20, Room W38-302,
Washington, DC, 20590 Attn. HSIPR Program. States are encouraged to use
special courier services to avoid shipping delays. Materials must be
post-marked by May 19, 2010 to be eligible for consideration.
Overview: FRA is seeking proposals from groups of States interested
in participating in a FRA-led demonstration project that could provide
a future model for Federal collaboration with States on complex, multi-
state corridor planning efforts. The planning project would be
identified by the States, but funded and managed by FRA in close
coordination with the States and other stakeholders.
Proposals are sought for projects that would result in a
``passenger rail corridor investment plan.'' A passenger rail corridor
investment plan provides the comprehensive information necessary to
support a decision to proceed with funding and implementation of a
major investment in a passenger rail corridor. Feasibility studies
alone would not satisfy this requirement.
Passenger rail corridor investment plans include both a service
development plan (SDP) and corridor-wide environmental documentation.
Groups of states submitting proposals should identify whether they are
proposing that FRA lead the development of both documents, a stand-
alone SDP, or corridor-wide environmental document.
Service Development Plan
Service Development Plans (SDPs) should support future corridor
development and must include the following elements:
Corridor Development Program Rationale--Description of the
corridor's transportation challenges and opportunities, based on
current and forecasted travel demand and capacity conditions,
demonstrating how the proposed project/program would cost-effectively
address transportation and other needs. Development of the program
rationale should consider multimodal system alternatives (highway, air,
other, as applicable), including a qualitative and quantitative
assessments of the costs, benefits and impacts and risks of the
alternatives. Program rationale may also explore synergies between the
proposed service
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and large-scale goals and development plans within its service region
and communities.
Service Plan--Detail on the train service alternatives to
be provided for each phase of new or improved HSIPR service, including:
the service frequency, timetable (including time-distance
``stringline'' diagrams), general station locations, intermodal
connections, and train consists. The Service Plan will rely on or
include operational analyses, including, where appropriate, railroad
operation simulations and equipment and crew scheduling analyses, which
in turn reflect such variables as travel demand and rolling stock
configuration. The planning horizon should be consistent with the
anticipated useful lives of the improvements to be introduced. If the
proposed service makes use of facilities that would be shared with
freight, commuter rail, or other intercity passenger rail services, the
planning study should consider the existing and future characteristics
of those services, as developed cooperatively with freight, commuter,
and intercity passenger rail partners.
Capital Investment Needs Assessment--Identification of
infrastructure, rolling stock and facilities improvements for each
discrete phase of new or improved service implementation, including any
sequence or prioritization. The plan will include cost estimates for
specific capital investments needed to achieve and sustain the service
plan.
Financial Forecast--Operating financial projections for
each phase of the planned service, with documentation of the methods,
assumptions and outputs of the following: travel demand forecasts,
projected revenue, and operating expenses, including maintenance of
way, maintenance of equipment, transportation (train movement),
passenger traffic and services (marketing, ticketing, station, and on-
board services), and general/administrative expenses. Cost-sharing
arrangements with infrastructure owners and rail operators should also
be included.
Public Benefits Assessment--Description of user and non-
user benefits and, to the extent readily quantifiable, the estimated
economic value of those benefits, with particular attention to job
creation and retention, ``green'' environmental outcomes, potential
energy savings, and effects on community livability.
Program Management Approach--A phased program
implementation strategy including a preliminary description of the
intended techniques of project management that will assure quality,
cost, and budget control; and the financing and organizational plans
for carrying out the proposed strategy.
Corridor-Wide Environmental Documents
Environmental documentation funded through this solicitation must
satisfy Service NEPA requirements. FRA has defined Service NEPA as at
least a programmatic/Tier 1 environmental review (using tiered reviews
and documents), or a project environmental review, that also addresses
broader questions and likely environmental effects for the entire
corridor relating to the type of service(s) being proposed, including
cities and stations served, route alternatives, service levels, types
of operations (speed, electric, or diesel powered), ridership
projections, and major infrastructure components. Simple corridor
programs are often best addressed with project NEPA documentation,
while more complex corridor programs may need a tiering approach. FRA
is responsible for establishing the scope of the environmental review,
including the use of tiering or use of project NEPA documentation.
Proposal Form: The proposal form should be downloaded from: http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/2243.shtml. The form has been developed by FRA to
capture pertinent qualitative and quantitative information that is
needed to confirm project eligibility, as well as information FRA needs
for consideration of proposals. States should provide as much
information as possible about the proposed planning activities. FRA
would finalize a project's goals, scope, schedule, and budget and carry
out the project in coordination with the group of States.
Decision Process: FRA will be making decisions regarding FRA-funded
activities considering the narrative responses provided in the
proposals received from States on the following topics:
1. Potential Transportation and Public Benefits: Proposals should
describe the underlying corridor program that will be the subject of
the planning activities, including such factors as:
The clarity and detail with which the States have
identified the problem to be addressed by the proposed service;
The market potential of the corridor being studied, taking
into consideration such factors as population, density, economic
activity, and travel patterns;
The potential for the corridor to deliver high-speed and
intercity passenger rail service benefits, including ridership, on-time
performance, travel time, service frequencies, safety and other
factors;
The potential of the corridor program to promote economic
development, including contributions to a sustainable U.S.
manufacturing and supply base;
The potential of the corridor program to enhance energy
efficiency and environmental quality;
The potential of the corridor program to promote
interconnected livable communities, including complementing local or
state efforts to concentrate higher-density, mixed-use, development in
areas proximate to multi-modal transportation options (including
intercity passenger rail stations); and
The consideration of other transportation modes in the
planning process.
2. Future Program Viability and Sustainability: The proposal should
explain how the planning activities would lead to a long-term, viable
high-speed rail corridor program:
The likelihood that the final deliverables (Service
Development Plan, Environmental Document, or State Rail Plan) will be
ready and capable of being implemented;
The demonstrated commitment of the State and other
stakeholders to quickly execute the program once planning is complete;
The degree to which the planning process meaningfully
incorporates input from affected communities, local governments,
regional councils and planning organizations, neighboring States,
railroads, transportation modal partners, environmental interests, the
public and other stakeholders--early and throughout the process;
The likelihood that the corridor programs being studied
can yield measurable service and public benefits in a reasonable period
of time;
The demonstrated ability of the States to support the
future capital and operating needs of the corridor being studied;
The thoroughness of the proposed deliverables;
The quality of proposed methodology and assumptions; and
3. Project Management Proposal: Describe the proposed method for
managing the project, including a description of the shared
responsibilities between the FRA and the States, and the relationships
and means of coordination among the participating States, service
operators, and host railroads. This section should detail the mechanism
by which States
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will coordinate their views during the project.
4. Justification Statement: Identify the rationale for Federal
leadership on the planning project, such as specific institutional
barriers or operational complexities. Conditions that may call for a
Federal leadership role include multi-state and multi-jurisdictional
complexity and/or operational complexity involving multiple operating
entities and/or divided property ownership and rights. Additionally,
proposals should provide a narrative on how the proposed project could
serve as a demonstration project and national model for future FRA-
managed, multi-State planning projects.
Submission Package: States interested in providing proposals must
submit the following documents to [email protected] no later than 5 p.m.
EST, May 19, 2010.
Required--One Application Form provided at http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/2243.shtml.
Required--Letter(s) signed by all the chief executives of
State transportation departments or agencies that will be part of the
project, stating their commitment to participate.
Optional--Letter(s) from other stakeholders or interested
parties.
Optional--Other supporting documents that the applicant
believes would assist FRA in understanding the proposal (including, but
not limited to, maps or previous planning documents).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding this
notice, please contact the FRA HSIPR Program Manager via e-mail at
[email protected].
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 29, 2010.
Karen Rae,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-7338 Filed 3-31-10; 8:45 am]
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