October 12, 2023

RAIL

MOVING AMERICA FORWARD

Wynne Davis and Dr. Santiago Cruz-Roveda, Office of Regional Outreach and Project Delivery

Lyle Leitelt, Office of Planning and Engineering

Corridor ID Program: Post-Selection Next Steps and Service 

Development Plan Statement of Work Framework and Scenarios
2

Presenters

Lyle Leitelt

Acting Chief,

Office of Planning and 

Engineering

Wynne Davis

Director,

Office of Regional Outreach

and Project Delivery

Dr. Santiago 

Cruz-Roveda

Supervisor, 

Office of Regional 

Outreach and Project 

Delivery
3

• Timeline

• Purpose and objective

• Corridor ID Overview

• Current status

• Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 Process

• Service Development Plan (SDP) Overview and Statement of Work (SOW) Framework

• Step 2 SDP Scenarios

• Questions

Presentation Overview 
4

Purpose of Today’s Presentation 

Provide status Explain Step 1, Step 2, 

Step 3 process in more 

detail 

Provide an 

overview of SDP 

process 

Introduce Service 

Development Plan 

SOW Framework

Describe various 

SDP scenarios for 

different corridors 

Give potential 

corridor sponsors 

information to 

consider in 

preparation for 

selection 

announcements
5

November 15, 2021

Enactment of the BIL

01 02

May 13, 2022

FRA established the Corridor 

ID Program within 180 days of 

enactment

04

May 13, 2023

First Congressional 

report on the Project 

Pipeline

December 2022

FRA publish a Notice of 

Corridor Solicitation and 

Funding Opportunity for the 

Corridor Identification and 

Development Program

03

September -

December 2022

Extensive outreach

to Corridor ID 

potential sponsors 

January – Current 

Extensive outreach

to Class I railroads 

Corridor ID Timeline
6

Late Fall 2023

Selections into Corridor 

ID Program announced 

05 08

February 2024

2nd Congressional 

report on the Project 

Pipeline

06

Late Fall 2023

Selections under Fed-State 

Partnership National 

announced 

Fall 2023- Fall 2024

Corridors selected under 

Corridor ID complete Step 1 

and begin Step 2 

07

August 2023

CID Update Webinar

Corridor ID Timeline
7

Corridor ID Overview 
8

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Rail Development Goals

Renew Amtrak’s fleet & facilities 

and deliver high-quality intercity 

passenger rail service

Modernize the 

Northeast Corridor

Bring world-class passenger 

rail service to regions across 

the country

Build the foundation for a 

long-term rail program

Grow a safer, cleaner, 

more equitable rail 

system
9

Bring world-class 

passenger rail 

service to regions 

across the country

Build the 

foundation for a 

long-term rail 

program

Grow a safer, cleaner, 

more equitable rail 

system

Corridor ID Program Overview

Corridor ID creates a foundational framework for identifying 

and developing new or improved intercity passenger rail (IPR) 

services. Under the program, FRA will: 

Solicit proposal for 

implementing new or 

improving existing IPR 

services 

Select corridors for 

development

Partner with corridor 

sponsor to prepare (or 

update) a Service 

Development Plan 

(SDP) 

SDP includes a 

“corridor project 

inventory”

Corridor project 

inventories populate a 

prioritized “pipeline” of 

projects

Projects in the Corridor 

ID Pipeline are eligible 

for funding under FRA’s 

financial assistance 

programs
10

Corridor ID Program 

Fed-State Partnership (FSP) – National / Other Federal Funding Programs 

Restoration & 

Enhancement 

Program

Project 

Development

Project 

Planning Final Design Construction Operation 

Development Stages Implementation Stages 

Systems 

Planning 

FRA Project Lifecycle Stages – Corresponding FRA Funding Programs 
11

Establishing the Program – Significant Policy Positions

Corridor ID will be the 

primary mechanism 

for developing offNortheast Corridor 

intercity passenger 

rail corridors and 

projects for 

subsequent 

implementation

Corridor ID is a home 

for all types of 

Intercity Passenger 

Rail corridors—new, 

significant 

improvements, and 

modest 

improvements to 

existing service are all 

welcome

Corridor ID will 

regularly solicit 

proposals for 

additional corridors 

to enter the 

program—this is not 

a one-time 

opportunity 

Level of non-Federal 

commitment may be 

modest at the 

beginning but must 

grow as a corridor 

advances through the 

Program

Corridors/Projects 

that advance to the 

Project Pipeline 

should be ready for 

immediate 

implementation

(Final Design/ 

Construction)
12

What Are the Different Types of Corridors?

New Service 

New Rail 

Line 

New Service 

Existing Rail 

Line 

Extensions Increased 

Frequencies 

Significant 

Trip Time 

Reduction 

Entirely New Service

Existing 

Service

Improvements to 

Existing Service 

Extension to 

Existing Service 
13

What Does This Mean for the Different Types of Corridors?

New Service 

New Rail 

Line 

New Service 

Existing Rail 

Line 

Extensions Increased 

Frequencies 

Significant 

Trip Time 

Reduction 

Level of Effort

Existing 

Service 

High High

Medium

Medium

Medium

Low
14

Selections made later 

this year will set the 

“baseline” for 

Corridor ID

Corridor ID map of 

selected corridors will 

illustrate FRA’s plan 

for passenger rail 

development across 

the country for new 

AND existing corridors

FRA’s goal is to align 

the two programs—

Corridor ID produces 

the Project Pipeline 

for Fed-State 

Partnership –

National (FSP-N) 

Program

In future funding 

cycles, projects 

included in the Project 

Pipeline will receive 

priority funding under 

FSP-N

FY 2022 Selections—A Baseline Year for Corridor ID 
15

Corridor ID Selection and Beyond 
16

Where Are We Now? 

FRA received more 

than 90 eligible 

applications under 

the program

Applications are 

currently under 

review

Several applications 

were ineligible

Debrief for ineligible 

and unselected 

corridors will follow 

announcements

Selection 

announcement 

planned for 

November

Selections into the 

program will fall into 

the three categories 

presented earlier 

(slide 12)
17

• Following the initial evaluation of proposals but prior to selection, it is possible for 

an applicant to engage FRA and discuss the “scaling and prioritization” of the 

applicant’s proposal (or multiple proposals).

• Discussions are held at FRA’s sole discretion, and FRA will not select a modified 

Corridor proposal to participate in the Program without an applicant’s concurrence.

• Discussions with applicants will inform FRA’s understanding of the proposal, as well 

as ensure that FRA and the applicant agree on the scope and scale of the corridor.

• Discussions were held for three reasons: 

1. Prioritization of Multiple Corridors,

2. Geographic Scope or Overlap of Corridors

3. Key Service Characteristics.

Scaling and Prioritization Discussions
18

Grant Step 1: Scoping Step 2: Service Development 

Plan 

Step 3: Preliminary Engineering / 

NEPA 

Funding

Scope

Notes 

What Happens Next—Steps 1, 2, and 3

$500k / 0% match $X / 10% match

($X determined during Step 1) 

$X / 20% match

($X determined during Step 2) 

• Using SDP SOW framework, 

sponsor develops scope, schedule, 

and budget for Corridor SDP, 

accounting for work ongoing and/or 

undertaken to date 

• After kick-off meeting, FRA will 

review work undertaken to date

• Step 1 grant deliverable is SDP 

SOW to include corridor-specific 

scope, schedule, and budget for 

service development planning 

• Sponsor develops a service 

development plan in accordance 

with Corridor SOW and in 

coordination with FRA 

• Final service development plan 

includes a Capital Project 

Inventory as part of the Phased 

Implementation Plan

• If readiness criteria are met, capital 

projects identified in SDP may be 

advanced into Step 3 Project 

Development, at FRA’s discretion 

and subject to funding availability 

• In coordination with FRA, sponsor 

completes preliminary engineering

for capital projects

• Sponsor completes environmental 

review in coordination with FRA 

for capital projects

• Capital projects that complete Step 

3 will move to Project Pipeline and 

may be prioritized for funding

under Fed-State Partnership 

Program 
19

Corridor ID Grant Process Overview for Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 Grants

Kick-off Meeting Sponsor develops / FRA 

approves SOW

Grant agreement 

obligated 

Sponsor conducts work 

as described in SOW, 

submits deliverables to 

FRA

FRA reviews deliverables and work 

products, provides comments, sponsor 

addresses comments

(may take several iterations) 

FRA approves 

deliverables and final 

report

Grant agreement is 

closed

Each step will have a separate grant agreement 
20

Step 2: Service Development Plan 

Draft SOW Framework Overview
21

Step 2: Service Development Plans—Why is the SDP Important? 

• Statutorily Required – 49 USC 25101(d)

• Creates a Planning Framework – Sets the stage for the next stage of development

o Relationship-building

o Improved project delivery timeframes

o On-the-ground outcome benefits

• Demonstrates Feasibility – Corridor sponsor’s strategic plan for improving, expanding or initiating 

a corridor, and identifies:

o An operating plan

o A capital plan

o An investment case

• Organizational Tool – Develops consistency through standardizing analyses and processes to 

achieve similar set of outcomes across various corridors
22

• FRA released a Service Development 

Plan Framework on the Corridor ID 

Program webpage on August 24

• Potential corridor sponsors are 

encouraged to review SOW framework 

and begin identifying elements in the 

SOW to specific corridors

• FRA will continue to engage the 

community pre- and post-program 

selections

Service Development Plan Draft SOW Framework

https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/2023-

08/CIDP%20Step%202_SDP_SOW_Template_Draft_082224_PD

Fa.pdf
23

Task 6: Financial Planning & BCA Task 7: Governance Task 8: Implementation 

Phasing 

Task 5: Environmental 

Planning 

Task 4: Transportation 

Planning 

Task 3: Alternatives 

Analysis 

Task 2: Draft Purpose & Need Stakeholder Coordination 

Step 2: SDPs Answer Important Questions 

What is the corridor 

and who does it 

serves?

What are the goals 

for new or improved 

service? 

Who are the 

relevant 

stakeholders?

What are the 

alternatives to 

achieve the goals? 

What alternatives 

make sense and why 

from a transportation 

perspective?

What alternatives 

make sense from an 

environmental 

perspective?

What are the improvements required for 

service, how much do they cost, and 

how do we pay for it?

Who’s in charge of 

which aspects of the 

program? 

What order should 

improvements 

advance and be 

constructed?
24

Task 6: Financial 

Planning & BCA

Task 7: 

Governance 

Structure 

Task 8: 

Implementation 

Phasing

Task 5: Environmental Planning 

Task 4: Transportation Planning 

Task 3: Alternatives Analysis Task 2: P&N & 

Stakeholder 

Coordination 

Step 2: Service Development Plans Are an Iterative Process

Ridership and 

Revenue 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis 

Labor & Fleet 

Planning

Station Area 

and Access 

Analysis 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Data 

Collection

Capital Cost 

Estimation 

Service 

Options

Investment 

Packages

Route 

Options

Public 

Engagement

Agency 

Coordination

Environmental 

Concerns 

Analysis

Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning

Step 3

Preliminary 

Engineering 

Task 9: 

Service 

Development 

Plan

Environmental 

Review

Draft Purpose 

& Need

Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Plans 

Task 1: 

Project 

Administration
25

Task 6: Financial 

Planning & BCA

Task 7: 

Governance 

Structure 

Task 8: 

Implementation 

Phasing

Task 5: 

Environmental 

Planning 

Task 4: 

Transportation 

Planning 

Task 3: 

Alternatives 

Analysis 

Task 2: 

Draft P&N & 

Stakeholder 

Coordination

Step 2: Service Development Plan Draft SOW Framework

Ridership and 

Revenue 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis 

Labor & Fleet 

Planning

Station Area and 

Access Analysis 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Data Collection

Capital Cost 

Estimation 

Service Options

Investments 

Packages

Route Options Public 

Engagement

Agency 

Coordination

Environmental 

Concerns 

Analysis

Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning

Task 9: 

Service 

Development 

Plan

Draft Purpose & 

Need

Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Plans 

Task 1: 

Project 

Administration

Corridor 

Governance 

Report

Phased 

Implementation 

Plan

Project 

Management 

Plan

Closeout Report 

Service 

Development 

Plan 
26

Step 2 SDP Scenarios 
27

What Might the SDP Look Like for the Different Types of Corridors?

New Service 

New Rail 

Line 

New Service 

Existing Rail 

Line 

Extensions Increased 

Frequencies 

Significant 

Trip Time 

Reduction 

Entirely New Service

Existing 

Service

Improvements to 

Existing Service 

Extension to 

Existing Service 
28

FRA will Consider Work Undertaken to Date 

Corridor A Corridor C Corridor F

Project 

Development

Project 

Planning Final Design Construction Operation 

Corridor may have little to no development work completed

Corridor may have on-going FRA funded planning efforts 

May have completed FRA-funded efforts / environmental review

May have development efforts independent from FRA 

Existing corridors are already under operation 

Corridor E

Corridor D

FRA will meet you 

where you are in 

the project 

development 

lifecycle 

Corridor B

A

B

C

D & E

F
29

Task 6: Financial 

Planning & BCA

Task 7: 

Governance 

Structure 

Task 8: 

Implementation 

Phasing

Task 5: 

Environmental 

Planning 

Task 4: 

Transportation 

Planning 

Task 3: 

Alternatives 

Analysis 

Task 2: 

Draft P&N & 

Stakeholder 

Coordination

Corridor A: New Corridor with No Previous Development 

Ridership and 

Revenue 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis 

Labor & Fleet 

Planning

Station Area and 

Access Analysis 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Data Collection

Capital Cost 

Estimation 

Service Options

Investments 

Packages

Route Options Public 

Engagement

Agency 

Coordination

Environmental 

Concerns 

Analysis

Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning

Task 9: 

Service 

Development 

Plan

Draft Purpose & 

Need

Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Plans 

Task 1: 

Project 

Administration

Corridor 

Governance 

Report

Phased 

Implementation 

Plan

Project 

Management 

Plan

Closeout Report 

Service 

Development 

Plan 

• Corridor Sponsor would incorporate the entirety of 

the draft SDP SOW Template in Step 1, and conduct 

full scope required to produce an SDP in Step 2.
30

Task 6: Financial 

Planning & BCA

Task 7: 

Governance 

Structure 

Task 8: 

Implementation 

Phasing

Task 5: 

Environmental 

Planning 

Task 4: 

Transportation 

Planning 

Task 3: 

Alternatives 

Analysis 

Task 2: 

Draft P&N & 

Stakeholder 

Coordination

Corridor B: Corridor Currently with Active FRA-Funded Service Planning Efforts 

Ridership and 

Revenue 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis 

Labor & Fleet 

Planning

Station Area and 

Access Analysis 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Data Collection

Capital Cost 

Estimation 

Service Options

Investments 

Packages

Route Options Public 

Engagement

Agency 

Coordination

Environmental 

Concerns 

Analysis

Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning

Task 9: 

Service 

Development 

Plan

Draft Purpose & 

Need

Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Plans 

Task 1: 

Project 

Administration

Corridor 

Governance 

Report

Phased 

Implementation 

Plan

Project 

Management 

Plan

Closeout Report 

Service 

Development 

Plan 

• Corridor Sponsor would complete their existing 

service planning scope

• Step 2 SDP SOW would focus on completing any 

additional tasks that may not be associated with the 

existing scope

• Corridor Sponsor would develop a project inventory 

and phasing plan (if not included in original service 

planning scope)
31

Task 6: Financial 

Planning & BCA

Task 7: 

Governance 

Structure 

Task 8: 

Implementation 

Phasing

Task 5: 

Environmental 

Planning 

Task 4: 

Transportation 

Planning 

Task 3: 

Alternatives 

Analysis 

Task 2: 

Draft P&N & 

Stakeholder 

Coordination

Corridors C & D: Corridor Already In Project Development, FD, or Construction 

Ridership and 

Revenue 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis 

Labor & Fleet 

Planning

Station Area and 

Access Analysis 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Data Collection

Capital Cost 

Estimation 

Service Options

Investments 

Packages

Route Options Public 

Engagement

Agency 

Coordination

Environmental 

Concerns 

Analysis

Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning

Task 9: 

Service 

Development 

Plan

Draft Purpose & 

Need

Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Plans 

Task 1: 

Project 

Administration

Corridor 

Governance 

Report

Phased 

Implementation 

Plan

Project 

Management 

Plan

Closeout Report 

Service 

Development 

Plan 

• Compile service development planning activities 

undertaken to date into a Service Development Plan

• Provide updates as necessary on governance and 

implementation phasing 

• Goal is to document methodology and outcomes 

that resulted in corridor advancing to Project 

Development Phase, including a project inventory to 

be advanced 
32

Task 6: Financial 

Planning & BCA

Task 7: 

Governance 

Structure 

Task 8: 

Implementation 

Phasing

Task 5: 

Environmental 

Planning 

Task 4: 

Transportation 

Planning 

Task 3: 

Alternatives 

Analysis 

Task 2: 

Draft P&N & 

Stakeholder 

Coordination

Corridor E: Extension to Existing Service with Little Work Undertaken to Date

Ridership and 

Revenue 

Forecasting 

Operations 

Analysis 

Labor & Fleet 

Planning

Station Area and 

Access Analysis 

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Data Collection

Capital Cost 

Estimation 

Service Options

Investments 

Packages

Route Options Public 

Engagement

Agency 

Coordination

Environmental 

Concerns 

Analysis

Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning

Task 9: 

Service 

Development 

Plan

Draft Purpose & 

Need

Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Plans 

Task 1: 

Project 

Administration

Corridor 

Governance 

Report

Phased 

Implementation 

Plan

Project 

Management 

Plan

Closeout Report 

Service 

Development 

Plan 

Justification for 

service extension 

to new market(s)

Public 

Involvement 

Agency 

Engagement

Host / Operator 

railroad 

Engagement 

More limited but 

some analysis 

required 

• Existing processes may be used to inform SDP 

requirements

• Lower level of effort than for an entirely new service 

but analysis is still required

• Goal is to document methodology and outcomes 

that will result in corridor advancing to Project 

Development Phase, including a project inventory to 

be advanced 
33

Corridor F: Reliability Improvements to Existing Service 

Task 6: Financial 

Planning & BCA

Task 7: 

Governance 

Structure 

Task 8: 

Implementation 

Phasing

Task 5: 

Environmental 

Planning 

Task 4: 

Transportation 

Planning 

Task 3: 

Alternatives 

Analysis 

Task 2: 

Draft P&N & 

Stakeholder 

Coordination

Operations 

Analysis 

Labor & Fleet 

Planning

Conceptual 

Engineering

Operating & 

Maintenance 

Costing

Data Collection

Capital Cost 

Estimation 

Service Options

Investments 

Packages

Public 

Engagement

Agency 

Coordination

Environmental 

Concerns 

Analysis

Benefits-Cost 

Analysis 

Financial 

Planning

Task 9: 

Service 

Development 

Plan

Draft Purpose & 

Need

Stakeholder 

Engagement 

Plans 

Task 1: 

Project 

Administration

Corridor 

Governance 

Report

Phased 

Implementation 

Plan

Project 

Management 

Plan

Closeout Report 

Service 

Development 

Plan 

Improve the 

reliability of the 

existing service 

Host railroad 

engagement 

Operator 

Engagement 

Define existing 

service 

Inventory of 

projects required 

to improve 

reliability 

Update or conduct 

analysis to determine 

what’s required to 

improve reliability 

Update or 

conduct 

environmental 

planning required 

to determine 

what’s required 

to improve 

reliability 

Identify 

financial 

resources 

necessary to 

advance to 

PE/NEPA 

Analysis 

appropriate at 

the project 

planning stage 

to advance to 

PE/NEPA 

Identify partners, 

define roles and 

responsibilities

Determine what 

agreements are 

required to 

advance program

Identify the 

sequence of 

development 

for the project 

inventory 

Summarizes 

efforts to show 

what’s required 

to improve the 

reliability of 

existing service 

• Existing processes may be used to 

inform SDP requirements

• Lower level of effort but analysis is 

still required

• Goal is to document methodology 

and outcomes that will result in 

corridor advancing to Project 

Development Phase, including a 

project inventory to be advanced 
34

Overlapping Corridors / Terminal Areas 

Shared Segments

Shared Markets

Shared Stations / Terminals 

Overlapping corridors will require 

coordination during the Corridor ID Program. 

Step 1

• Identification of roles and responsibilities 

related to the geographic overlap

• Concurrence on frequencies and initial 

schedules 

Step 2

• One sponsor conducts technical analysis 

associated with the geographic overlap and 

identifies implementation roles and 

responsibilities related to the geographic 

overlap

• Information is shared with other project 

sponsor as required for incorporation into 

shared aspect of other SDP
35

Resources 

• FRA Webinars:

https://railroads.dot.gov/rail-network-development/training-guidance/webinars-0

• Corridor Identification and Development Grant Program:

https://railroads.dot.gov/corridor-ID-program

• Corridor ID Program Support:

PaxRailDev@dot.gov
Contact Us

Federal Railroad Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Connect with us USDOTFRA

Corridor ID Program Support: 

Email: PaxRailDev@dot.gov
37

QUESTIONS?