Those High Speed Rail Station Meetings

Didn’t really know what to expect, but it was more of the same. And the format was odd, they should have told the public what the format was in advance. Tho, I suspected that was the way it was going to be.

When you walked in you were asked to sign in, they gave you a hand out and then you could go left or right. To the left were boards

and comments sheets and you could comment and talk to staff. To the right every “30 minutes” you could see a presentation.

If you don’t have time to go, after reading this, you might want to submit your comments, using the form above. It can be filled out and emailed or faxed by June 28th (info on the bottom of the sheet). You also have the handout as well. The only other thing of value there was the info on this chart, which they said would be on the website soon. I sure hope it doesn’t end up after the comment period. And, before I go on, if there have been studies on findings, where are the documents to support it, why aren’t they on the website? Are they going to put out all the information after the decisions have been made?

I thought I was just going to get there early, look at the agenda, pick up the materials and leave. Turned out, I stayed the first presentation they were going to do every “30 minutes” because there was a presentation in 15 minutes.

PRESENTATION
Donna Brown did the presentation. When she started there were about 25 people in the room, including staff and reporters. By the end, there were over 50 people there.

Purpose of Meeting
Brown made it clear from the beginning that this meeting was not to talk about the corridor, but to talk abou the station. She went through the purpose of the meeting which was to give background on the planning for the Midwest regional rail initiative, to talk about the ARRA (Stimulus) money and then to talk about future opportunities for public involvement and next steps. Next she talked about the outcomes they wanted for the evening. They wanted to get input on downtown station location at Monona Terrace, because those are the only options left then talk about future public involvement and the recent feasibility study.

Background
This was nothing but the sales job. You can get the info from the handout or the website.

Why are they doing this?
– To provide network efficiencies
– To increase revenues through increased speeds and frequencies to reduce operating subsidies
– Keep the investment

What is it?
– Frequent service betwe major and moderatly high population centers
– Positive Train Control Technology (will improve safety)
– 110 mph, 79 miles at the start
– Chicago/Hiawatha Service is 7 trips per day, 6 on sunday.

The Money
– They have billion in stimulus money
– Money they applied for was for
– – final design and construction Madison to Milwaukee
– – Improvements to Chicago

Madison to Milwaukee
– Investment in infrastructure
– Short and long term economic benefits (didn’t say what they were)
– 6 daily round trips
– 110 mph once positive train control rail
– Want service to start in 2013
– Stations in Madison, Watertown, Oconomoc and Brookfield
– They are buying 2 Talgo (Spanish) train sets for Chicago to Milwaukee use
– 2 more sets and locomotives will be purchased with ARRA money
– There is $24M total for all the new stations

Feasibility Study for Stations
– They looked at four stations sites
– In May 2010 they said that Madison Downtown was best.
– They looked at a bunch of criteria (she doesn’t say what it was)
– There is a display out there that says what the criteria are (that was all the explanation she had for it)

Environmental Analysis for the Station
– This is the kick off of coummunity outreach to look at 101 E Wilson and 1 W Wilson.
– They are looking for input on
– – Access for the station
– – What traffic flow will be like
– – Hear what you know about expectations for transit and travel around downtown area
– The analysis will include traffic and parking analysis
– There will be a public hearing in 2011

Next steps
– Will do environmental reviews in summer/fall
– They are planning and designing the stations.
– Upcoming weeks will make the station’s site selection (She says they normally have 2 years to go through the process but they have to be up and running by 2013)
– Late 2010 corridor final design and start of tract construction (its on the fast track)
– Early 2011 environmental document complete on the stations
– Summer 2011 Final design of stations
– Early 2012 station construction
– 2013 start service

Tonight’s Workshop
They want input on station locations – she says she knows there are concerns about not being involved early on, but we want your input now on
– Traffic parking considerations
– Development opportunities
– Environmental impacts
– Ttransit connections and opportunities
– Current use of building or future thoughts
– Other factors important to you
– What is the best way to communicate with you in the future?

QUESTIONS
Q: Why didn’t we hear about the feasibility study while it was being done? Who paid for it? All we heard was the results.
A: Brown says state did the study this year, took what had from environmental assessment to look at station we identified, heard a lot of input about Yahara Station and that there was in interest in that, so they took the dollars and time to do the analysis, the site was identified. (And she didn’t answer the question, not by a long shot.)

Q: What do all these acronyms stand for?
A: FRA = Federal Railroad Administration
FONSI = Finding of no significant impact
ARRA = Stimulus money (The audience tells her what it stands for)

Q: What is the FONSI, did they look at impacts on the local community, traffic? What impacts are important enough to include in that study? If there is a FONSI then what are we doing?
A: Corridor has FONSI, but the station study is underway. They look at environmental, socio-economic, real estate and other impacts. There are 7 listed items on impacts that they have to check off. Cost is a factor. They have to present the study to the community as part of the draft plan and it has to be discussed.

Q: Is this the only station looking at?
A: Yes, when looking at extension to Minneapolis, which they have ARRA money for, they will look at the Dane County Airport or other Madison location as part of that effort.

Q: Why isn’t Yahara Station being included in existing study? At the last meeting you said it was thrown out because not in original corridor analysis.
A: In looking at existing FONSI, they had locations- Kohl Center, Monona Terrace, Pennsylvania Ave and the ariport (Again, the audience tells her the four locations)

Comment: The system really goes beyond the Midwest because the system connects to Amtrack.

Q: Is station a standalone project in downtown Madison, then does city plan around it or is there joint planning and development effort for the station and area around it.
A: Brown says have to partner with City of Madison, without partnering, it will be stand alone, idea is to work with community and get feedback about how it fits in downtown. They want to know how you want to access the building, will it need two access points, what is important with ticketing in building, are you looking for a facility that accommodates long layovers, do you need connections to intercity bus, ability to bike, will you need bikes on the train and within station itself, what about traffic circulation outside, how will you catch a bus or taxi in inclement weather. etc.

Q: You keep mentioning community involvement, I don’t see it.
A: It’s been almost 6 years since here, had more than 100 public info meetings and outreach here in Madison, worked with Council and MPO, back in 2000 and 2001 and we continued to have the meetings til 2004 when study was finalized.

Q: Woman says she doesn’t remember any of this site selection, there was no public involvement in that effort.
A: We’re here now.

Frustrations are high, arguing back and forth, one person tries to explain again.

Q: One day there was 4 options and I understood would be discussion, then picked up paper and found out the station was decided, what did I miss?
A. You didn’t miss anything.

More arguing.

Q: Did you do this in consultation with mayor’s office.
A: I can’t answer that

Q: Will this work with RTA and inter and intracity bus?
A: We have to work with you

More talking griping and arguing. It’s been 40 minutes and not much new has been disclosed and I’m not sure the point any more.

Q: How much momey is there for a station?
A: I was unclear but I think she said that anything beyond 9? (or 5?) million is for the City of Madison to pay for.

Q: A guy from Senator Kohl’s Office asks about what kind of barriers they will have for safety.
A: They aredoing an assessment at each of the crossings and there are certain requirements for passenger, freight and pedestrian and bike crossings – they will be state of the art crossings

Q: There is a difference between community input and engagement – one we give input and you decide, the other you listen and what majority says they want is what you do, please do the latter, but which will you do.
A: Not answered.

Q: Have the consultants been hired?
A: Consultants have been hired, they just signed agreement with FRA, it gives authority to use the ARRA funds. CH2M Hill is doing the environmental study for the stations. HNTB will do it for the corridor.

Q: When do we participate in community engagements, have you started working with RTA if no why not and when will you?
A: This is just the beginning of the process, this is the first meeting, it is the kickoff to the outreach efforts, we will be meeting with RTA. They just started going to commissions, LRTPC, MPO etc. They will have more community meetings in July, they have to do community meetings in other areas first.

Q: Who will own the station?
A: City of Madison will own the station; the communities will own the stations. (Oh boy, I feel another Overture coming on.)

Q: How many people will use it.
A: Trains hold 400 passengers, they are 750 feet long, they will have 14 cars.

Q: Will it block Blair?
A: He says that WSOR is building a second track and the train will fit under the Monona Terrace

Things start to fall apart, Brown looks exasperated and says that more people coming in in 6 minutes.

I quickly leave!

WRAP UP
Again, I’m not sure this is worth your time. The handout, the comment sheet and link to the website give you about as much information as there is, except for the cahrt you can’t read, which is probably the most important thing. Which they just glossed over. Will try to see if the pictures I took are clear enough to write up what it says for tomorrow.