RAIL MODERNIZATION PLANNING: REVIEW OF CURRENT PRACTICES

Concern about the magnitude of investment required to restore and maintain rail systems in a state of good repair generated this UMTA-sponsored Rail Modernization Planning Study. The study's purpose was to provide technical guidance to rail transit planners to help assure that funding for rail modernization is utilized in the most effective manner. The report serves as a good source of information dissemination by sharing the experiences of local planners. A Review Panel provided input and review throughout the study and facilitated the collection of information through site visits and documentation. Case studies of rail systems, planning organizational relationships, and planning processes and techniques were conducted for the most significant rail agencies in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, and Cleveland. This report is a detailed review of the current planning processes and techniques being utilized by a large cross section of the nation's rail transit systems. Sections 1-3 of this report describe the background, objectives, and approach used in this study as well as current rail modernization planning requirements. Section 4 summarizes the case study results and includes site visits, interviews, and review of documentation. Section 5 presents a case study of Philadelphis's Frankford Elevated Alternatives Analysis and exemplifies tha application of this evaluation process to a rail modernization situation. Section 6 discusses the rail modernization planning environment, and options for future UMTA technical assistance are discussed in Section 7. Several appendices are attached with details on rail modernization planning techniques being employed at the local level.

  • Corporate Authors:

    Dynatrend, Incorporated

    21 Cabot Road
    Woburn, MA  United States  01801

    Urban Mass Transportation Administration

    400 7th Street, SW
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Publication Date: 1985-3

Media Info

  • Pagination: 255 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00396407
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-IT-09-9020-85-1Final Rpt.
  • Contract Numbers: UMTA-IT-09-9020
  • Files: TRIS, USDOT
  • Created Date: Jul 31 1988 12:00AM