RLBA’s involvement in high speed rail planning far predates the current, encouraging national wave of interest. RLBA has delivered projects related to the Northeast Corridor (with speeds of up to 135 mph still the only high speed service in the U.S.), an earlier HSR initiative in Florida, maglev projects and a study to determine the infrastructure requirements needed to support additional and faster Amtrak passenger trains between Richmond and Washington, DC. Recently, RLBA prepared a strategic implementation plan regarding high speed service in the Phoenix - Tucson corridor and station and equipment studies on behalf of Ohio’s 3C Corridor. At present, RLBA is a part of a team selected to conduct planning, engineering and environmental oversight services on behalf of the California High Speed Rail Authority and Oregon’s DOT.

It is clear that many high speed rail corridors will begin as “higher” speed passenger service using to some degree trackage owned by freight railroads and used by both freight and passenger trains. RLBA brings considerable expertise in shared operations, including service planning, engineering, regulatory compliance and negotiated access and has assisted in planning and implementing many new passenger services using freight tracks. At speeds above 90 - 100 mph, high speed services will have to construct their own trackage, using freight railroad right-of-way in some instances and developing new alignments in other instances. RLBA has examined the engineering feasibility and operating considerations of developing new passenger rail systems through track sharing, constructing new track on freight railroad right-of-way and developing new alignments. With state agencies taking the lead on HSR corridors, access arrangements will reflect the model of negotiated access arrangements used by commuter rail agencies, many with RLBA advice and participation.

High speed rail also requires basic passenger rail planning “blocking and tackling” skills such as station location and design, service planning, equipment selection, grade crossing protection and cost and financial analysis. Those skills have been part of RLBA’s playbook for years and have been applied on behalf of intercity, commuter and light rail clients across the country.

The projects linked below offer a small sample of RLBA’s HSR planning and implementation capabilities and experience. Please contact Ken Withers, P.E. or any RLBA staff at any time to explore how RLBA could help make your project become a successful reality.

• ARIZONA HIGH SPEED RAIL PLANNING
• 3C CORRIDOR HIGH SPEED RAIL PLANNING SERVICES
• STRATEGIC ADVICE REGARDING OWNERSHIP AND OPERATION OF THE ALBANY-NEW YORK PASSENGER RAIL CORRIDOR
• KEYSTONE CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT AND BUSINESS PLAN
• RICHMOND - WASHINGTON, DC RAIL CORRIDOR STUDY