The Mid Atlantic Rail Operations Study (MAROps) Phase I, consisting of five states in the Mid Atlantic Region (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia), three Class I Railroads (CSX, NS and Amtrak) and the I-95 Corridor Coalition Intermodal Program Track was a ground-breaking effort for the project partners and for transportation planning and analysis. The project undertook a study of rail bottlenecks in the five state region and identified 71 Capital and ITS projects that could be undertaken to improve mobility, particularly for freight, in the five state region. The work undertaken and achieved in MAROPS became nationally known, respected and admired and has been heavily publicized.

To better understand how and where the benefits from the identified projects would be achieved within the region and how the I-95 Corridor and I-95 itself are impacted, further detailed economic investigation work was required and a Phase II effort  is underway. 

Procurement Agency: ConnDOT, Maryland State Highway Administration
Project Contact:  Marygrace Parker
Freight, Mobility, Safety & Security Coordinator
I-95 Corridor Coalition
Phone: (518) 852-4083
E-mail: i95mgp@ttlc.net

Project Start:	January, 2001 (Phase I), May 2006 (Phase II)
Expected Completion:	April 2002 (Phase I), October 2009 (Phase II)

Phase I

This study was an initiative of I-95 Corridor Coalition, five Mid-Atlantic states, and three railroads to address regional transportation as a system. The study recognized the need to manage system capacity: build system-oriented institutional relationships and develop system-responsive funding strategies. The objective of this study was to identify choke points or physical points in the rail system (bridges, tunnels, track segments) that have reduced capacity and operational capabilities in comparison to the rest of the system, in the Mid-Atlantic region's rail network and develop a program to improve freight and passenger flows through those areas. 

Phase II

The objective of Phase II of MAROps is to provide further detail and explanation of the degree and extent of benefits to the MAROps States, the region, the I-95 Corridor States as well as to the remainder of the US. of efforts and accordingly for MAROps Phase II is to conduct a detailed Benefits study. This study will further quantify the benefits within the Mid-Atlantic region to more specifically establish where and what benefits may be achieved for projects as well as to quantify some of the impacts for the MAROps projects as they may accrue outside the five states. This study will further demonstrate and develop the methodology for analysis of these types of capital and ITS investments and will provide an additional framework for quantifying benefits on a more detailed level.

View PDF file of Scope of Phase I (8-1H and 12-5C).

Phase I: To address these choke points, the I 95 Coalition, the participating states, and the participating railroads worked closely and cooperatively in a process that crossed jurisdictional, modal, and public-private boundaries. Together, they developed a consensus program of 71 infrastructure and information-technology improvements to be implemented over 20 years. The initial order-of-magnitude cost estimate for the improvements (not based on detailed engineering) is $6.2 billion.

The proposed improvements cover all five Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia, and they address both passenger and freight needs. The improvements are described in the final report by state. The improvements are grouped according to the length of time it will take to implement them: near-term projects that can be completed within five years; medium-term projects that can be completed within 10 years; and long-term projects that can be completed within 20 years.

The improvements identified in the MAROps Phase I report cover all five Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia and are grouped according to the length of time it will take to implement them. Planning, design, and initial funding of some of the near-term improvements are already underway by the states and railroads.

Phase I - 137,500 (Year 8)

Phase II - $375,000 in total project costs.

$125,000 in Coalition funds (Year 12)

$250,000 in state pooled funds*

*The 5 States (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland Delaware and Virginia) have contributeed $250,000 in a Pooled Fund Study as a match for this project. This match is shown as a year 14 project (14-5C).