Anderson Muncie Commuter Rail Coalition

There are a number of metropolitan areas across the nation that have or are developing effective regional transit systems. This site page will provide a series of brief comparisons of transit systems in regions similar in population to Indianapolis. 

Albuquerque

The Albuquerque and Indianapolis Metropolitan Areas: A Brief Comparison


       Indianapolis and Albuquerque are different in many ways, but in both areas there is an interest in commuter rail systems. The New Mexico Rail Runner has been operating for over two years and the rail line is being expanded to serve the state capital, Santa Fe. The 2007 population of New Mexico is estimated to be 1,969,915.   This represents an 8.3% increase since the 2000 census.  Indiana by contrast has 6,313,500 people. New Mexico has 33 counties versus 92 counties in Indiana. The economy of New Mexico continues to grow with the Federal government being one of the largest employers. The Federal government spends about two dollars for each dollar collected from taxpayers in the state. Approximately one quarter of all the jobs in the state are with the federal government. Many of these positions are high paying in science and development related to nuclear weapons, energy and space research.  Albuquerque like Indianapolis is the strongest center for economic development in the state. Major employers include Sandia Labs, Kirkland AFB, and the University of New Mexico. Tourism is also very important for the state and for the Albuquerque and Santa Fe regions.

       Indianapolis and Albuquerque are the two largest metropolitan regions in each state. The population of the Albuquerque metropolitan area is 838,120 with the central city population being 518, 271.  An included city is that of Rio Rancho, now experiencing some of the fastest growth in the country. By comparison, the Indianapolis-Carmel metropolitan area grew 10% since the year 2000 to a total of 1,695,037.   Population growth and sprawl continue in both metropolitan areas. Much of the growth in Albuquerque is to the west and north, being restricted by the Sandia mountains to the east and federal installations to the south. 

       When the Santa Fe-Espanola combined statistical area is added to that of the Albuquerque region, the population totals 1,018,902.  Santa Fe is 58 miles from Albuquerque. This distance compares with the 62 miles separating Muncie from Indianapolis and the distance of 50 miles to Bloomington. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express started service in July 2006 and has carried a total of one million riders over its first two years. Service is provided from the town of Belen to the south of Albuquerque as well as to Bernalillo and Santa Fe to the north. Construction was completed along the median corridor of Interstate 25 and then along a freight railroad line into Santa Fe. The line to Santa Fe has been operating since December 2008.  

       Important organizations in the development and operation of the New Mexico Rail Rail Runner Express include the Mid-Region Council of Governments, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the Mid-Region Transit District.  The Mid Region Council of Governments includes four counties. It works closely with the Rural Transportation Planning Organization and with the Metropolitan Planning Organization in the urban core. The Mid Region Council of Governments manages the Rail Runner Express.   The Mid Region Transit District was created under state law to form the legal structure for operating the transit system under a board of directors and CEO. The District is also known as Rio Metro. Currently the District membership includes four counties and seven municipalities. Capital costs for the initial project totaled 135 million, with 125 million coming form the state, and 10 million from Sandoval County for an additional train set and station development.  Phase two of the project extending the track to Santa Fe will cost an additional 240-255 million. The Mid Region Council of Governments and the New Mexico DOT were responsible for negotiating with the BNSF Railroad and for acquiring locomotives and cars, parking lots, train platforms, maintenance facilities and for designing the service.   Local governments are responsible for platform locations, community input, and insuring that the commuter rail system is well integrated into the local community and local economy. Currently The operating subsidy is provided by the State. A 1/8 of one percent sales tax is proposed to fund operating expenses in those counties served. It will be on the ballot this November in all four counties.

 Austin

                Austin, Texas and its Growing Commitment to Public Transit  

          Austin is the capital of Texas.  In terms of population, the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Austin-Round Rock has some interesting similarities to Indianapolis and to the Central Indiana Region.  The Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is home to 1.6 million people compared to 1.7 million in the Indianapolis-Carmel MSA. The population of the Austin area has experienced a somewhat faster growth of 27.8% since the year 2000 while Indianapolis-Carmel is up only 11% over the same period.  Austin is located on the busy I-35 corridor and is 79 miles north of San Antonio and 194 miles south of Dallas.  The City of Austin with 743,074 persons had the distinction of being the third fastest growing large city in the nation from 2000-2006. The City is home to the University of Texas and to a concentration high-tech companies and defense related industries as well as to many state government and federal offices. It is home to two Fortune 500 companies, Dell and Whole Foods Market.  Austin is also emerging as a hub for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with over 85 firms located there.  Interestingly, Austin’s official slogan also promotes itself as  “The Live Music Capital of the World.”  The cultural and economic environment help make Austin very attractive to a younger highly educated work force. A downtown rejuvenation continues with a number of new high-rise condominiums and mixed-use residential areas as well as parks and museums located along Austin’s riverfront.

           The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) provides public transportation to the city by bus and in early 2009, by light rail.  It is also planning “Rapid Lines” high tech train-like buses on several lines. These articulated vehicles will be over 60 feet long and will activate coordinated traffic signals for faster service.  A thirty-two mile long light rail line to the Northwest will open in spring 2010 as far as Leander. Future expansion could include a line to Manor and to another to Round Rock. Capital Metro is also looking at a circulator system of downtown streetcars to connect most of the business district, the University of Texas and the Mueller Airport re-development. Commuter rail is also being considered on several routes including segments of the Amtrak route south to San Antonio.  

             Capital Metro was established in 1985 when voters in Austin and the surrounding communities approved its creation and a one percent sales tax to provide funding. Ten capital area communities voted to participate. The District covers parts of Travis County and Williamson County. Capital Metro works closely with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization also known as CAMPO.

            Capital Metro and the Austin community have worked together to implement the “All Systems Go” long range transit plan to help alleviate traffic congestion and meet the needs of the rapidly growing region. It includes plans for passenger rail service, expanded local and express bus service to augment the over 400 regular transit buses in service, new and improved park and ride facilities and rapid bus service. Bus fares in the region are low but will increase to 75 cents from the current 50 cents a ride. 

             Capital Metro operates over 152 fixed routes in the region along with MetroAccess Paratransit Service for eligible persons with disabilities. The Rideshare program currently has 145 active vanpools/carpools, 14 of which use hybrid electric-gas sedans. There are also 20 fixed shuttle routes for University of Texas students. Students of the Austin Independent School District attending magnet schools are provided rides under the AISD Service.  There is also suburban bus service to area communities while the MetroRail Red Line to Leander will begin service in March 2009.  Capital Metro is projecting that it will provide 138,000 rides each weekday with an annual ridership of  over 36 million.

               The operating budget for Capital Metro will total $ 182.6 million in 2009.  Approximately 161 million of that comes from a 1% sales tax.  Capital costs for the rail line to Leander are about 90 million dollars.  Capital Metro’s “ All Systems Go” plan is a bold initiative for transit in the Austin, Texas Region.         
 

 Charlotte

    A Tale of Two Regions: Charlotte and Indianapolis
 
 
   In an effort to provide a comparison of public transit systems in two growing metropolitan regions, I selected Charlotte, North Carolina and Indianapolis.  The 2007 population of North Carolina was 8,856,000 while that of Indiana was approximately  6,313,500.  North Carolina has 100 counties while Indiana has 92.  North Carolina has 14 fortune 500 companies with 9 of these in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Indiana has 4 Fortune 500 companies with 3 of these in the Indianapolis-Carmel- Columbus area. North  Carolina has experienced a  great loss of  jobs in the textile industry over the past half century.  In recent years, the Charlotte region has rebounded and has become the second leading financial services center behind New York City in addition to diversified manufacturing and motor sports.  Similarly Indiana has lost many jobs in manufacturing especially in automotive parts while experiencing increased employment from a more diversified economic base. Indianapolis in particular is gaining a reputation in goods distribution, health services, bio-technology,amateur sports and education.

      Indianapolis and Charlotte are the two largest metropolitan regions in each state.  The population of the Charlotte-Gastonia–Concord metropolitan statistical area  in North Carolina increased 19.4 % since 2000 to a total of 1, 651,568 in 2007, with some of this growth in the neighboring counties of South Carolina. By comparison, the Indianapolis-Carmel metropolitan area grew 10% since 2000 to a population total of  1, 695, 037 by 2007.  Charlotte and Indianapolis also are somewhat unique in that both have  consolidated city/county governments. Indianapolis-Marion County is consolidated as is Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.  Population growth continues in the surrounding counties, making each a regional leader and major growth center for their respective states.

     The combined Charlotte- Gastonia-Salisbury statistical area has today over 2, 277,000 people in both North and South Carolina. Most of the North Carolina population is in the 9 county area served by the state-designated regional organization called the Centralina Council of Goverments, in existence for over 40 years.  There are 17 such Councils of Government in North Carolina. Each provides a continuing forum for local governments to address current problems and future needs.     

     The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) calls itself the largest transit system between Washington and Atlanta.  It is operated by the Public Transit Department of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Government. “The Department maintains a dual focus, managing and improving day-to-day operations of the City’s transit system while moving swiftly ahead with planning for a regional transit system which will include bus rapid transit, light rail, commuter rail and expanded bus service within a six county area.” CATS currently serves six suburban towns surrounding Charlotte as well as to cities and towns in four other counties.  One of these is Rock Hill in York County, is in South Carolina. Transit and paratransit  services include bus and van pool transportation. Long term planning of CATS as a regional system was based on a July 1998 “2025 Integrated Transit/Land use plan for Charlotte-Mecklenburg” with significant participation by six suburban towns. The citizens of Mecklenburg County approved a one-half cent sales tax to be used to finance public transportation systems. The city, county and six towns negotiated and signed a transit governance interlocal agreement Four additional transit corridors are being planned.  The Lynx light rail system was opened this past year.  

      The Indianapolis Metropolitan Statistical Area  currently encompasses 10 counties including Boone, Brown, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, Putnam and Shelby.  The Indianapolis Combined Statistical Area would add the Anderson and Columbus MSAs to increase the total population to approximately two million. If Muncie and Bloomington areas are included as well, the total population approaches 2,300,000.  This is the number that the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) could ultimately be involved in serving.  If the Charlotte experience is to provide a useful model, one aspect is that transit planning and land use development need to be closely coordinated.  With the recent selection of a transportation corridor between Indianapolis and Noblesville and anticipated decisions on a transit mode, the next few months will be a time of great challenge and opportunity for CIRTA.  An effective regional public transportation system including mass transit is essential for the Central Indiana Region to enhance its competitiveness in the intense competion for jobs and economic growth.  Central Indiana is indeed in competition with metropolitan regions through out the United States and around the world.            
 

Minneapolis-St. Paul
 
The Minneapolis-St. Paul- St. Cloud Consolidated metropolitan area has a current population of 3.5 million people and includes fifteen Minnesota counties along with two counties in Wisconsin. This is the 13th most populous in the nation. Minneapolis was once the flour-milling center of the nation and a hub for the timber Industry. St. Paul is the state capital. Today the region has transformed itself from a rust-belt center to a highly diversified high tech economy. Five Fortune 500 companies located in Minneapolis include Target, U.S.Bancorp, Xcel Enery, Ameriprise Financial and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  Other major employers include the University of Minnesota, nationally ranked health care institutions and Northwest Airlines, now part of Delta. Wi-Fi is available throughout much of region and the Kiplinger Poll of Smart Places to Live ranked the Twin-Cities second in the nation in 2006. The region is second only to New York in live theater per capita and is the third largest theater market in the country. There are many parks, greenways and recreational facilities throughout the region and several are interlinked with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.  There are also seven miles of enclosed pedestrian bridges called skyways linking eighty city blocks in downtown Minneapolis. 

        Public transportation is operated by the Metropolitan Council’s Metro Transit which operates light rail and most of the regions buses. The existing Hiawatha light rail line provides service from downtown Minneapolis to suburban Bloomington in the south and the Mall of America.  A new commuter rail line will begin service in late 2009 to Big Lake, approximately forty miles north of Minneapolis. This is part of a corridor that will provide planned service to St. Cloud, another 42 miles further north. This 82 mile corridor will have a population of 850,000 people by 2025.
        
          The NorthStar Commuter Rail line will form the northern leg of a fifty one mile transit corridor that will together with Metro Transit’s Hiawatha will give commuters fast, affordable service from Big Lake to Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport and the Mall of America.  The  Northstar Commuter rail line represents a culmination of a twelve year effort which began in 1997. In that year, 30 counties, cities, townships and regional rail authorities created the joint powers board known as the Northstar Corridor Development Authority.  It will operate commuter trains over BNSF railroad tracks that have been up-graded to allow a maximum speed of 79 miles per hour.  When NorthStar commuter rail begins late in 2009, it will be part of Metro Transit’s regional service network.

           The  capital costs for the NorthStar Commuter Rail will be shared by the federal, state, and local governments.  The Federal share is 161 million while the State of Minnesota put in 98 million.  The three counties through which the line travels contributed 51 million while the Metropolitan Council put in 5.9 million. In perhaps a first for mass transit, the Minnesota Twins sports team contributed 2.6 million. There will be six stations along the route and initially there will be six roundtrips each weekday. Weekend service is planned. Estimated daily ridership for 2010 is 4110 people.      

Nashville Tennessee Metropolitan Region

          The Nashville Tennessee metropolitan region is home to the “Music City Star” commuter train.  The combined statistical area of Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Columbia encompasses 13 counties and was home to 1,632,600 people in 2007.  The area grew in population some 15.3% since the year 2000.  The population is slightly smaller than the Indianapolis-Anderson-Columbus region whose population totaled 2,035,327 in 2007. 

            Similar to Indianapolis, Nashville-Davidson County is an early example of city-county consolidation which took place there in 1963. Also like Indianapolis, Nashville is the state capital.  While Nashville’s population today is 619,626, it is part of a growing vibrant region. Known for many years as the county music capital, music remains a major industry. The largest industry however is health care. There are over 250 health care companies throughout the region employing some 94,000 people and contributing 18.3 billion dollars to the economy. The largest company is HCA formerly known as Hospital Corporation of America.  There is also a significant number of Japanese owned automotive parts plants to supply a large Nissan assembly plant.  Fortune 500 companies include HCA, Dell and Dollar General. Several large Protestant churches have their headquarters in Nashville and include the United Methodists, The Southern Baptists as well as the National Baptists.  There is also a very large university community with dozens of post secondary institutions within 30 miles. It is estimated that over 74,000 students are enrolled at public and private institutions the best known of which include Vanderbilt and Tennessee State along with Fisk.  Music, architecture, and Civil War history also contribute to the culture.

              Highway transportation is critical to the commerce of the Nashville region which is served by three interstates. The CSX railroad has a major presence. The Nashville International Airport is located to the east of the City not far off of Interstate 40. The Metropolitan Transit Authority now operates the Music City Star commuter train which runs about 30 miles east from Nashville to Lebanon, Tennessee. It began service in 2006 and is the first of possibly seven lines radiating out from downtown Nashville. Feasibility studies are underway for service to Murfreesboro and Gallatin. The Music City Star uses refurbished double-decked commuter cars from Chicago Metra and former Amtrak locomotives. The Metropolitan Transit Authority recently completed a new downtown hub in Nashville and is considering bus rapid transit on some lines as well. There are five or six roundtrips Monday through Friday on the Music City Star with no weekend service. The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority took over management of the Music City Star and all suburban bus lines along with vanpool services on December 1, 2008.  Ridership on the Music City Star is around 700 passengers per day.                 
    
 

Salt Lake City

     Salt Lake City and Indianapolis Combined Statistical Areas: A Brief Comparison
 
        The Salt Lake City region has seen a rapid expansion of mass transit capacity in recent years and can provide a useful comparison as Indianapolis moves ahead in its efforts toward an expanded transit and light rail system.  Salt Lake has an expanding light rail system, commuter rail called the “Front Runner” and extensive bus service from Ogden 38 miles to the north of Salt lake City to communities many miles south. All of these are under the jurisdiction of the Utah Transit Authority. 

          Both Salt Lake City and Indianapolis are their respective state capitals and serve as major transportation hubs for their states.  The Salt Lake-Ogden-Clearfield combined statistical area had an estimated population of 1,686,703 in 2007. This is an increase of approximately14.8 % since the year 2000. The Indianapolis-Anderson-Columbus combined statistical area population was estimated at 2,014,267 in 2007, an increase of 9.25% since the year 2000.  Both metropolitan regions are the economic centers of their respective states. Interstate highways and railroads have a major presence in both. Salt Lake City is nicknamed the “Crossroads of the West” due in part to its location on the Western slopes of the Rockies. It is a major division point for rail traffic moving on two Union Pacific lines from the East and three lines radiating out toward Los Angeles-Long Beach, San Francisco-Oakland as well as to Portland and Seattle in the Pacific Northwest. It is increasingly service oriented although mining and oil refineries are important part of the economy. Major employers are the University of Utah, Sinclair Oil,  The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, Zion Bank Corporation , E-Bay and 3-M. Tourism has always been a part of the economy and one that gained a significant boost from the Winter Olympics of 2002. Federal support for the light rail development also came at the same time.  The transit development was seen as an important factor in the revitalization of downtown Salt Lake City and the significant increase in apartments and townhouses.

           The Utah Transit Authority was founded in 1970 under the Utah Public Transit District Act passed by the state legislature the preceding year. According to its mission statement, the “Utah Transit Authority strengthens and connects communities enabling individuals to pursue a fuller life with greater ease and convenience by leading through partnering, planning and wise investment of physical, economic and human resources.”  The UTA service area today is over 1400 square miles and covers six counties: Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah and Weber. The Utah Transit is governed by a 16- member board of trustees that continually directs agency staff to improve transit along the Wasatch Front. Trustees are appointed by city and county governments that fund UTA with a local option sales tax. Local elected officials may serve on the UTA Board, and one seat is reserved for the Utah Department of Transportation (ex-officio).

            According to the UTA website, Utah will see its population increase by an estimated million people by 2030, with most of them living along the already crowed Wasatch Front. Because travel demand was increasing at 4% a year, local elected officials in 2004 voted to accelerate the UTA’s 2030 long range transportation plan and complete 70 miles of light rail and commuter rail by 2015. Voters in Salt Lake and Utah Counties approved a quarter cent sales tax increase in 2006.  The project provides funding for five lines including Front Runner commuter rail from Salt Lake to Provo, light rail to the airport, a West Valley City line and a line to Draper and a Mid-Jordan light rail line. After some initial concerns before the first light rail line opened in Salt Lake City, residents of the region have shown very enthusiastic support in recent years. The six county region served by UTA compares with the eleven county region which makes up the Indianapolis Combined Statistical Area.  If Delaware county were to be added, the number of counties increases to twelve.   The current membership of CIRTA includes the nine counties of Boone, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendrix, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan and Shelby. As support grows for transportation alternatives within the Indianapolis region, it is possible that Bartholomew, Delaware and Putnam counties could be added.

Seattle Washington Metropolitan Area

       The four county metropolitan region centered on Seattle is the home of over four million people. When we refer to the Pacific Northwest, Seattle comes to mind as a port city and economic hub.  What began as the terminus for many western railroads and a center for the timber industry, Seattle has grown into a thriving metropolitan region serving as a home to Microsoft, Boeing and a host of major military installations for the Army, Navy and Airforce. The information technology sector alone includes some 3000 companies in the region with a total of 191,000 employees.  The fisheries exports from Washington State exceed in value and weight the total of such exports from all other U.S. states.  With the University of Washington and many other educational institutions, the region continues its prominence as a leading educational center.  Stretching from Everett in the North to Tacoma in the South, the region anchors the Pacific Northwest. The Puget Sound is a tourist attraction and a resource of great beauty and wealth with many communities growing up on islands and on the Western Shore. It is for this reason that the State of Washington is involved in supporting and operating one of the largest fleets of ferryboats in the world. For many, public transportation has come to include ferry service for those who live along the shore of the Puget Sound and on the Olympic Peninsula.  

       The Seattle area has long supported good bus transportation starting with electric trolley buses in the 1940s. Today Sound Transit is the public transportation operator in the region. It was established in 1990 as the Central Puget Sound Regional Transportation Authority by the Washington legislature. Sound Transit provides improved access to HOV lanes, transit facilities, express buses, light rail as well as commuter rail. Over 55,000 riders utilize Sound Transit every weekday. The 2009 budget for Sound Transit is
$ 525,087,216.

       With increasing congestion along the regions streets, highways and Interstates, the Sounder Commuter Rail service was started in 2000 from Seattle southward to Tacoma and in 2003 north to Everett. Serving King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, the Sounder trains travel over 82 miles of track. There are nine round trips Monday through Friday from Seattle to Tacoma and four round trips from Everett to Seattle. In addition, commuters with monthly passes can ride on two Amtrak Cascade trains daily in each direction from Everett to Seattle. Service is provided by the BNSF railroad and any increase in the number of trains will require a renegotiated contract with the railroad.  The commuter rail service north and south from King Street Station in Seattle is very popular and has had an outstanding on time performance record of over 98% in each of the past two years. Sounder Commuter Rail carries over 9760 passengers each day. A Sound Transit citizen oversight panel provides additional input from riders and from the general public 

       In addition to commuter rail, express buses and regular bus service, Sound Transit operates two light rail lines.  There is a light rail line in Tacoma and a Central Link service from downtown Seattle south to the SeaTac International Airport. Frequent service is provided on both lines seven days a week.     

Florida Regional Transportation Authority

             Tri-Rail is the commuter rail operation of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. Tri-Rail operates on 76 miles from track through densely populated South Florida from Miami Airport to West Palm Beach. It parallels I-95 over most of the route and traverses the three counties of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Major population centers include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and West Palm Beach. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton metropolitan areas have a combined population of 5.4 million people. While tourism is a mainstay in much the South Florida economy, the region is the home to many retirees as well as a strong economy with significant shipping, finance and education.  There are sixteen universities across the region and three international airports. The airports combined arrivals and departures make it the fourth largest market in the United States.

             Tri-Rail just celebrated 20 years of operation and recorded a record 4.2 million riders over the past year.  Currently there are 50 commuter trains each weekday along with 4 Amtrak trains and ten CSX freight trains that operate largely at night. Tri-Rail owns the roadbed over which it operates and has double-tracked the entire route over the past decade. CSX maintains the track and signals while Tri-Rail operating crews and security are employees of a private contractor.  The transportation authority coordinates the county bus systems which provide service at station stops. There are several joint stations also serving Amtrak and at another station, passengers can transfer directly to Miami’s Metro-Rail rapid transit. The transportation authority was created by legislation in 2003. Unfortunately the state of Florida did not provide for a stable funding arrangement so Tri-Rail is still dependent on county appropriations.  This has caused considerable difficultly in these difficult times even though daily ridership has reached record levels. Ultimately, a strong region-wide tax base will need to be established.