RAIL OPERATIONS PLANNING AND TRAFFIC ANALYSIS
Passenger Services
- Feasibility Studies
- Ridership Analyses
- Operations Analyses
- Station Planning
- Cost Estimates
Main Line provides operations planning and other services for passenger rail and transit properties. Main Line's principal was resident project manager for the West Palm Beach-Miami corridor feasibility study for Florida DOT, which evaluated the potential for implementing commuter rail services along both the Florida East Coast and CSXT rail corridors in South Florida. This study evaluated ridership potential, operating costs, capital requirements, station locations, and equipment needs necessary to implement passenger rail service. It was his recommendation to utilize highway funding as a maintenance of traffic measure that directly led to the initiation of new commuter rail service in that tri-county region.
Main Line was retained by Canadian Pacific Railway to analyze its existing Montreal commuter service and determine the potential for upgrading service on one line, assuming the operation of service on another line, and instituting new commuter operations on four additional lines. This project involved assessing track conditions, determining potential station locations, developing ridership projections and operating plans, identifying capital and operating expenses, and evaluating various types of locomotives and passenger equipment. Canadian Pacific made proposals to the Province of Quebec to institute various new services. For Delaware DOT/City of Wilmington, Main Line analyzed traffic flows to determine the suitability of seven regional rail corridors for commuter rail operations, assessing ridership potential, station locations, schedules, and track conditions, as well as rehabilitation costs to identify the most feasible route alternatives. Freight and operations planning tasks were completed for a Bergen County (NJ) rail project.
Main Line’s principal was formerly Manager-State and Local Affairs at Amtrak, responsible for instituting new intercity and Section 403(b) state-supported services and overseeing fares and schedules on various corridors, including New Haven-Springfield, Philadelphia-Harrisburg, Minneapolis-Duluth, Los Angeles-San Diego, and Chicago-Springfield, as well as New York/Boston-Chicago, Washington-Cincinnati, and Norfolk-Cincinnati/Chicago. He was responsible for developing ridership and revenue forecasts, as well as developing fare structures on these routes. He worked with local governments to rebuild passenger stations in such locations as Mystic (CT), Aberdeen (MD), Lancaster (PA), and Harrisburg (PA), as well as working with state DOTs in identifying joint Amtrak-state track and equipment investments, as well as developing state-supported connecting bus services.
Main Line provided budget oversight services to the MTA in New York, responsible for the assessment of the condition and adequacy of the station facilities on the Long Island and Metro North commuter systems, as well as assessing the financial adequacy of the budget in meeting the requirements of the bondholders. Main Line was part of the team that completed a market, operations, and facilities evaluation of the Amtrak Philadelphia-Harrisburg train services for Pennsylvania DOT and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, being responsible for evaluating the condition of the track of this 105-mile line, determining rehabilitation requirements to bring the line up to various speed limits, developing ongoing maintenance needs, assessing the condition of stations along the line, and recommending potential new station locations. Main Line’s principal managed schedules and fares for that corridor while at Amtrak.
Main Line was retained to evaluate the potential for reinstituting commuter rail service on the former SEPTA Newtown branch, developing operating plans and traffic potential, as well as determining operating expenses, rehabilitation needs, and vehicle requirements. Main Line developed schedules and operating plans for a potential private operator of the Baltimore light rail system, as well as determining operating expenses that would be incurred as a contract operator. Main Line has evaluated potential tourist operations for a number of shortline railroads, as well as for the Chester County (PA) Tourist Bureau and Clark County (WA). Main Line provided operations, planning, and marketing assistance for the Chadds Ford & Brandywine tourist operation and evaluated ridership potential for the New Hope & Ivyland operation.
