Oregon Passenger Rail Leadership Council Meeting June 6, 2012

Oregon Passenger Rail

Leadership Council MeetingJune 6, 2012

Project Status and Schedule Update

Project Timeline

Project Phase 2: Scoping Process

Review

November DecemberJune July August September October

Draft Purpose and Need

Goals and Objectives

Notice of Intent

Agency and Public Scoping

Project Scoping Report

Data Collection

Public Involvement Plan

Refine Purpose and Need

Develop Evaluation Framework

Identify Broad Range of Alternatives

Screen Broad Range of Alternatives

Leadership Council Meetings (June, September, November)6/6

Public Involvement Plan.

Public Involvement Plan Purpose

• To support project decisions that are informed by the needs and issues of the communities and stakeholders in the Corridor

Public Involvement Elements

1. Interactive Opportunities for Involvement• Scoping meetings• Open houses – 2 rounds• Public hearing and comments on DEIS

2. Collaborative Groups – will inform Leadership Council• Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) – geographically based• Corridor Forum – to engage jurisdictions, agencies and interest groups

Public Involvement Elements

3. Additional Opportunities for Input• Written, email and phone inquiries• Leadership Council meetings

4. Information Tools• Project website and online tools• Printed materials• Community presence (events and small briefings)• News media• Social media• Title VI outreach

Problem Statement

What is a Problem Statement?

• Problem statements…– Communicate the context and justification for

potential solutions.– Generally define current as well as future conditions.– Must be useful for developing and evaluating

potential solutions.– Become a substantial core of the project’s Purpose &

Need statement required under NEPA.

What is a Problem Statement?

• Problems must be stated in terms of underlying causes.

• Problems should be framed in a way that can lead to a solution - but not one solution.

• Problem statements can incorporate broader community issues such as economic development, community character, and livability.

How Does a Problem Statement Help Us?

• “Well thought-out, clearly communicated, and commonly understood problem statements go a long way to achieving both environmental sensitivity and project success.”

– US Department of Transportation via www.contextsensitivesolutions.org

From Problem Statement toPurpose & Need

• The Problem Statement will become the primary basis for the project’s Purpose & Need statement

• The draft Purpose & Need statement will be prepared and reviewed by– This group (summer)– FRA (summer)– The public (September)– Resource Agencies (September)

• The final Purpose & Need statement will become a substantial basis for screening and evaluating alternatives

OPR Preliminary Problem Statement

• Over the next 25 years (2010 - 2035):– Willamette Valley population forecast to grow approx.

35% to 3.6 million people.– Freight volume (both trains and trucks) statewide

estimated to grow approximately 60%.

OPR Preliminary Problem Statement

• 2006 – 2011 passenger trains average 65% on time in Pacific NW Corridor.

• Portland - Eugene scheduled passenger rail travel time average 2 hours 40 minutes - approximately 40 minutes longer than driving.

• Current average train delay in Corridor is similar to larger and more congested rail systems.

Key Success Factors

A Discussion with the Leadership Council

Key Success Factors

Question 1: What do you see as the central problem(s) that the Oregon Passenger Rail study must address?

Key Success Factors

Question 2: What are the key risks or challenges that could keep us from being successful?

Key Success Factors

Question 3: If we do our jobs well, how will we know that we have been successful?

What’s Next?

From Problem Statement to Scoping

From Problem Statement toPurpose and Need

• The P&N statement describes why we are doing the project (its purpose) and the deficiencies that the alternatives must address to be successful (its need).

• P&N statements are required under the NEPA Council on Environmental Quality regulation (section 1502.13).

• P&N statements are what we use when screening and evaluating alternatives!

Project Timeline

What’s Next?

Item Timeline (2012)

Technical team will prepare the draft Purpose & Need statement

June

The draft project Purpose & Need statement will be sent to Leadership Council and FRA for review

July

The team will host public and agency scoping meetings SeptemberThe project’s Purpose & Need statement will be finalized October