CorridorOne
Encyclopedia
Capital Red Rose Corridor, formerly known as Corridor One (corporately styled CORRIDORone), is a commuter rail
system proposed in South Central Pennsylvania
, United States
which will link Harrisburg
and Lancaster
. Future corridors are being planned to extend commuter rail service to Carlisle
, Hershey
, Lebanon
, York
, and communities in the upper Susquehanna Valley. In mid 2008, the official name of the project was changed to the Capital Red Rose Corridor, after a successful write in campaign was launched resulting in over 800 submissions.
, Cumberland County
; however, the Harrisburg to Carlisle segment was dropped from the proposal in 2005.
Capital Area Transit (CAT) and the Modern Transit Partnership (MTP) are working together to provide the region with a true multi-modal transportation system; a way to connect bus routes, local roads, highways and other means of transportation. A major component of this system is regional rail service along Corridor One . Planning and analysis activities related to the proposed Corridor One regional rail system have been ongoing since 1993. Five studies were conducted:
The result of these studies was the identification of a regional rail service known as Corridor One, that would be constructed from Lancaster to Harrisburg, and serve as the locally preferred alternative for improving mobility and accessibility in the greater Harrisburg area. The locally preferred alternative assumes the development of regional rail service within the Corridor One area as an alternative to automotive passenger vehicle travel to reach major employment centers, such as downtown Harrisburg, as well and other destinations within the corridor.
rail line within the Keystone Corridor
to provide passenger service to Lancaster. This service would utilize the existing passenger stations in place at:
No major physical changes to the existing stations east of Harrisburg are envisioned for the project.
was formally recognized as a "designated high speed corridor" by the Federal Railroad Administration
, as part of the TEA-21 transportation bill. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will fund half of the project's costs, and Amtrak will fund the other half. Once the project is completed, and regional commuter rail is fully operational between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Amtrak plans to cease servicing smaller stations along the corridor which will be supplemented by Corridor One and SEPTA trains. This will allow for:
Commissioners to terminate service in Harrisburg—as opposed to continuing across the river into Cumberland County—at their request. In the future, with support from Cumberland County, Corridor One will most likely extend to the west shore of the Susquehanna River
, where a large segment of the commuting base for the region resides. Corridor One will not be a light rail system; Corridor One will employ commuter rail trainsets, similar to those used by SEPTA's regional rail
network, as Federal Railroad Administration regulations prohibit light rail vehicles from routinely sharing tracks with conventional Amtrak
, commuter rail, and freight trains. The Amtrak stations at Harrisburg and Lancaster have high level platforms which are at the same level as the floor of rail cars to facilitate quick boarding and alighting of passengers.
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
system proposed in South Central Pennsylvania
South Central Pennsylvania
South Central Pennsylvania is a region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that includes the fourteen counties of Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, and York....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which will link Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
and Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
. Future corridors are being planned to extend commuter rail service to Carlisle
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
, Hershey
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
, Lebanon
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown, is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,477 at the 2010 census, a 4.2% increase from the 2000 count of 24,461...
, York
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, and communities in the upper Susquehanna Valley. In mid 2008, the official name of the project was changed to the Capital Red Rose Corridor, after a successful write in campaign was launched resulting in over 800 submissions.
Project background
The Capital Red Rose Corridor project seeks to implement regional rail service along existing rail facilities within the lower Susquehanna Valley, linking Lancaster with Harrisburg. Original planning of the corridor would have extended service along a 54-mile stretch between Lancaster, Harrisburg and CarlisleCarlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
, Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
; however, the Harrisburg to Carlisle segment was dropped from the proposal in 2005.
Capital Area Transit (CAT) and the Modern Transit Partnership (MTP) are working together to provide the region with a true multi-modal transportation system; a way to connect bus routes, local roads, highways and other means of transportation. A major component of this system is regional rail service along Corridor One . Planning and analysis activities related to 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 known as Corridor One, that would be constructed from Lancaster to Harrisburg, and serve as the locally preferred alternative for improving mobility and accessibility in the greater Harrisburg area. The locally preferred alternative assumes the development of regional rail service within the Corridor One area as an alternative to automotive passenger vehicle travel to reach major employment centers, such as downtown Harrisburg, as well and other destinations within the corridor.
Stations
The project would use existing AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
rail line within the Keystone Corridor
Keystone Corridor
The Keystone Corridor is a Federal Railroad Administration "designated high speed corridor" with a 349-mile railroad line between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a top speed of...
to provide passenger service to Lancaster. This service would utilize the existing passenger stations in place at:
- Harrisburg Transportation CenterHarrisburg Transportation CenterThe Harrisburg Transportation Center is a large railway station and transportation hub in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is located on the eastern edge of Downtown Harrisburg between the intersections of Aberdeen and Market Streets and 4th and Chestnut Streets...
, connection to CAT buses - Harrisburg International AirportHarrisburg International Airport-Statistics:-Air cargo:Harrisburg International Airport is well positioned with freight-forwarding capabilities. The airport is located adjacent to I-76 , I-83, and I-81, allowing for fast air-to-ground transfer of goods and commodities...
(proposed, not yet constructed) - MiddletownMiddletown (Amtrak station)Middletown Station is an Amtrak railroad station on the Keystone Corridor in Middletown, Dauphin County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The station is served by Amtrak's Keystone Service between New York City and Harrisburg.- Services and facilities :...
- ElizabethtownElizabethtown (Amtrak station)Elizabethtown is an Amtrak railroad station on the Keystone Corridor in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The station is served by Amtrak's Keystone Service between New York City and Harrisburg, and by the Pennsylvanian between New York and Pittsburgh...
- Mount JoyMount Joy (Amtrak station)Mount Joy Station is an Amtrak rail station located about 13 miles northwest of Lancaster, Pennsylvania at East Henry Street and North Market Street in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. It is served by most Amtrak Keystone Service trains....
- LancasterLancaster (Amtrak station)Lancaster Station is an Amtrak railway station and intercity bus facility located at 53 McGovern Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The station is located at the north end of the city, roughly a mile from downtown Lancaster....
, connection to Red Rose Transit AuthorityRed Rose Transit AuthorityThe Red Rose Transit Authority is a transit agency serving Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. RRTA is headquartered in downtown Lancaster.RRTA has routes both within Lancaster city, and between Lancaster and other areas of the county. RRTA coordinates a Paratransit service, Red Rose Access, which is...
buses
No major physical changes to the existing stations east of Harrisburg are envisioned for the project.
Corridor alignment
In 1999, the Keystone CorridorKeystone Corridor
The Keystone Corridor is a Federal Railroad Administration "designated high speed corridor" with a 349-mile railroad line between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a top speed of...
was formally recognized as a "designated high speed corridor" by the Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
, as part of the TEA-21 transportation bill. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will fund half of the project's costs, and Amtrak will fund the other half. Once the project is completed, and regional commuter rail is fully operational between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Amtrak plans to cease servicing smaller stations along the corridor which will be supplemented by Corridor One and SEPTA trains. This will allow for:
- 90-minute travel time between Harrisburg and Philadelphia on express trains
- 105-minute travel time on normal trains
- Raising track speed to 110 mph (180 km/h) where possible
- Increasing the number of daily round trips from 11 to 14
- Replacing diesel trains with electric on Keystone service
Project schedule
- Preliminary engineering and environmental studies phase – completed August 2006
- Final engineering design phase – est. 2009
- Construction phase – complete late 2010 (est.)
- Lancaster to Harrisburg service – operational late 2010 (est.)
Project details
In early 2005, the MTP ratified an agreement with the Cumberland CountyCumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
Commissioners to terminate service in Harrisburg—as opposed to continuing across the river into Cumberland County—at their request. In the future, with support from Cumberland County, Corridor One will most likely extend to the west shore of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, where a large segment of the commuting base for the region resides. Corridor One will not be a light rail system; Corridor One will employ commuter rail trainsets, similar to those used by SEPTA's regional rail
SEPTA Regional Rail
The SEPTA Regional Rail system consists of commuter rail service on thirteen branches to over 150 active stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and its suburbs. Service on most lines runs from 5:30 AM to midnight...
network, as Federal Railroad Administration regulations prohibit light rail vehicles from routinely sharing tracks with conventional Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, commuter rail, and freight trains. The Amtrak stations at Harrisburg and Lancaster have high level platforms which are at the same level as the floor of rail cars to facilitate quick boarding and alighting of passengers.
See also
- Capital Area Transit (Harrisburg)
- High-speed rail in the United StatesHigh-speed rail in the United StatesHigh-speed rail in the United States currently consists of one high-speed rail service: Amtrak's Acela Express runs on the Northeast Corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C...
- Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main LinePhiladelphia to Harrisburg Main LineThe Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line is an electrified rail line owned and operated by Amtrak in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The line runs from Zoo Interlocking in Philadelphia, where it meets the Northeast Corridor, west to Harrisburg , where electrification ends, along the former...