DANE COUNTY COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE
COMMUTER RAIL IMPLEMENTATION

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY BOARD

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION
The Dane County Board of Supervisors adopted Res. 125, 94-95 in October 1994 establishing a committee of citizens and elected officials to explore the feasibility of implementing commuter rail in Dane County. The committee and its four subcommittees conducted over 20 public meetings, received input from transportation and planning experts and officials, and sponsored two informational trips on the Chicago area's Metra commuter rail system.

The committee has addressed its charge, and has approved this report to the County Board. The following questions highlight the major themes addressed by the Committee.

WHAT IS COMMUTER RAIL?
Commuter rail systems typically operate on the same tracks as freight rail systems, and use diesel locomotives - equipment similar to Amtrak passenger trains - hauling single-level or bi-level rail cars. Some systems use self-propelled rail diesel cars. Typically, commuter rail provides passenger service during peak hours, providing service to a region with many trips into central areas. Most commuter rail systems are integrated with other transit services, such as bus systems, to encourage transfers throughout the region.
Among the characteristics of the typical commuter rail system are the following:

· Oriented to peak period work commuters
· Usually connect suburban places/villages with a city center
· Often use existing rail trackage
· Trains have 3-8 passenger cars and a locomotive per train set
· Generally $1-3 million capital cost per track mile
· Often operate in joint passenger/freight environment

Commuter rail is not "light rail." Light rail is usually comprised of electric powered multi-car or single-car trains operating on either exclusive or shared right-of-ways. It is distinguished by moderate capacity with frequent stops, oriented to all-day, frequent service, and has typical capital start-up costs of $10-30 million per track mile.
The light rail alternative was reviewed by Cambridge Systematics, Inc. for the Madison Metro Transit System in 1992. That feasibility study determined that large capital improvements and startup costs were required ($183 - $306 mil.). New trackage, guideways, electrification, yards and shops, and stations would all be required. Considering the costs and projected operating revenue, the City of Madison determined that the transit corridor could not yet support the substantial investment.

WHY COMMUTER RAIL?
There are several reasons why commuter rail is an attractive mass transportation alternative for Dane County:

· Existing rail network: Dane County already has in place a readily available network of existing rail lines. Most have been upgraded over the last several years by state-created multi-county rail commissions, with a partnership of state and local funds. Capital costs to upgrade the existing network for commuter service would be relatively low, compared to other rail alternatives.

· Strategic location of rail corridors: virtually all of Dane County's major population centers are located on the existing rail corridors. In addition, several of the major roadways experiencing or expected to experience high levels of congestion are located parallel to or close to existing rail corridors.

· Concentration of travel destinations on the Isthmus: the concentration of major employment, educational, entertainment, cultural, and community activities on the Isthmus, close to the rail corridor, provides a destination density that is favorable for commuter rail.

WHAT IS THE COST?
Firm cost estimates are difficult to make until other decisions are made, such as the number of stations, the length of the rail line to be operated, and the desired level of service. However, one-time start-up costs for capital expenses and infrastructure costs - such as track upgrades, signalization, and equipment - to implement commuter rail on the Middleton to Sun Prairie corridor in Dane County are likely to be in the range of $30-50 million. This estimate includes three separate commuter trains of 1 locomotive and 3 passenger cars each. These costs would most likely be amortized over a time period of perhaps 10-20 years. These costs compare favorably to other transportation projects such as the Verona bypass, with a cost of approximately $35 million.

Operating costs, of course, are also dependent upon the level of service desired and the number of riders who choose to ride the trains. However, experience in other cities indicates that the annual operating costs of a commuter rail line providing several morning and afternoon trips along the Middleton to Sun Prairie corridor would likely be in the range of $3-6 million. Depending upon the number of riders commuter rail could attract, farebox revenue might be expected to cover between 25%-50% of those annual costs, based on the experience of other commuter rail systems. This compares to Madison Metro's farebox recovery of approximately 21% of operating costs.

STUDY CONCLUSIONS

The committee believes that the future of Dane County will and must include plans for commuter rail. Of those questions raised in the County Board's resolution to the committee that were able to be answered in the study period, the answers are a resounding "yes." The committee acknowledges that not all the questions could be fully answered, and indeed will not receive adequate answers until further steps are taken. To summarize, the committee found the following strategic results and the following feasibility results.

Strategic Results

· Existing rail corridors are well located to allow the implementation of effective commuter rail operations to the main and significant regional user locations.
· Commuter rail operations could offer beneficial traffic congestion relief to existing corridors where new roadway capacity construction is both physically difficult (if at all possible) and extremely expensive.
· Commitment to a commuter rail system would assist regional communities' present and future planning for development and economic growth.
· Commuter rail on existing track right-of-way's is compatible with existing and future modes of transportation. The committee believes integration of metropolitan transit systems should be a priority.
· Commuter rail could have a beneficial impact on land use and air emissions for the region.

Feasibility Results

· The region has a demonstrated history of interest in and use of transit and alternative modes of transportation. While it appears there is a likely demand for commuter rail , more detailed studies will be needed to predict projected usage.
· Costs to upgrade existing trackage for commuter rail are in the range of other transportation improvements undertaken in the region, such as the Verona Bypass and Milwaukee Street/U.S. Hwy. 51 interchange.
· Sufficient data has not yet been gathered to determine the choice of rail equipment for operation of commuter rail. This should be addressed in the next stage.
· Commuter rail technologies accommodate special user needs, for example, compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act and bicycle loading and storage.
· Existing technologies and regional expertise to upgrade trackage and operate equipment is readily available.
· The existing state and local partnership for freight rail (80%/20% cost-sharing for track improvements) provides a model for commuter rail.

Recommendations

1. Dane County should, by County Board resolution, adopt transportation policies that commit the region to inclusion of a commuter rail system as an integral part of its long range transportation planning process. The system should be based on a preliminary design for an East/West or Mazomanie to Sun Prairie line and North/South or DeForest to Stoughton line. Future expansion lines should continue to be reserved for later development.
2. Dane County should designate the Mazomanie to Sun Prairie core line for an initial study. The study should plan in detail what capital investments would be required to begin operations. Lands needed for stations, parking, and other uses and persons benefiting from the system should be designated. Discussions with potential rail operators should be part of the study.
3. Extension of commuter rail into the rural lands would benefit from the collection and storage by the County of critical natural and cultural resource data within the rail corridor. This would facilitate determining the most appropriate areas for development while minimizing negative impacts on environmental and agricultural resources.
4. Dane County should seek a Legislative Council study on potential funding and organizational models for a metropolitan transportation authority for the Capitol region.
5. State government being a major employer in the metropolitan region, Dane County should request that the Governor direct state agencies to continue to offer assistance in future commuter rail planning and to study how commuter rail operations could benefit from transit-supportive policies by state agencies, such as WisDOT policy (see appendix E).
6. Dane County should request communities on the proposed commuter rail system to actively support the system by undertaking plans for station locations and transit supportive polices to link transportation systems. Communities should be invited to consider station enhancements beyond basic platform stops. In addition, official mapping of proposed stations and right of ways should occur where appropriate.
7. The Dane County Regional Planning Commission should include growth for urban service areas in rail corridors beyond existing patterns.
8. The University of Wisconsin-Madison should be included in future studies & plans to utilize identified stations, handle special sports excursions to the Kohl Center and Camp Randall Stadium, and accommodate other campus transportation needs.

ADDITIONAL COMMUTER RAIL STEPS

The Committee believes the community should take several steps to develop commuter rail in addition to the preceding recommendations. Among these steps are the following:

1. Dissemination of this report to the people and public officials of Dane County and the State of Wisconsin.

2. A demonstration of commuter rail should occur during 1996.

3. Dane County, with possible state and federal assistance, should hire a consultant to continue the planning process on a commuter rail operation for the initial start up route. This would include discussions with potential rail operators, right of way plans for trackage enhancements and potential stops.

Revised: November 24, 1997.