Post date: Jun 01, 2021 5:39:22 PM
AR010 Passenger Rail Research Needs Statements
Note: Entered into RNS 5/20/2021
Topic 1: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) for Delivering New and Expanded Intercity Passenger Rail Service
Public agencies may partner with rail service providers and infrastructure owner operators to allow the private sector to propose new passenger rail concepts, innovative business models, creative financing to deploy new and expand existing rail systems. Although P3s can take many forms, rail partnerships have the potential to share risk, innovate the delivery of rail capital projects, and allow the public sector to magnify the impact of limited fiscal resources. The goal of this research topic is to:
● Research the role of P3s for the innovative delivery of new or extension of existing intercity passenger rail services (e.g., innovative financing, special purpose acquisition companies, shared rights-of-way, joint development, air rights, etc.);
● Risk sharing models, opportunities, and challenges for the private sector to bridge funding gaps in publicly-sponsored intercity rail projects;
● Identify legal and regulatory changes required to support and/or advance intercity passenger rail P3s;
● Identify policies or practices that could enhance rail transit readiness for P3s;
● Inventory case studies of successful intercity passenger rail P3s; and
● Examine public sector policies that may support or impede intercity passenger rail P3s
The results of this research shall include the development of:
1) A framework that explores different P3 models, such as design-build-finance-operate-maintain, long-term leases with private firms to operate a public rail system, business deals such as naming rights, and other strategies; and
2) A primer/guidebook that identifies successful intercity passenger rail P3s and other innovative methods of delivering new or enhanced passenger rail service.
Topic 2: Understanding Passenger Rail Demand Post-COVID
COVID-19 is causing changes in travel behavior and residential location decisions, driven in large part by the new flexibility offered by telework. Understanding these changes are key because this could impact mode shift, traveler behavior, and location decisions as Americans commute less and possibly work farther from urban job centers. The goal of this research topic is to:
● Identify methods, models, and/or forecasts for estimating passenger rail demand post-COVID;
● Develop new methods and/or practices for identifying intercity passenger rail routes and services;
● Research and discuss how transformative technologies, such as vehicle electrification and low-emission aircraft may impact the cost and attractiveness of substitutes for intercity passenger rail that could impact rail demand;
● Understand price and mode choice decision-making between rail, driving, and flying; and
● Identify policies, risks, and externalities that could impact the supply and demand sides of intercity passenger rail, such as road use charge, cap-and-trade, low-carbon fuel standards, zero-emission mandates, and others that could influence intercity mode choice.