JANUARY
2009
L
souN~rmlr
Pugei
RIDE
THE
WAVE
ington
Northern
Santa
Fe
BNSF)
Eastside
Corridor
Commuter
Rai
Feasibility
Study
Background
In 2008, the state leaislature directed Sound Transit and the Puqet Sound
corridor also includes a 7
-
mile spur from Woodinville to Redmond.
It
Regional Council (SRC) to complete a feasibility study to "jetermine
includes 24 bridge crossings, 97.curves and 107 at
-
grade crossings.
whether commuter rail service between eastern
Snohomish County and
The
Port
of
Seattle
intends
to
purchase
the
corridor
from
BNSF
in
early
eastern King County
can
be
a
meaningful
of
the
region's
2009, King County then intends
to
acquire
an easement
along
a portion
future transportation system.
"
The study also developed a cost estimate
of the corridor for a bicycle and pedestrian trail.
for a parallel passenger rail and
bicyclelpedestrian trail.
Potential future uses of the corridor, or certain segments, may include
The
BNSF
Railway
'Ompany
runs
34
mi'es
from
north
passenger rail, excursion trains, short haul freight service, and a regional
Renton, through Bellevue and Woodinville, and on to Snohomish. The
trail.
ter rail on the corridor is feasible but
ents are needed to achieve higher
of the track, structures, and roadway
The corridor has the potential for significant transit ridership connecting
the regional growth centers of
Renton, Bellevue, KirklandITotem
Lake and Redmond, with as many as 6,000 trips per day.
The capital cost estimate for passenger rail is within the range for
other lines in the US. However, the costs are at the high end of that
range because of the condition of the corridor and its current lack
of safety and communication systems.
A
pedestrianlbike trail could fit within the existing right
-
of
-
way
-"
^
*
^I
throughout much of the corridor. In some locations, property
acquisition would be needed.
The estimated capital cost for a fully improved pedestrianlbike trail
south Woodinvill
parallel to the rail line ranges from $297 million to $432 million,
(snohomish- ent ton
depending on the width of the trail.
South Kirkland
O
Redmond Spur Llne
0
Snohom~sh-Renton Llne
*
BNSF Easts~de Corrtdor Under Study
-
Black Rlver Junctlon to Gene Coulon Park
-4-b
Sounder Commuter Ra~l
*
Other Reg~onal Ra~l Llnes
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF)
Eastside Corridor
i
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Eastside Corridor crossing 1
-
90 south of downtown Bellevue
Feasibility
study
assumptions
estimates include broad assuniptions for track and trackbed, rail
The feasibility study builds on previous studies of passenger or
commuter rail on the corridor and used the following general
assumptions:
Upgrades were identified and costs were estimated at permanent
passenger rail infrastructure standards including full replacement
of the track, ties and rail bed (a demonstration project or project
implemented by private entities could be accomplished differently
with potentially lower costs)
Either diesel locomotives with bi
-
level coaches (Sounder
-
type
vehicles) or diesel multiple units
(DMUs) could be used
Complete signal/communication for train detection and control
along with centralized train control were provided
bridges,
signalsltrain control/crossings, stations and right
-
of
-
way;
and soft costs such as administration, design and environmental
review and construction management. The cost estimates include
significant contingencies based on the conceptual level of analysis.
It
is
possible that passenger rail could be implemented in a different
manner with a possible lower cost, but the costs in this report were
estimated using methods developed by Sound Transit for its Sound
Transit
2
Plan and approved by an independent review panel.
Operating
costs
Operating costs are estimated at $24 to $32 million per year based
on two
-
way service on the corridor with trains operating every 30
minutes in each direction, 16 hours per day weekdays, along with
track and vehicle maintenance costs.
All public and private grade crossings were upgraded
Sound Transit
2
No new grade
-
separated crossings were included
The condition of all 24 existing bridges was not evaluated
One small yard and shops facility is needed
The train speed, including stops, would average 24 mph
Service would run two ways for 16 hours a day on weekdays. Trains
would run every 30 minutes.
The study did not identify an optimal solution, preferred alternative,
or the lowest cost or most cost
-
effective option. That information
would be developed in the future by an agency or group proposing
passenger rail on the corridor.
Sound Transit 2, the mass transit package approved by voters in
November 2008, includes a $50 million capital contribution to a
potential passenger rail partnership.
If
a partnership is not in place
by the end of 201 1, the funds will be re
-
directed to HOV/bus rapid
transit in the 1
-
405 corridor. Sound Transit 2 does not include any
additional funds for commuter or passenger rail on the
Eastside
BNSF corridor. For more information about the Sound Transit
2
Plan
and requirements related to the $50 million capital contribution,
please refer to the Sound Transit Web site at: http://future.
soundtransit.org/documents/ST2~Plan~web.pdf.
Capital
Casts
1
The capital costs for passenger rail on the entire corridor are
r
SOUND TRANS^^
RIDE
THE
WAVE
estimated at $1.0 to $1.3 billion (in 20089). The capital cost
