Exh I

JANUARY 2009                                    LsouN~rmlr  Pugei
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ington Northern Santa Fe BNSF) Eastside Corridor
Commuter Rai Feasibility Study
Background
In 2008, the state leaislaturedirectedSound Transit and the Puqet Sound   corridor also includes a 7-mile spur from Woodinville to Redmond. It
RegionalCouncil (SRC)to complete a feasibility study to "jetermine   includes 24 bridge crossings, 97.curves and 107 at-grade crossings.
whethercommuter rail service between eastern SnohomishCounty and
The Portof Seattle intendsto purchasethe corridor from BNSFin early
eastern King County   can be a meaningful         of the region's    2009, KingCountythenintendstoacquirean easementalonga portion
futuretransportationsystem." The study also developed a cost estimate
of the corridor for a bicycle and pedestrian trail.
for a parallel passenger rail and bicyclelpedestriantrail.
Potential future uses of the corridor, or certain segments, may include
The BNSFRailway'Ompany             runs34mi'es from north
passengerrail, excursion trains, short haul freight service, and a regional
Renton, through Bellevue and Woodinville, and on to Snohomish.The
trail.

ter rail on the corridor is feasible but
ents are needed to achieve higher
of the track, structures, and roadway
The corridorhas the potential for significant transit ridershipconnecting
the regional growth centers of Renton, Bellevue, KirklandITotem
Lake and Redmond, with as many as 6,000 trips per day.
The capital cost estimate for passenger rail is within the range for
other lines in the US. However, the costs are at the high end of that
range because of the condition of the corridor and its current lack
of safety and communication systems.
A pedestrianlbike trail could fit within the existing right-of-way
-" ^  *
^ I   throughout much of the corridor. In some locations, property
acquisition would be needed.
The estimated capital cost for a fully improved pedestrianlbike trail
south Woodinvill                                     parallel to the rail line ranges from $297 million to $432 million,
(snohomish- ent ton                                      depending on the width of the trail.


South Kirkland

O  Redmond Spur Llne
0  Snohom~sh-RentonLlne
*
BNSF Easts~deCorrtdor Under Study
- Black Rlver Junctlon to Gene CoulonPark
-4-b   Sounder Commuter Ra~l
*OtherReg~onalRa~lLlnes

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF)
Eastside Corridor

i

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Eastside Corridor crossing 1-90 south of downtown Bellevue
Feasibility study assumptions                      estimates include broad assuniptions for track and trackbed, rail
bridges, signalsltrain control/crossings, stations and right-of-way;
The feasibility study builds on previous studies of passenger or
and soft costs such as administration, design and environmental
commuter rail on the corridor and used the following general
review and constructionmanagement. The cost estimates include
assumptions:
significant contingencies based on the conceptual level of analysis.
Upgrades were identified and costs were estimated at permanent   It is possible that passenger rail could be implemented in a different
passenger rail infrastructure standards including full replacement   manner with a possible lower cost, but the costs in this report were
of the track, ties and rail bed (a demonstration project or project   estimated using methods developedby Sound Transit for its Sound
implemented by private entities could be accomplished differently   Transit 2 Plan and approved by an independent review panel.
with potentially lower costs)
Operating costs
Either diesel locomotives with bi-level coaches (Sounder-type
Operatingcosts are estimated at $24 to $32 million per year based
vehicles)or diesel multiple units (DMUs) could be used
on two-way service on the corridor with trains operating every 30
Complete signal/communication for train detection and control     minutes in each direction, 16 hours per day weekdays, along with
along with centralized train control were provided             track and vehicle maintenance costs.
All public and private grade crossings were upgraded           Sound Transit 2
No new grade-separated crossings were included             Sound Transit 2, the mass transit package approved by voters in
November 2008, includes a $50 million capital contribution to a
The condition of all 24 existing bridges was not evaluated
potential passenger rail partnership. If a partnershipis not in place
One small yard and shops facility is needed                  by the end of 2011, the funds will be re-directedto HOV/bus rapid
transit in the 1-405 corridor. Sound Transit 2 does not include any
The train speed, including stops, would average 24 mph
additional funds for commuter or passenger rail on the Eastside
Service would run twoways for 16 hoursa day on weekdays. Trains   BNSF corridor. For more information about the Sound Transit 2 Plan
would run every 30 minutes.                          and requirements related to the $50 million capital contribution,
please refer to the Sound Transit Web site at: http://future.
The study did not identify an optimal solution, preferred alternative,    soundtransit.org/documents/ST2~Plan~web.pdf.
or the lowest cost or most cost-effective option. That information
would be developed in the future by an agency or group proposing
passenger rail on the corridor.
Capital Casts                                  1rSOUND TRANS^^
The capital costs for passenger rail on the entire corridor are
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estimated at $1.0 to $1.3 billion (in 20089). The capital cost

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