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ADVANCED CORRIDOR PLANNING <br />GUIDELINES <br /> <br />The purpose ofthis <br />section is to pro, de <br />guidelines to ensure <br />consistency during l~e <br />planning, design, <br />procurement, <br />construction and <br />operation of commuter <br />rail improvements. <br /> <br />4.1 Planning Guidelines <br /> <br />System E. xpansion and Modal Inteqration <br /> <br />In the development of linear transportation corridors, there often exists an opportunity to <br />construct the corridor in segments based on criteria such as funding availability, right-of- <br />way availability, completion of environmental mitigation measures and facility need. A <br />review of the corridors contained in the System Plan may identify opportunities to stage <br />construction of these corridors. <br /> <br />While this issue was examined in the Twin Cities Commuter Rail Feasibility Study, further <br />developments and concepts for the System Plan corridors have lengthened the corridors <br />and possibly presented new opportunities for staging. <br /> <br />The decision regarding when and where to make system expansions will be based on <br />four criteria: <br /> <br />1. Service to major travel generators. System expansions, either line extensions or <br /> station additions, will be staged to provide service to significant trip generators. <br /> <br />Cost effectiveness. It is expected that the end of each commuter rail line will be <br />served by a system of feeder busses that expand the travetshed of that line. When <br />the cost of providing that feeder bus service and the potential for even greater <br />ridership on an extended line exceed the cost of the tine extension, the extension will <br />be considered cost-effective. <br /> <br />Community support. The potential of a particular commuter rail project may be <br />enhanced by the level of financial support offered by interested and affected parties <br />to the project. When this criteria is applied, the total cost of a project must be <br />considered, including capital cost and lifetime operating and maintenance cost. <br /> <br />Policy considerations. The extension of an existing commuter rail line may also be <br />justified by policy considerations. For example, it may be determined that the <br />economic well being of the region or state would be enhanced by providing <br />commuter rail service to a major metropolitan area. <br /> <br />Commuter Rail System Plan 4-1 <br /> <br /> <br />