Chicago to Omaha Study

The Study

The Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study has completed the Tier 1 Final EIS that analyzes the feasibility of expanding existing passenger rail service and developing a new regional passenger rail service from Chicago, Ill., to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Neb.

Federal Railroad Administration - Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study

The purpose of this study is to:

• Evaluate potential route alternatives.
• Evaluate levels of service and ridership potential.
• Analyze potential environmental impacts.
• Determine a preferred route alternative for Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha passenger rail service.

The potential improvements would complement the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative's vision for developing an improved and expanded regional intercity passenger rail system. The completion of the study will be a major step in assessing the viability of a high-speed, regional intercity passenger rail system serving Iowa and the Midwest through this corridor. Expanding passenger rail service between Chicago and Council Bluffs-Omaha would provide decreased travel times, increased frequency of passenger rail service, and improved reliability (particularly in inclement weather) versus other travel modes.

Maps

The study area for the Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study extends approximately 500 miles from downtown Chicago to a terminal in the Council Bluffs-Omaha area. Route alternatives were evaluated based on cost, ridership potential, potential environmental impacts, and input provided by resource agencies and the public. Each route alternative evaluated is an existing or former passenger rail route.

As identified in the Tier 1 Final EIS, Route Alternative 4-A is the preferred route alternative as recommended to the FRA for the Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Study and was carried forward for further analysis in the Tier 1 Final EIS, along with the no-build alternative. Route Alternative 4-A was identified as the most reasonable route alternative for the project to carry forward for further analysis in the Tier 1 EIS.

For further information on the alternative screening process, see the Final Alternatives Analysis Report in Appendix A of the Tier 1 Final EIS.

Route alternative 4-A was carried forward for detailed evaluation because, when compared to the other route alternatives considered, it:

• Meets project purpose and need.
• Has relatively low construction complexity and relatively low construction costs.
• Has grade-crossing complexity similar to all route alternatives.
• Is the shortest route alternative.
• Has a competitive passenger-train travel time.
• Serves the largest population.
• Has the highest ridership and fare box revenue forecast.
• Has direct access to Chicago Union Station.
• Has no unreasonable environmental resource issues.

Read the Tier I Final EIS

The map highlights route alternative 4-A.

Documents

Complete Service Development Plan with appendices (57 MB) (ZIP)

• Service Development Plan
• Appendix A: 1 of 2
• Appendix A: 2 of 2
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Appendix D
• Appendix E
• Appendix F
• Appendix G
• Appendix H
• Appendix I
• Appendix J
• Appendix K
• Appendix L
• Appendix M
• Appendix N
• Appendix O
• Appendix P
• Appendix Q

ROD (Record of Decision)

Complete Final Environmental Impact Statement (ZIP)

• Executive Summary and Table of Contents
• Chapter 1 Purpose and Need
• Chapter 2 Alternatives
• Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
• Chapter 4 Comments and Coordination
• Chapter 5 Next Steps
• Chapter 6 List of Preparers
• Chapter 7 References
• Full Appendices
• Appendix A - Alternatives Analysis Report
• Appendix B - Chapter 3 Figures_pt 1 of 3
• Appendix B - Chapter 3 Figures_pt 2 of 3
• Appendix B - Chapter 3 Figures_pt 3 of 3
• Appendix C - Socioeconomic Environment
• Appendix D - Title VI and EJ
• Appendix E - Noise and Vibration
• Appendix F - Air Quality
• Appendix G - Hazardous Waste and Waste Disposal
• Appendix H - Cultural Resources
• Appendix I - Parks and Federally or State-listed Natural Areas
• Appendix J - Section 4f and 6f Properties
• Appendix K - Waterways and Water Bodies
• Appendix L - Water Quality
• Appendix M - Natural Habitats and Wildlife
• Appendix O - Agency Coordination
• Appendix P - Noise and Vibration - Interim Implementation Phase
• Appendix Q - DEIS Comments and Responses

Complete Draft Environmental Impact Statement (164MB)(ZIP)

• Executive Summary and Table of Contents
• Chapter 1 Purpose and Need
• Chapter 2 Alternatives
• Chapter 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
• Chapter 4 Comments and Coordination
• Chapter 5 Next Steps
• Chapter 6 List of Preparers
• Chapter 7 References
• Index
• Appendix A - Alternatives Analysis Report
• Appendix B - Chapter 3 Figures_pt 1 of 3
• Appendix B - Chapter 3 Figures_pt 2 of 3
• Appendix B - Chapter 3 Figures_pt 3 of 3
• Appendix C - Socioeconomic Environment
• Appendix D - Title VI and EJ
• Appendix E - Noise and Vibration
• Appendix F - Air Quality
• Appendix G - Hazardous Waste and Waste Disposal
• Appendix H - Cultural Resources
• Appendix I - Parks and Federally or State-listed Natural Areas
• Appendix L - Water Quality
• Appendix M - Natural Habitats and Wildlife
• Appendix O - Agency Coordination

Cooperating Agency Presentation 10/25/2012

Purpose and Need Statement for Public and Agency Scoping

Draft Alternatives Analysis Report

• Table of contents
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Description of the Proposed Service
• Chapter 3 Range of Route Alternatives
• Chapter 4 Screening Methodology
• Chapter 5 Coarse-Level Screening
• Chapter 6 Fine-Level Screening
• Chapter 7 Reasonable and Feasible Alternatives Carried Forward
• Chapter 8 References
• Appendix A - Fare Structure
• Appendix B - Modal Comparison Documentation
• Appendix C - Train Overtake Distance Calculations
• Appendix D - Cost Index Ranking

Final Scoping Report

• Table of contents
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Agency Scoping
• Chapter 3 Public Scoping
• Chapter 4 Tribal Scoping
• Chapter 5 Conclusions
• Appendix A - Agency Scoping Meeting Summaries and Presentation
• Appendix B - Resource Agency Early Coordination Packet and Resource Agencies
• Appendix C - Agency Correspondence
• Appendix D - Public Comment Compilation Summary
• Appendix E - Tribal Correspondence