This document proposes revitalizing passenger rail service on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to reduce traffic congestion and emissions. It analyzes establishing two rail lines: a "Casino Train" running east-west along existing CSX tracks, and a "Beach Train" running north-south along existing KCS tracks. A life-cycle cost-benefit analysis finds both lines would reach breakeven within 6-7 years considering direct revenues. Both lines would reduce annual CO2 emissions by over 1,000 tons each and create over 500 jobs. The document calls for implementing the rail lines to provide sustainable transportation, boost the regional economy, and aid coastal evacuation during hurricanes.

1. @drwaheeduddin 1

2. Economic Viability and Environmental
Sustainability Dimensions of Passenger Rail
Service Integration for Commuter and
Casino Traffic on the Gulf Coast
A Proposal to Serve Gulf Coast Communities,
Enhance Local Economy, and Create Jobs
Waheed Uddin, PhD, PE
Seth Cobb, Graduate Student
University of Mississippi
@drwaheeduddin
October 2014

3. Dr. Patrick Sherry, NCIT Director, University of Denver
Waheed Uddin, PhD, PE
Professor and Director CAIT
http://www.olemiss.edu/projects/cait/ncitec/
The University of Mississippi
@drwaheeduddin
3Dr. Burak Eksioglu, Clemson University, South Carolina
http://www.ncitec.msstate.edu/home/executive-committee/

4. • The Mississippi DOT’s strategic planning
MULTIPLAN report indicate that most of Interstate-
10 corridor has average speeds (in both directions) at
or below 55 mph (88 kmph).
• The high commercial traffic volume increases
congestion on highways, safety risks to other auto
commuter traffic, and vehicular emissions.
• Significant traffic volume from within Coastal
counties on I-10 and US-90.
Current Mobility Problems on
Mississippi Gulf Coast
@drwaheeduddin 4

5. Passenger Rail reduces number of cars on roads
plus less driving miles per year per car
Solution: Mass Transit Modes
Intermodal integration increases rail share, frees lane
space and reduces:
o Congestion on roads and incidents
o Congestion related wastage of fuel
o Crashes and Stress on commuters
o Harmful air pollutants (CO, PM, NOx and Ozone)
o CO2 and GHG emissions
@drwaheeduddin 5

6. Gulf Coast
Passenger Rail
Southwest Chief
Passenger Rail
Stopped after 2005
Hurricane Katrina@drwaheeduddin 6

7. Amtrak Sunset service served the Gulf Coast triweekly before
it was suspended after 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster.
@drwaheeduddin 7
Amtrak Sunset Service from
Florida to California

8. Environmental Degradation and Public Health
Impacts of Transportation Modes
254 million road transport vehicles in U.S.
Modal comparison of passenger transport emissions
Credit: European Environment Agency/Allianz, SE
2.7 times less CO2 emission and 200 less cars on roads
@drwaheeduddin 8

9. Existing Transportation Infrastructure on
Mississippi Gulf Coast Map
I-10 and US90 East – West; US49 North – South
@drwaheeduddin 9

10. Total I-10 & US-90 Daily
Traffic Volume: 46,247
West of Mississippi
Total I-10 &
US-90 Daily
Traffic
Volume:
49,690
East of
Mississippi
@drwaheeduddin 10

11. • Before and after rail service studies
o Traffic volume demand and through traffic on
Gulf Coast highways (Estimated 46 -49 thousand daily
traffic volume East and West borders)
o In-county commuter trips and auto traffic
volume (Total 364,993 daily vehicle trips in three Gulf Coast counties)
o Ridership estimation for rail service (About 10%
vehicle trips or up to 34,000 vehicle users in these counties)
o Revenue & economic development impacts
(concessions at rail stations, jobs created due to revived rail
service and integration with other local transport modes such as
transit or privately owned short haul shuttle transport services).
Solution: Revitalization of Passenger Rail Service
@drwaheeduddin 11

12. Rail Alternatives for Mississippi Gulf Coast
Seattle Monorail
• Tram/Street Car – No; reduces
capacity & occupies lanes on highways
• BRT – Not suitable; reduces capacity &
occupies lanes on highways
• LRT – Not suitable; reduces capacity &
occupies lanes on highways; high cost
• Elevated Monorail – No;
high capital costs
@drwaheeduddin 12
Cleveland BRT

13. 13
Rail Alternatives for Mississippi Gulf Coast
• Commuter Rail – Yes; on existing rail lines
and serving as intercity rail for rural cities
Denver Commuter Rail
Luxemburg Intercity/Commuter Rail
To serve all coastal cities in Mississippi
from Mobile to New Orleans

14. • Comprehensive Value Engineering (VE) and
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
o Capital improvement cost; shared use of rail tracks
o Annual operational and maintenance costs
o Annual revenues (fare, advertisement, sales tax for
city/county, city and state gaming tax)
o Other quantifiable benefits
(safety of casino patrons, reduced congestion, less
pollution and associated public health costs, reduction
in carbon emissions; more patrons/visitors)
• Economic impact analysis also considers fuel savings by car
owners and additional external benefits of jobs creation/saving,
employer participation, and transit connectivity.
Revitalization of Passenger Rail Service
@drwaheeduddin 14

15. Proposed Commuter Rail Lines:
Casino Train E-W and Beach Train N-S
15
Casino Train
E-W
Beach Train N-S

16. Value Engineering and Life Cycle Benefit-cost
Economic Analysis of Gulf Coast Rail Lines
NCITEC 2013-33: Mississippi Gulf Coast Rail Restoration Study
(Life Cycle Economic Analysis Assuming 5% Annual Discount Rate)
Rail Alternative Commuter Rail E-W Commuter Rail N-S
CL Length; Track 200 km; CSX rail track 110 km; ; KCS rail track
Rail Infrastructure 6 train stocks; 10 stations 4 train stocks; 3 stations
Initial Infrastructure Cost $335.2 Million $226.9 Million
Riders per Day 20,000 10,000
Present Worth Cost-Benefit Analysis Cost Benefit Cost Benefit
* See next slide for detailed present worth benefit cost analysis
Breakeven Year
(considering only direct revenues)
Within 6 years Within 7 years
@drwaheeduddin 16

17. Value Engineering and Life Cycle Benefit-cost
Economic Analysis of Gulf Coast Rail Lines
NCITEC 2013-33: Mississippi Gulf Coast Rail Restoration Study
(Life Cycle Economic Analysis Assuming 5% Annual Discount Rate)
Rail Alternative Commuter Rail E-W Commuter Rail N-S
CL Length; Track 200 km; CSX rail track 110 km; ; KCS rail track
Present Worth Cost-Benefit Analysis Cost Benefit Cost Benefit
1-Year Present Worth Analysis, $ Million 344 344 230 247.1
5-Year Present Worth Analysis, $ Million 375 1,489 247 1,030
10-Year Present Worth Analysis, $ Million 407 2,656 263 2,110
20-Year Present Worth Analysis, $ Million 450 4,287 286 2,907
50-Year Present Worth Analysis, $ Million 504 6,279 313 5,049
Breakeven Year Year 1 Year 1
(considering all revenue sources, fuel saving, and economic benefits)
Benefit/Cost Ratio 1.0 1.1
Breakeven Year
(considering only direct revenues)
Within 6 years Within 7 years
@drwaheeduddin 17
* Continued from previous slide for detailed present worth benefit cost analysis

18. Value Engineering and Life Cycle Benefit-cost
Economic Analysis of Gulf Coast Rail Lines
NCITEC 2013-33: Mississippi Gulf Coast Rail Restoration Study
(Life Cycle Economic Analysis Assuming 5% Annual Discount Rate)
Rail Alternative Commuter Rail E-W Commuter Rail N-S
CL Length; Track 200 km; CSX rail track 110 km; ; KCS rail track
Initial Infrastructure Cost $335.2 Million $226.9 Million
Riders per Day 20,000 10,000
Breakeven Year (considering only direct revenues) Within 6 years Within 7 years
CO2 Emission reduction
(due to less cars on highways):
2,397 Tons per Year 1,253 Tons per Year
Added Sales Tax Revenue Assumed: Annual 5% Annual 2.5%
Annual 10% Added Casino Patrons & Visitors/Tourists: 1.48 Million (boost to state economy)
Total Jobs created from commuter rails: 500 (added economic benefits)
@drwaheeduddin 18
Data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2012;
National Transit Database; Mississippi DOT
* Continued from previous slide for life cycle analysis of Societal impacts

19. Highlights of Gulf Coast Commuter Rail Revival
Call to Action
 “Casino Train” in E-W corridor
of the existing CSX rail from
New Orleans to Mobile
 “Beach Train” in N-S corridor
of the existing KCS rail from
Hattiesburg to Gulfport
 Sustainable mobility for up to 34,000
vehicle users
 Service for coastal residents to
employers in north
 Reduction in traffic congestion on I-10
& US-90
 Reduction in emissions and public
health hazards
 Safe travel alternatives for casino
patrons from within the coastal
counties, New Orleans, and Mobile
 Safe mass evacuation of coastal
communities in case of a coastal
hurricane disaster
 Increase of 1.48 million casino patrons
& revenue each year
 Total 500 new jobs and boost to
regional economy
@drwaheeduddin 19
“Casino Train” “Beach Train”
http://www.olemiss.edu/projects/cait/ncitec/NCITEC-WhitePaper-GC.pdf

20. Opportunities for ITS & Energy Harvesting
Implementation For Commuter Rail Lines
• Real-time Video Surveillance
– Rail Tracks, Stations, Trains
• Traveler’s Information System & Messages
• Wi-Fi Availability
– Cost included in “fare”
• Energy Harvesting
– Piezoelectric sensors on
tracks
• Coastal Evacuation
– Mississippi DOT and
Mississippi Emergency Authority
@drwaheeduddin 20

21. @drwaheeduddin 21
White Paper Report available from CAIT-NCITEC web site or by contacting Dr. W. Uddin.