city of schertz presentation joe black – lone star rail district november 25, 2014

City of Schertz PresentationJoe Black – Lone Star Rail District

November 25, 2014

Lone Star Rail District

Connectivity/Mobility

Community & Economic Development

LSTAR Local Funding

Next Steps

2

Lone Star Regional Rail – Strategic Considerations

Lone Star Rail District

3


44

• Cities:Georgetown, Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Schertz, San Antonio

• Counties:Williamson, Travis, Hays, Bexar

• Transit Agencies:Capital Metro, CARTS, VIA, ART

• MPOs:CAMPO, AAMPO

• Region’s Board Representation:20 members representing the political leadership and business community of Central/South Texas, plus “at large” members appointed by the TxTC.

Jurisdictions and Service Area

55

• 30+ through freight trains per day rerouted to Urban Freight Rail Bypass

• 80+ miles of new freight rail line from Seguin to Taylor

• 40+ miles of improved freight rail line from San Antonio to Seguin

Urban Freight RailBypass

• LSTAR is Regional rail - hybrid of commuter & intercity rail

• Originally 16 stations at full service (up to 24 with split stations service)

• 32 round trips a day at full service

• 118 miles of passenger rail; San Antonio north to Georgetown

How Does the LSRRP EffortFill a Central Texas Need?

• Initial Service: 60 min. headway on peak120 min. headway off peak12 total round trips per dayWeekend & holidays: per demand & budget

• Base Service: 30 min. headway on peak60 min. headway off peak21 total round trips per day;

including express serviceWeekend & holidays:

per demand & budget

• Full Service: 15 min. headway on peak60 min. headway off peak28-32 total round trips per day;

including express serviceExpress, Weekend & holiday service:

per demand & budget

6

Lone Star Regional Rail – Service Planning Targets

Rider Experience• Considered a higher level of transit

o Dependable/predictable serviceo Avoids destination parking & costso Bring your bike alongo Wi-fi enabled

• Congestion proof option – bypasses traffic bottlenecks

• Makes drive time available for other activities

Links nearly 300,000 students, faculty and staff at 17 campuses:

• Texas A&M University San Antonio

• UTSA Downtown Campus

• Alamo Community Colleges

• Texas State University

• The University of Texas at Austin7

Lone Star Regional Rail – LSTAR Passenger Service

Regional Mobility/Access• Relocation of UP reduces freight rail traffic in city centers

o “Through” freight trains are longer & slower

(1-2 miles long; avg. 20 mph or less)o Passenger trains are shorter & faster (max. 8 cars; avg. 60 mph)o Moves “through freight” trains to bypass (approx. 30-40

trains/day)o Remaining local freight stays in the corridor (no loss of service)

8

Lone Star Regional Rail – Freight Rail Bypass

9

“Union Pacific Railroad has been working cooperatively with the District on its Austin-San Antonio Corridor project for several years…We believe that both Union Pacific and the District have made substantial progress…and anticipate that an eventual agreement will result in the ability of the District to provide passenger service and relocation of through freight in the Austin-San Antonio Corridor…”

Jerry Wilmoth, General Manager – Network Infrastructure, Union Pacific Railroad, May 16 2012 letter to Travis County Judge Samuel Biscoe

• Freight Rail Bypass – joint planning

• LSTAR Passenger and Local Freight Operations – joint planning

9

Union Pacific Railroad

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess project alternativeso LSTAR Service and Freight Bypass Line

• NEPA environmental impact categorieso Threatened or endangered species impactso Air & water quality impactso Historic & cultural sites impactso Social & economic community impactso Cost-benefit analysis

• Environmental Justice considerations of NEPA assess human health, economic, and social impacts on minority and low-income populations. LSTAR has initiated an EIS for the passenger line and freight bypass

Process will take approximately 3 years with results expected Summer 2017

10

Environmental Process

Connectivity/Mobility

11


12

I-35 between San Antonio and Austin is one of the deadliest and most congested stretches of highway in the country.

ACCIDENTS• 100+ fatalities per year• 9000 accidents annually between

San Antonio and Georgetown.

CONGESTION AND TRADE• 80% of Mexico’s trade with the U.S. and

Canada runs through the I-35 corridor.• Truck traffic on I-35 is projected to grow over the next

20 years from 3,000 to 15,000 trucks per day.• Dozens of freight trains per day pass through highly

populated urban communities and nearly 140 at-grade crossings.

Lone Star Regional Rail – Connectivity/Mobility

13

Highway expansion capability is limited

• Right of way established in 1950-1970s

• Alamo Area MPO anticipates adding one million in population

o Traffic model - avg. daily transportation system capacity overwhelmed between 2020 and 2040

• Capital Area MPO data – 12-14 additional southern lanes needed by 2035

• TxDOT funding is limited


What We’ve Learned from Other Cities…

Community Tipping Point• 30 minute trip

• 2 million regional population• Congestion builds, mobility is limited

Personal Choices• Find alternative route (Cut-through traffic)• Relocate residents/businesses (Closer to CBD or affordable area)• Relocate to avoid key destinations (new or expanding centers

or move out of region)• Choose another mode of (pedestrian, bikes,

transportation improved commuter transit)


14

2010 – Population Density

15

Scenario 2 – Population Density

16

2010 – Employment Density

17

Scenario 2 – Employment Density

18

19

Schertz is not supported by transit links to region.

19

Community & Economic Development

21


Economic Development• Induces new development and redevelopment• Can attract diverse types of high value development (TOD or

TAD)• Focuses development within/near activity destinations for

walkable neighborhoods• Links regional employment centers & anchors

investment/property values • Retains competitive advantage in region and nationally

Lone Star Regional Rail Community Benefits

Community Development• Part of a broad vision for community & aligns with community

plans/goals• Reinforces community identity/brand as “connected to region”• Reduces growth in traffic congestion• Relocates most freight trains

• Safety and aids in air quality attainment

22

Growth Trends• National shifting to information & service economy• Convenient walkable mixed-use city centers/destinations• Communities seeking to diversify housing/life style options• Flattened national demand for new autos

o Auto costs projected to increase for fuel & technology improvements

• Employers stressing “work at office” for collaborative relationships• Location is still key – migration to more affordable second tier

urban areaso Austin is #1 and San Antonio #3 destinationso San Marcos fastest growing city in 2010 census

• Impacts - rents rising, home sales spiking and traffic congestion increasing

23

Lone Star Regional Rail Broad Based Regional Benefits

24

Regional approach to local rail service & Local Funding :

• Core Cities of San Antonio & Austin

• Hays County Cities of Buda, Kyle & San Marcos

• Comal County Cities of New Braunfels & Schertz

• Williamson County Cities of Round Rock and Georgetown

LSTAR Passenger Rail Service

2525

• New Braunfels• Schertz• Loop 1604• San Antonio International Airport

• Downtown San Antonio/UTSA• Port San Antonio• City South/ Texas A&M San

Antonio

Proposed South Central Texas LSTAR Stations

26

Schertz – San Antonio Station Locations:

• Schertz(1)

• San Antonio (5-8)

LSTAR Service

Schertz Station

27

Station Locations area in Schertz

LSTAR Service

• Location Selection Criteria:o Multi-modal Accesso Site Configurationo Economic Developmento Transit Supportive Land Useo Environmental Issues

LSTAR Station Location Technical Advisory Committee

28

LSTAR Local Funding

29


30

• Establish Local funding established through interlocal agreement

o Transportation Infrastructure Zone (TIZ) around each LSTAR station

o Funding approach is focused on supporting rail service O&M• Funding is from new growth

o Portion of growth revenues from within TIZo No impact on current City revenueso Funding primarily from rail induced station area growth

• No guarantee of funding levels• No City or County debt• No added tax or fee on station area properties• No tax increase on station area properties or City residents

Funding Approach:

Lone Star Regional Rail Project Local Funding Support –Operations and Maintenance Focus

• Delayed/Late Funding Community Impacts:

• Local private development decisions impactedo Interim developments may lock-in non-transit dev.o Interim developments may limit life style choices o May limit revenue growth & lower affordability

• Economic development may go to other locations

• LSRD capital resources allocated first to participating communities

o Rail system extensions or additions compete against other system investments

• Community may have capital investment and/or catch-up funding impacts

31

Economic Development/Community Planning Issues

• O&M is one key to securing capitalfunding

• The Draft LSRD Business PlanO&M costs split* by thirds (after fare box & misc. revenue):

LSRD Planning Targets * Initial (2018) Base (2023) Full (2028)Small Cities value capture funding $ 10.56 mil $ 19.57 mil $ 33.78 milCentral Texas value capture funding$ 10.56 mil $ 19.57 mil $ 33.78 milSo. Central Texas value capture $ 10.56 mil $ 19.57 mil $ 33.78 mil

Total $ 31.68 mil $ 58.70 mil $101.33 mil

* Escalated over time at 2.5% annually; 15 year avg. of 1/3 cost is $15.16 million (2018-2032)

32

2011

2015

2019

2023

2027

2031

2035

2039

2043

2047

0

20000000

40000000

60000000

80000000

100000000

120000000

140000000

160000000

Smaller Cities Service

Austin Metro Service

San Antonio Metro Service

Metro 1/3 O&M Alloca-tions

LSTAR Operations and Maintenance Costs (O&M)Local Funding Targets

33

33

1. Station Location preference confirmed

2. Local funding Agreement adopted by end of December 2014 or Spring 2015.

Next Steps

city of schertz presentation joe black – lone star rail district november 25, 2014

Documents