The Project

The Corridor One project consists of the development of regional rail service within the Corridor One area -- between Harrisburg and Lancaster -- as an alternative to passenger vehicle travel to reach employment and destination areas within the corridor.

The regional rail service would use existing or improved tracks for the entire length of the corridor; no expansion of the existing rail corridor right-of-way is proposed.

The project would provide regional rail service to five stations between Harrisburg and Lancaster, PA.

• Harrisburg Transportation Center (HTC)
• Middletown
• Elizabethtown
• Mount Joy
• Lancaster

Additional stops may be available at the Harrisburg International Airport, and at a new, privately-funded station west of Lancaster in the future.

Purpose

The purpose of the Corridor One project is to provide improved mobility and accessibility for people and goods within the corridor and, more broadly, south central Pennsylvania.
Needs

The need for the development of regional rail in Corridor One is based on transportation and land use characteristics that affect overall mobility and access in the region.

• Growth: Population and employment in the region is expected to increase by 27% and 44%, respectively, by 2020. Based on existing land use patterns, this growth will increase the level of commuting from the fringes of the region into Corridor One.
• Travel demand: At a regional level, total vehicle miles traveled are estimated to double between the years 1990 and 2025. Without major transportation improvements, the result of this growing travel demand will be increased traffic congestion and an increase in trip duration.
• Freight movement: Corridor One and the surrounding region are a major eastern U.S. freight movement hub, due to the region’s significant highway and rail infrastructure. Between 1990 and 2020, regional rail freight traffic is expected to increase by 30% and truck travel by 40%. This growth will place additional demands on the currently congested highway system.

Current Phase

This phase of the Corridor One project consists of the completion of preliminary engineering and environmental analysis.

Preliminary engineering examines alternative ways of implementing the project, producing a firm definition of its scope. Specifically, the current phase consists of:

• Developing and designing alternatives for changes to the existing tracks.
• Developing a financial plan for construction and operation of the rail service.
• Coordinating with the project sponsors and with those responsible for operating the rail stations.
• Developing plans for bus service to the rail stations and bus fleet management for both CAT and the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA).
• Determine train design and operational details.
• Determine schedule and fare structure.
• Analyze potential impacts to the environment.

The next phase would be final design, where engineering plans, specifications, and estimates are finalized, and construction contracts are developed. Following final design, construction contracts are advertised and awarded, and construction begins.

Background

Planning and analysis activities for the proposed Corridor One regional rail system have been ongoing since 1993. Five studies were conducted:

• Phase I Transit Alternatives Study, 1993.
• Phase II Regional Transit Alternatives Study, 1996.
• Transportation Investment Study, 1998.
• Federal Transit Administration New Starts Application, 2001.
• Transitional Analysis, 2002.

The result of these studies was the identification of a regional rail service in Corridor One from Lancaster to East Mechanicsburg as the locally preferred alternative for improving mobility and accessibility in the region.

Early in 2006, the scope of the project changed, no longer providing service between a new East Mechanicsburg station and Lancaster. The Cumberland County portion of the project was to have three new stations. Additionally, two new stations, on City Island and at Harrisburg Hospital, were part of the project. Due to lack of support from the Cumberland County commissioners, the Cumberland County portion, and the two new stations in Harrisburg have been removed from the project. In the future, with support from Cumberland County, Corridor One may extend into the county, providing a valuable link between communities on both shores of the Susquehanna River.

Project Sponsors

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

The Federal Transit Administration is one of eleven modal administrations within the U.S. Department of Transportation. FTA is involved in all aspects of public transit, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, monorail, passenger ferry boats, trolleys, inclined railways, and people movers. FTA's participation in this study is through their Region 3 office, located in Philadelphia. FTA provides financial assistance to develop new transit systems and improve, maintain, and operate existing systems.

Capital Area Transit (CAT)

CAT, legally known as the Cumberland-Dauphin-Harrisburg Transit Authority, is the Harrisburg metropolitan region's provider of mass transportation services including CAT bus service and other transit services.

The Modern Transit Partnership (MTP)

The Modern Transit Partnership (MTP) is a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes public transportation with the ultimate goal of bringing regional rail to Central Pennsylvania. Launched in 1997 by the CAT Board of Directors, this partnership is made up of business, community, government and individual members who strive to develop a regional transportation plan that will meet tomorrow's transportation and infrastructure needs.

Please see the frequently asked questions page for more detailed information.