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The following are two timelines for the development of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor (SEHSR) from Washington, D.C. to Charlotte, N.C. and the planning and construction of a new multi-modal station in Charlotte that will be located in uptown (instead of two miles out of the city) and serve high-speed rail. It seems pathetic that it takes this long for something that should have been developed years ago just to get built. And by the time it is built, we've already fallen behind with population growth and traffic, not to mention how much Europe and Japan have developed in their high-speed rail availability. Southeast High Speed Rail Timeline 1992 - The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) designated five high-speed corridors nationwide - including the Southeast Corridor from Washington, D.C. to Richmond, Raleigh and Charlotte. -Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia joined together to form a four-state coalition to facilitate the development of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor (SEHSR). 1996 - The USDOT extended SEHSR to include a connection to Hampton Roads, VA. 1997 - A USDOT report on high speed rail identified the Southeast corridor as the most economically viable proposed high speed rail corridor in the country. 1998 - The Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation (VDRPT), the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop environmental documentation for the SEHSR in VA and NC. The SEHSR was extended south to Macon, GA, and south from Raleigh through to Jacksonville, FL. 1999 - North Carolina and Virginia began a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the SEHSR from Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC. This corridor level document examined nine alternatives. 2000 - The NCDOT and VDRPT conducted public workshops as part of the Tier I Environmental Study process. 2001 - North Carolina and Virginia – along with the FHWA and FRA – completed the Draft Tier 1 EIS. 2002 - The final Tier I EIS, which identified a preferred route, was completed in June. The FHWA and FRA issued a Record of Decision in October, approving the project and allowing the second round of environmental studies to begin. 2003 - The Tier II EIS began for the segment from Petersburg, VA to Raleigh, NC. The document looks in detail at specific designs and their potential impacts within this segment. -Nine meetings (called Public Information Workshops) were held between June and August, and 636 citizens attended. As part of the current (Tier II) EIS process, citizens had the opportunity to pose questions and comments, as well as gather information. Input from these citizens is being incorporated into the planning. 2004 - The draft Tier II EIS is currently being compiled. The document should be available for public review by the end of 2004. At that time public hearings will be held along the affected corridor. (Note: The Federal Railroad Administration released the Transportation Planning Report for the Richmond-Charlotte Corridor.This independent engineering study examines specific infrastructure improvements needed to implement high-speed rail between Richmond and Charlotte to achieve a travel time goal of 4 hours and 25 minutes. The FRA report supports and complements the findings of the Tier I EIS for the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor between Washington, D.C. and Charlotte. It also provides technical assistance that will be used in developing the Tier II documents for the corridor.) 2005 - The Final Tier II EIS is expected to be completed and the Record of Decision obtained for the Petersburg to Raleigh segment. Right-of-way and permit acquisition can begin at that time. 2010 - This is the goal for full implementation of the project based on funding availability. [img]http://lieberman.senate.gov/~edwards/images/sehsrmap.jpg[/img] Maximum speeds will be 110 mph between Washington and Charlotte with an average of 85 mph. http://www.sehsr.org/ Charlotte Multi Modal Station Project Timeline 1990 - State of North Carolina begins Carolinian passenger train with daily round trips between Charlotte and New York. Charlotte passenger counts for the year are 36,000. 1991 - City of Charlotte identified West Trade Street area as the preferred location for a new passenger Station. 1995 - State of North Carolina begins Piedmont train operations with daily round trips between Raleigh and Charlotte. 1996 - Charlotte passenger rail counts top 77,000 annually. 1997 - NCDOT confirms West Trade Street site as location for future high-speed rail station. 1998 - State begins acquiring property for station. 2000 - Passenger rail numbers at current station top 123,000 annually. 2000 - West Trade Street station site is endorsed by Center City 2010 Vision Plan. 2000 - State begins engineering feasibility study of new station. NCDOT begins acquiring property for station and associated track improvement. 2002 - State completes feasibility study of station, including eight track design and seven station design options with over 80 meetings with various stakeholders. NCDOT has acquired 23 acres of property for station and associated track improvements. 2002 - CATS completes major investment studies in five transit corridors, including corridors that will serve the new multi-modal station. Late 2002 - North Carolina General Assembly approves funding for NCDOT to begin preliminary engineering and environmental assessment and acquire additional property for multi-modal station. Early 2004 - Property acquisition completed (27 acres) at a cost of $26.5 million. Small Area Plan begun by the city, CATS and NCDOT. 2004-2005 - Complete preliminary engineering and environmental assessment of station. 2005-2007 - Complete final design of first phase of station and track improvements. 2007 - Construction begins. -Development of the new Charlotte Multi-modal Station and related track improvements is estimated to cost between $110-207 million. [img]http://www.gannettfleming.com/Newsroom/images/Charlotte-Multimodal700px.gif[/img] http://www.bytrain.org/istation/icharlotte.html
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