Passenger/Freight Railroad Projects in Michigan - … Railroad Projects in Michigan. Passenger/Freight Railroad Projects in Michigan ... Superstructure replacement,

Passenger/Freight Railroad Projects in Michigan

Passenger/Freight Railroad Projects in Michigan

Topics:• Michigan Railroad Network• State of Michigan Owned Railroad Corridors• Michigan Accelerated Rail Program Dearborn to Ypsilanti Double Track Project Michigan Line Bridge Management Program

• Other Current Passenger/Freight Railroad Projects Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Passenger Rail Corridor Program M-1 Rail (Light Rail Project in Detroit) Continental Rail Gateway (CRG) Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT) Amtrak Passenger Station Projects

• Questions and Answers

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Michigan Railroad Network

• Michigan’s freight & passenger rail system is part of a multi -modal transportation system with a diverse mix of facil it ies in both public & private ownership.

• Extensive system, ranking 12th

nationally in number of miles of track.

• 3,900 miles of freight railroad track

• 24 operators

• Carries 33% of state’s freight tonnage

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State of Michigan Owned Railroad Corridors

• 665 miles of rail l ine

• Operated by railroads under contract with MDOT and provide the only rail access to businesses in certain areas of the state

• Over 80 shippers

• 15,000 carloads (2010)*

• Provides access to national system to many companies with otherwise l imited transportation options.

*excludes Michigan Line

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Michigan Accelerated Rail Program

• MDOT acquired 135 miles between Kalamazoo and Dearborn in December 2012 from Norfolk Southern Railway (NSR)

• The accelerated rail program will enhance this segment of the corridor for accelerated speeds up to 110 mph. Construction has begun and will be completed over the next three construction seasons

• Amtrak will operate and maintain the l ine

• NSR will continue freight service

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Michigan Line History

1846 - 1867 1867 - 1968

1968 - 1976

1976 - 1998

1998 - 2012

2012 - PRESENT

Michigan Accelerated Rail Program Segments

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SECTION 1 SECTION 4 SECTION 3

SECTION 2

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Dearborn-Ypsilanti Double Track Project

• Background

• Challenges

• Project Status

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Background

Project Description

• 17.7 miles of capacity improvements on the Michigan Line

• Reconstruction of 18 at grade crossings

• Adds a second track between Dearborn and Wayne (Approximately 9 miles)

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Background

Purpose and Need

• Condition of the sale from Norfolk Southern to MDOT

• Provides separate tracks for freight and passenger service

• Helps achieve the service outcome (FRA Grant requirement)

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Background

Project Timeline

• Design Period: 2012 – Spring of 2014

• Project advertised for bids: Summer of 2014 Bids opened August 1, 2014

• $19.56 Million Contract Awarded to RailWorks on September 10, 2014

• Construction started: October 14, 2014

• Contract Completion: November 1, 2015

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Background

Project Team• MDOT

PM/PE/on-site soils engineering/ QA testing

• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

• Parsons Brinckerhoff

Inspection, Office Tech and Office Engineering services

• Soils and Materials Engineers

Testing Services-Rail items

• Somat Engineering

Testing Services-Roadway Items

• Northwest Consultants

Engineer’s staking

• Quandel

Design Support and Engineer of Record

• Amtrak

Roadway Worker Protection and QA testing- field welding of rail

• RailWorks

Prime Contractor

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Background

Major Items of Work

• 41,713 feet (1,894 tons) of continuously welded rail

• 25,670 ties

• 45,981 tons of ballast

• 18 roadway grade crossings reconstructed

• 440 stations of track bed grading

• Special Trackwork; 6 crossovers and 1 turnout

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Challenges

• Merging MDOT, Amtrak , Norfolk Southern and AREMA specifications, standards and practices into contract documents that contractors could bid on

• Establishing the order of precedence between these specifications

• Preparing Special Provisions Mainline Track and Special Trackwork

Railroad Earthwork

At-Grade Crossings

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Challenges

• Establishing procedures for Material Acceptance on rail items Rail, ballast, ties, tie plates, spikes, anchors, bolts,

joint bars

Merged MDOT, Amtrak and AREMA practices

Acceptance procedures vary

Full fabrication inspection (rail)

Random sampling/testing ( ties)

QA and QC testing (ballast)

Test data certification (tie plates etc.)

Approved suppliers (ballast and ties)

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Challenges

• Buy America - Ballast Last minute negotiations between MDOT and the Federal Railroad

Administration (FRA)

Allowed material mined in Ontario, Canada to be a possible ballast source

Material had to be manufactured (crushed to meet ballast gradation requirements) in the USA

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Challenges

• Maintenance of Traffic at Roadway crossings Contract work requires complete roadway closing

Roadways under multiple local jurisdictions

Contract sets general parameters

Contractor must design

Work Zone Traffic Control Plan

Detours and signage

Schedule and closing duration

Each crossing paid for as a lump sum

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Project Status

Work Accomplished To-Date

• 30 Percent of track bed graded

• Initial 8” of ballast layer being placed

• Rail strings fabricated and delivered

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Project Status

2015 Construction Season

• Finish grading and pre-ballast

• Deliver/set ties

• Construct new track

• Special trackwork

• Reconstruct crossings

• Final track surfacing

• Coordination with Amtrak’s signal contractor (GE) Signalize the new track

Relocate crossing signals at 18 crossings

• Background

• Inspection / Field Work

• Reports / Ratings

• Capital Planning Approach / Methodology

• Next Steps?

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Michigan Line Bridge Management Program

Project Team

• URS & Bergmann Associates URS offices included Grand Rapids, Southfield,

Chicago and Indianapolis

• Amtrak Amtrak held URS’ contract

URS followed Amtrak’s Detailed Bridge Inspection Standards (Format, Forms, Load Rating Requirements, etc.)

• MDOT Minor MDOT participation

Field inspections & Correspondence

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Background

Scope• 3 to 5 two-man teams in the field• Amtrak staff onsite if on tracks Could work under structure without Amtrak staff

• Scope Required detailed inspection and load rating of ‘approximately’ 83 bridges ‘Approximately’ - Some bridges could not be located in field. Some were

hard to find

Due to line switching hands the inventory needing updating

Team produced a total of 85 reports

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Background

Safety Requirements

• Federal Railroad Agency Bridge Safety Standards

• Amtrak Contractor Training

• Amtrak Roadway Worker Protection

• Amtrak Qualified Flagging Personnel

• Safety briefings each day at inspection site prior to inspection

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Inspection / Field Work

• Structure Locations and Inspection Methods

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• Hi-Rail Snooper Vehicle

• Boat

• Waders

• Ladders

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• Structure Types Deck Girder

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• Structure Types Multi-Beam

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• Structure Types Through Girder

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• Structure Types Multiple Types of Culverts

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• Structure Types Through Truss Swing Bridge*

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*located on Amtrak ownership

• Typical Findings

Considering age of structures – typically good condition Minor to moderate surface corrosion Failed paint system Failed/seized bearings Substructure deterioration

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• Non-Destructive Testing

Dye Penetrant Testing on E and E’ Fatigue Details

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• Load Ratings

AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering Cooper E-80 Loading, Amtrak P42 Diesel Locomotive Normal Rating: Expected service life load carrying level Maximum: Infrequent interval load carrying level Fatigue

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• Report

Bridge Description and Location Summary of Inspection Findings and Bridge Condition Load Rating Results Repair and Rehabilitation Recommendations Immediate, Priority, Routine, Maintenance, Increased Structure Capacity

Cost Estimates

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Priority Lists – Capital & Maintenance(Ranked recommendations by priority and year)

• Maintenance – by Amtrak staff Temporary bents, concrete patching, ballast retainers, debris removal

• Capital – Major repairs by outside contractor Superstructure replacement, Pier replacements, structure replacement,

etc.

• Methodology Rating / Condition / Cost / Time

• Replacement estimates included two or three track structures

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Capital Planning Approach/Methodology

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Preliminary Capital Repair Summary

Bridge Replacement4

5%

SuperstrutureReplacement

89%

Substructure Replacement

11%

Superstructure Repairs

1417%

Miscellaneous20

24%

No Repairs37

44%

• Safety No MOT

Steep slopes

Insects / Poison Ivy

Physical - Heat, waders, crawling through culverts

• Track Time Amtrak Staff & Snooper

• High Rail Snooper rental

• All affect production rates

• Condition / Load Capacity / Over Design

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Lessons Learned

• Evaluate capital and maintenance repair summary

• Collaborate with Amtrak maintenance

• Secure funding for capital repair and replacement projects

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Next Steps

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Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac PassengerCorridor Program

Overview• Purpose is to improve intercity mobility by

providing an improved passenger rail service that would be a competitive transportation alternative to automobile, bus and air service.

• Program is a partnership between Indiana DOT, Illinois DOT and Federal Railroad Administration.

• Program consists of: An evaluation of potential route and service

alternatives for the corridor. A Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that

reviews the impacts and benefits of rail service. A Service Development Plan (SDP) that describes

how rail service will be implemented. Goals that include increased daily service and

speeds up to 110 mph. Project website at www.greatlakesrail.org

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Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac PassengerCorridor Program

Current Status• Public hearings were held on the Tier 1 Draft EIS on 10/28/14 in Dearborn,

10/29/14 in Chicago and 10/30/14 in Gary.• Remaining work includes addressing the DEIS comments, alternative analysis,

preparation of the Final EIS, completion of the Record of Decision and development of the Service Development Plan.

• Completion of the study expected in summer 2015.

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M-1 Rail (Light Rail Project in Detroit)

Overview• A non-profit organization formed

in 2007 Design, construction, and future

operations

• 3.3 mile circulating streetcar along Woodward Avenue between Congress Street and West Grand Boulevard.

• 20 stations serving 12 locations• Public-private partnership• Groundbreaking on July 28, 2014• Construction expected to be

complete late 2016

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M-1 Rail (Light Rail Project in Detroit)

Current Status• I-94 and I-75 Overpass Bridge Work

Ongoing

• Utilities reconstruction and relocation Ongoing

• Track bed installation Ongoing. Progressing north

Continental Rail Gateway (CRG) Project

Existing Rail Tunnel

Completed in early 1900s

1.6 miles long

Originally designed for electric trains

Continuous operation for over 100 years

Carries approximately 400,000 rail cars per year

Vital link between Port of Montreal and America’s heartland

Too small for double-stacked 9’6” container rail cars

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Why We Need to Replace the Existing Rail Tunnel

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Proposed Rail Tunnel

• A new high-capacity replacement rail tunnel

• Will handle trains carrying double-stacked 9’6” containers

• Will help Detroit-Windsor to further its vision of becoming an international logistics hub

• Currently working to secure all funding for project

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Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT)

Overview• Purpose is to support economic competitiveness

of southeast Michigan and the state.• Program is a public-private partnership between

Government, Canadian Pacific (CP) Railroad, Canadian National (CN) Railroad, Norfolk Southern (NS) Railroad and CSX Railroad.

• April, 2010 Federal Highway Administration issued Record of Decision.

• Program consists of: Eliminating the major “choke points” at the

Livernois-Junction Yard in southwest Detroit. Terminal improvements External rail line improvements Roadway improvement Real estate Community enhancements

Intermodal Terminal Locat ions

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Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT)

Current Status• DIFT Five Year Plan

• DIFT Project Agreement

• Delray Interlocking

• West Detroit Connection Project

• Economic Development Plan

• Milwaukee/Beaubien Interlocking

West Detroit Connection Project• Existing railroad structure has been demolished

• CN and Conrail track work is ongoing

• Bridge substructure under construction

• Structural steel is being fabricated

• Bridge completion proposed May, 2015

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Amtrak Passenger Station Projects

Completed• Troy Transit Center, Troy

Project cost: $6.4-million Opened October 14, 2014

• Vernon J. Ehlers Amtrak Station, Grand Rapids Project cost: $6.1-million Opened October 27, 2014

• John D Dingell Transit Center, Dearborn Project cost: $28.2-million Opened December 10, 2014

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Amtrak Passenger Station Projects

Ongoing• Capital Area Multi Modal Gateway, East Lansing

New Build Construction anticipated to be completed fall 2015

• Jackson Renovation

• Ann Arbor Design/New Build

• Port Huron NEPA/Design/New Build

• Detroit Design/New Build

• Flint Renovation

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Questions?

3rd Annual Michigan Rail Conference• Location: Grand Rapids, MI• Time: August 2015

Specifics location to be announced soon

Documents

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