NTRAC Final Study - Nebraska Department of Roads - State of ...

CHAPTER 4 – TECHNOLOGY OPITONS
LRT systems have been built in seven North
American cities since Edmonton opened in 1978,
and several older systems have been rebuilt and
otherwise modernized. Scopes for projects
completed during the 1980's ranged from modest
systems costing less than $10 million/mile (San
Diego and Sacramento) to lines with extensive
subways approaching heavy rail standards and costs
of $50 million/mile and more (Pittsburgh and
Buffalo). In every instance, these LRT system are primarily used as urban area transit systems
and do not have lengths greater than 30-miles.
Most of the new LRT systems use large, high capacity, high performance 50 to 65 mph (80-105
km/h) cars capable of operation in trains of up to four cars. Four double-width doors on each
side of each car promote fast loading/unloading and, as a result, short station stopping (dwell)
times.
Key points regarding the LRT option are:
Site-specific requirements: Both grade-separated and at-grade location of lines, as well as
exclusive and surface operation are feasible; however, reserved lanes and preemption/prioritization
of traffic lights are necessary to ensure high levels of service
reliability when operating within street rights-of-way. Low level platforms compatible
with sidewalks and streetscapes are feasible.
Technical maturity: Modern light rail transit is the outcome of over 100 years of
continuous development.
Ubiquitous and interchangeable: Vehicles and support systems are competitively available
from numerous suppliers.
Cars are typically articulated, triple-bogie units about 28 m long by 2.65 m wide, with
about 75 seats and a total seated and standing capacity of approaching 190.
Trains can vary from 2-4 cars, with a 4-car train capable of carrying about 300 seated
passengers, and a total of up to 750 passengers (40% seated).
Initially, a system running a 3-car train every 6 minutes would offer 2,250 PHPD seats,
and a comfortable seated and standing PHPD load on the order of 4,000 passengers
(135/car), with reserve capacity to accommodate a PHPD load of up to 5,700 riders
(190/car) at the peak load point.
Practical operating headways can be as short as three minutes, yielding an "ultimate"
capacity with 4-car trains of up to 15,000 PHPD passengers.
Commuter Rail
Commuter rail is a mode of transportation that is based on operating passenger trains on the
tracks of the general railroad system, which is shared with freight trains. Historically, commuter
rail systems have been the local services of intercity rail passenger carriers that linked distant
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NEBRASKA TRANSIT CORRIDORS STUDY
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