2015/04/01 Council Agenda Packet

ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON CiTiES Funding to address city at -grade crossings Background An increase in domestic energy production and a reliance on energy commodity delivery by rail, have brought to the forefront the need to address rail congestion and safety impacts in local communities across the state. Passing trains cause severe disruptions to communities along rail lines. These disruptions include delaying public safety vehicles, increasing commute times, and hindering development of certain parts of cities. Increased rail traffic also impacts other modes of freight delivery, especially trucks. This is likely to get worse with increases in the number and length of trains, and the expected increase in population and density in incorporated areas. While freight mobility is important to the state and regional economies and the state's competitiveness in world trade, the state and federal governments have not provided sufficient resources to make necessary improvements. Grade separation projects are expensive — generally costing about $30 million. Some of the more complicated crossings in urban areas can cost up to $200 million. Current estimates of unfunded crossing improvements in Washington are $950 million to $1 billion. Sometimes a solution other than a grade separation is preferable. For example, re -aligning the off -ramp on 1-5 in Marysville avoids the need to address four or five at -grade crossings. Moving a switchyard from downtown Wenatchee to outside of town would avoid two or three grade separations. Efforts are currently underway in Washington to map freight corridors, identify prominent road -rail conflicts, and to forecast the increases in rail traffic. The AWC is coordinating with the ports, state agencies, regional planning organizations, and the private sector to develop strategies to help communities address impacts of the projected increase in rail traffic. Proposal Provide federal funds under MAP-21 reauthorization for safety and capacity improvements at prominent road -rail conflicts along rail corridors. Projects would be prioritized based on the extent that they decrease or mitigate risk of rail incident, improve connections with existing employment and industrial centers, create quantifiable economic benefits, benefit multiple modes of traffic, are consistent with • Cities face nearly $1 billion in need to address at -grade crossings that impede freight mobility and disrupt local economies. • One grade separation costs around $30 million, exceeding most cities' transportation budgets. • Cities request funds in MAP-21 reauthorization to address at -grade crossings — $200 million for construction and $15 million for planning and engineering. regional priorities and required local and regional plans. With projects costing in the $30 million range, one project typically exceeds city transportation budgets. Federal participation of $5-10 million would make these projects feasible, and allow cities to use local funds and partner with state agencies and regional planning organizations. Any federal at -grade rail program should not be limited to grade separations and also allow funding for innovative solutions. Because many of the recent increase in rail traffic and growing populations in urban areas, many of the problems associated with at -grade crossings are new. Planning and engineering funds are essential to help communities determine the best way to address these new impacts. Amount requested • $200 million in construction funds to address issues surrounding road -rail conflicts, this includes grade separations, but also other innovative solutions. Grants in the $5-10 million range. • $15 million in planning and engineering funds for new impacts associated with the increase of train traffic and train length. • $1 million for continued efforts at statewide freight planning and coordination between metropolitan planning organizations. Contacts Alison Hellberg, alisonh@awcnet.org Dave Catterson, davec@awcnet.org