Title
Fayetteville-Raleigh Rail Passenger Feasibility Study
Shelby Powell, MPO Staff
Scott Lane, Consultant, MetroAnalytics, Inc.
Ryan White, Stantec, Inc.
Body
The Capital Area Metropolitan Area Planning Organization (CAMPO), in partnership with the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) and NC DOT, selected the team of Metro Analytics and Stantec, Inc. to conduct a one year passenger rail feasibility study to examine the viability of passenger rail service between Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina through travel market demand across various trip types, the viability of using one of the two existing rail corridors and a general analysis of economic feasibility of providing passenger rail between these cities.
The purpose of this study is to determine if the market exists for passenger rail between Raleigh and Fayetteville. If the market exists, the study will determine which of the two existing corridors would be the best option for providing that service. The study is envisioned to be conducted in two phases. Phase I is this high-level study of the two main rail corridors between the CAMPO and FAMPO regions to determine which corridor may be most appropriate for a passenger rail application based on corridor infrastructure, ridership potential, and market demand analysis. If recommended, a Phase II study may be commissioned to develop specific recommendations for improvements to each rail corridor that are identified in Phase I.
This Phase I study was conducted through fiscal year 2020 with the assistance of a technical steering/ jurisdictional stakeholders committee. A kickoff Technical Steering Committee meeting occurred September 25, 2019 and a project portal at www.ral2fayrail.com <http://www.ral2fayrail.com> was established to house all project information and material. The project information will be transferred to the CAMPO and FAMPO websites.
The project team reviewed existing data sets, completed a peer agencies review, contrasted and compared the two study routes, introduced quantitative and fatal flaw analyses for each route and gathered jurisdictional and expert input from the TSC members throughout the project study. Additionally, a series of focused meetings were held with local stakeholders in Raleigh, Fayetteville, Harnett to further identify/isolate key jurisdictional issues of the study. The team completed an operational assessment, ridership projection, a marketing impact analysis and determined there were no fatal flaws preventing rail passenger service on either route. A Phase II of the study would further the study’s findings. The consultants prepared the final report including an executive summary and recommendations. The project concluded on time and on budget and is being presented to the TCC and Executive Boards at the August meetings.
Requested Action: Action Receive as information.