The Northeast Rail Operations NEROps study will be completed in 2006. Through the completion of interviews with key regional rail stakeholders and the compilation of a regional profile describing key transportation, industry, and public policy trends affecting rail transportation in the region, the study identified several key physical chokepoints, operational constraints, and institutional issues affecting freight and passenger rail in the Northeast. Over twenty individual chokepoints, constraints, and issues that most significantly impact rail operations in the region were identified and described.

One of the key recommendations of the NEROps study was that further study was necessary to better quantify how these chokepoints, operational constraints, and institutional issues affect regional rail operations and the mobility of both passengers and goods. This NEROps Phase II study provides an opportunity to more fully understand rail freight and passenger flows and how those flows are impacted by the chokepoints, constraints, and issues identified in Phase I. Furthermore, it will lead to the development of a more detailed regional rail improvement program for the Northeast region and identify potential institutional methods that could be used to implement it.

NEROps Phase IIB
The project will build on the work being done by the region’s state departments of transportation, state departments of economic development, and railroads. NEROps Phase II will:

• Examine state and railroad plans for freight and passenger rail services in the NEROps region;
• Examine state and regional economic development plans and visions for the NEROps region;
• Identify the region’s major industries and the key growth industries;
• Identify the freight logistics and passenger transportation services needed by these industries; • Identify strategic, corridor-level freight and passenger rail improvement projects to improve freight and passenger rail services;
• Estimate the benefits of a regional rail improvement program in terms of —
  • Economic impacts (e.g., jobs, revenue, GRP growth,...),
  • Environmental impacts (e.g., fuel saving, GHG reductions,…),
  • Social and community impacts (e.g., safety, security,...), and
  • Transportation impacts (e.g., relief of highway congestion, improved accessibility...)
• Build consensus on the recommended improvements; and
• Organize the findings and recommendations for use by the NEROps states and the railroads.

Procurement Agency: Maryland State Highway
Project Contact:  Marygrace Parker
Freight, Mobility, Safety & Security Coordinator
I-95 Corridor Coalition
Phone: (518) 852-4083
E-mail: i95mgp@ttlc.net

The objective of this study is to quantify the impacts of the physical, institutional and operational constraints, develop a regional rail improvement program for the Northeast region, and identify potential institutional methods that could be used to implement it.

NEROps Phase IIB
The objectives of NEROps Phase II project are to identify strategic freight and passenger rail improvements that will support economic development in the region; provide information to the states and the railroads that can be used in formulating programs, projects, and grant applications; and provide guidance to the states on passenger and freight rail transportation and economic development issues that will inform the reauthorization of the national surface transportation program and related initiatives.

View Word file of Phase I Scope
View Word file of project 14-5N Scope (Phase II)
View Word file of project 18-5N Scope (Phase IIB)

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