Two rail studies planned for state

Aim is priorities for future need

— Imagine high-speed passenger trains of the future zipping from Memphis to Little Rock to Texarkana at speeds up to 200 mph.

Then consider Arkansas’ whistle-blowing reality — dozens of freight trains rattling daily across the state hauling more than 700,000 carloads of goods per year at speeds lower than 10 mph and up to 60 or so.

Arkansas transportation officials expect to spend $1 million to $1.25 million in federal and state money to compile two long-range railroad transportation plans in coming months, said Randy Ort, a spokesman for the state Highway and Transportation Department.

One will examine issues surrounding freightrail transport and existing passenger rail service. The other will look at how Arkansas might take part in a national initiative to offer high-speed passenger rail.

The two studies are expected to be finished within 18 to 24 months, Ort said. The Highway Department is interviewing consulting companies but hasn’t signed a contract yet, he said.

The first study, a new State Rail Plan, will examine the needs and the future of the workhorse freight rail industry, which involves 25 railroads in Arkansas and transports 47 million tons per year of coal, stone and other commodities.

Among the issues are safety at railroad and highway or street intersections, and track repairs or upgrades. Another is railroad abandonments, where companies desert rail lines because they aren’t profitable.

Freight-rail traffic peaked nationally in 2006, according to a spokesman for the Association of American Railroads in Washington, a lobby group for private railroads and government-owned Amtrak. The industry has not recovered from the 2008 economic decline, but shows “slow and steady year-over-year growth” since then, spokesman Holly Arthur said.

Arkansas has 2,797 miles of track and 3,133 freight-rail employees, according to the association.

State officials hope a new rail plan will result in a prioritized list of projects that could be launched as money becomes available, said Alan Meadors, the transportation department’s planning and research engineer.

That plan also will examine today’s passenger-rail service and its future, but won’t look at high-speed rail service. Passenger service is provided by Amtrak’s daily Texas Eagle service, which links Chicago and Los Angeles with five stops across Arkansas.

The existing State Rail Plan was created in 2002. States are required to have the plan to qualify for federal grants, Ort said. The state does not build railroads or spend state money to build railroads, he said. But the Highway Department assists the Federal Railroad Administration’s work on railroad company projects.

The second rail transport report, a High-Speed Rail Feasibility Study, will explore a high-tech future. Amtrak is developing long-range plans to offer service up to 220 mph in the nation’s Northeast corner. Federal and state officials are considering how to develop a high-speed rail corridor between Little Rock and San Antonio, along with other parts of the nation.

The high-speed study will look at ways to improve existing track between Little Rock and Texarkana to accommodate high-speed passenger trains, Meadors said.

It also will examine the possibility of offering high-speed rail service between Little Rock and Memphis. The state now has no freight or passenger service directly between the two cities, he said.

Though funding doesn’t exist for the high-speed rail projects, the state wants to be ready if federal money should become available, officials said.

Rail Freight in Arkansas

Total freight shipped out of state by rail: 18.2 million tons Most-shipped-out product: Stone, sand and gravel, 8 million tons Total freight shipped in by rail: 28.9 million tons Most-shipped-in product: Coal, 18.3 million tons Average fuel efficiency: One ton moves 469 miles on 1 gallon of fuel State’s largest rail companies: Union Paciÿc Railroad Co., 1,327 miles of track; BNSF Railway Co., 1,047 miles Number of freight rail employees in Arkansas: 3,133 Average wages and beneÿ ts per worker: $100,170

Source: Association of American Railroads (most recent numbers)

Business, Pages 28 on 12/21/2012

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