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Light Rail Transit Facilities Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview05.11.2010

Mark L. DornVice PresidentURS CorporationRail Transit Design Services

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Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 3

Roles of Streetcars

…first understand purpose and need of rail-transit investment

Various Transit Services

CirculatorDistributorLocal Service for Express LineCommuter Line Enhanced Local Service Premium/Rapid Streetcar

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 4

Roles of Streetcars

Circulator

Serves Local MarketConnecting Downtown Districts/NeighborhoodsPark-Once PhilosophyOrganizes/Catalyzes Development

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 5

Roles of Streetcar

Distributor

Provides the “last (or first) mile”Can promote ridership for overall transit system

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 6

Roles of Streetcar

Distributor

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 7

Roles of Streetcar

Local Service for Express Line

Peachtree CorridorCombo with BRT Alum Rock Corridor

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 8

Roles of Streetcar

First Hill Streetcar (Seattle)

5th Avenue S

2nd Avenue S

7th Avenue S

14th Avenue

Uni

on

St

Yesl

er

Way

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 9

Roles of Streetcars

Existing Portland Streetcar System

Portland CBD

South Waterfront

OHSU

Eastside Loop

Milwaukie LRT

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 10

Roles of Streetcars

Portland Streetcar System Concept Plan

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 11

Roles of Streetcar

Commuter/Line Haul

Enhanced Local Service (Rapid Streetcar)

Stop SpacingStreetcar Priority Systems

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 12

Rapid Streetcar

Lower Cost of Streetcar Systems with Faster Operating Speeds Similar to LRT

Functions as Circulator/Distributor in CBDCommuting Service for 5 to 8 mile lineSignal Priority SystemsExclusive Running Where Possible

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 13

Rapid Streetcar

San Francisco MUNI

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 14

Approach to Streetcar Design

Setting a budget that is feasible and fundable

Significant savings when establishing alignmentAvoiding/minimizing ancillary costs

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 15

Integration into Right-of-Way

Alignment Choices

Right Lane Running

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 16

Integration into Right-of-Way

Alignment Choices

Left Lane Running

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 17

Rapid Streetcar

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 18

Integration into Right-of-Way

Alignment Choices

Transitions

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 19

Pedestrians & BicyclesBusesTruck MobilityVehicular AccessOn-Street Parking

Integration into Right-of-Way

Other Modes

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 20

Approach to Streetcar Design

Establishing an Approach

What are the minimum design requirements to ensure that it will function well? (keep it simple)Are there ways to streamline or combine the functions of project elements?How can the design of the track system best fit into the existing built environment? (To retrofit rather than reconstruct)How can the impacts to the community be minimized during construction?

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 21

Streetcar Design Elements

Essential Infrastructure Costs

TracksOverhead PowerStops/StationsTrain Signaling/CommunicationsFare CollectionVehiclesMaintenance Facility

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 22

Essential Streetcar Design Elements

Driving Forces behind Track Design

Safety & Accessibility AestheticsTransit OperationsStray Current ProtectionConstruction Impacts (disruption, duration)Utility ConflictsLife Cycle and MaintenanceCapital CostsTraffic Operations and AccessNoise and Vibration

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 23

Advancements in Track Design

Minimize Construction Costs

Essential Streetcar Design Elements

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 24

Low Profile Rail / Shallow Track-Slab

Advancements in Track Design

Essential Streetcar Design Elements

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 25

In-Street Track Construction

Track Design

Essential Streetcar Design Elements

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 26

Streetcar Stops

Essential Streetcar Design Elements

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 27

Maintenance Facility

Essential Streetcar Design Elements

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 28

Maintenance Facility

Essential Streetcar Design Elements

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 29

Managing Ancillary Costs

Re-grading/Reconfiguration of RoadwayTraffic Signal ModificationsUtility Relocations/Access AdjustmentsStorm-Water Quality AccommodationsStreetscape ImprovementsTrain Signaling/CommunicationsFare Collection

Streetcar Design Elements

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 30

Ancillary Streetcar Design Elements

Utility Conflicts

Relocate Direct ConflictsMaintain Utilities in Place

Provide Access for MaintenanceMaintenance Agreements

Avoid conflicts when possible

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 31

Streetcar Design

Conclusion

Streetcars can serve important role in a transportation network

– Promotes ridership– Serves more localized

market– Reduces auto trips

…first understand purpose and need of rail-transit investment

It is important for us as planners/designers to manage costs to keep viable funding sources

Light Rail Transit Facilities

Design Course

Streetcar Design Overview 32

Questions?