What are our highcapacity options for transit?

What is it, where does it go, and when do i use it?

How many people can it carry per hour during rush hour?*

How fast does it go on average?

How often does it stop?

When can I get on?

Real World Example

High-Speed Rail uses specialized vehicles to travel at high speeds on fully dedicated and gradeseparated tracks or guideway. Typically used to travel quickly between major urban centers. Carries 600 - 1,200 passengers Stops are 50 miles to 100 miles apart Rail runs every 30min. rush hour, and every 60 min. all other times

Amtrak Acela

HighSpeed Rail

Average speed 100 - 220 mph

Regional Rail service connects different cities and regions, typically using existing railroad lines. Typically used to travel longer distances between large cities. Rail runs every 30min. during rush hour and every 1- 3 hours all other times

Regional Rail

Carries 600 - 2,400 passengers

Average speed 60 - 75 mph

Stops are 3 miles to 15 miles apart

The Capitol Corridor between San Jose and Sacramento in Northern California is an example of regional rail. Locally, the Lone Star Rail District is planning the LSTAR regional rail line between Georgetown and San Antonio, with nine stops in our Region.

Commuter Rail trains operate on railroad tracks that carry riders to and from work in a region. Typically used to travel from suburbs to central cities.

Commuter Rail
Express, or managed, lanes are highway lanes that are free to registered van pools and transit vehicles, and tolled for all other vehicles. The toll rate changes throughout the day based on how much traffic is on the managed lanes in order to keep the lanes fully used without being too busy. Typically used to travel within a city and between close-in suburbs and the city.

Carries 400 - 1,400 passengers

Average speed 30 - 50 mph

Stops are 1 mile to 5 miles apart

Rail runs every 30min. during rush hour and every hour all other times

Capital Metros MetroRail Red Line between Leander and downtown Austin is a local example of commuter rail.

Transit on Express Lanes

Carries 400 - 900 passengers

Varies. Typically toll rate adjusted to maintain a minimum average speed of 50 mph

Multiple stops within close proximity near termini with 5 miles to 25 miles of non-stop service in between

Buses run every 10 min. during rush hour and every 30 min. all other times

Katy Managed Lanes are operated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority in Houston, TX. Locally, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is currently planning express lanes along Mopac Expressway in Austin.

Heavy Rail Transit uses specialized high-capacity electric vehicles on fully-dedicated and grade separated tracks or guideway. Typically used to travel within very dense urban areas and corridors. Rail runs every 3-5 min. rush hour and every 10 -15 min. all other times

DC Metrorail

Heavy Rail Transit

Carries 10,000 30,000

Average speed 40 - 60 mph

Stops are 1 mile to 2 miles apart

Gondolas uses small specialized vehicles propelled by a cable suspended from tall masts. (Aerial Cable Propelled Transit)

Gondola

Portland Aerial Tram

Typically used in the US in mountainous, tourism applications over short distances. Carries 1,000 3,000 Average speed 5 - 20 mph Stops are 1/4 mile to 1/3 mile apart Tram runs every 1 - 20 minutes

Monorails use specialized vehicles straddling an elevated slender beam supported by frequent "pylons" or piers. Typically used in the US to travel between highactivity tourist destination. Rail runs every 5min. rush hour and every 15min. utes other times

Las Vegas Monorail, Seattle Center Monorail, and Disneyworld Note: Applications in the U.S. are typically privately funded.

Monorail

Carries 1,500 6,400 passengers

Average speed 30 - 55 mph

Stops are 1 mile to 2 miles apart

Light rail transit (LRT) operates primarily in exclusive rights-of-way Typically used to travel from close-in suburbs to and within central city urban areas. Rail runs every 10min. rush hour and every 30 min. all other times

Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Light Rail
Urban rail is an electrified service that can operate in mixed traffic, in its own lane, or in separate ROW. Urban Rail is a hybrid between Light Rail and Streetcar in terms of technology and service. Typically used to travel in urban locations and can be used to link transit systems.

Carries 1,500 4,000 passengers

Average speed 25 - 65 mph

Stops are 1 mile apart

Urban Rail
Bus Rapid Transit (dedicated) operates primarily in its own lane with high-amenity vehicles and stations. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is designed to emulate rail-based transit.

Carries 700 - 2,000 passengers

Average speed 10 - 30 mph

Stops are every 2 to 4 blocks up to 1/2 mile apart

Rail runs every 10min. during rush hour and every 15 min. all other times

Portland MAX and Houston METRORail

Bus Rapid Transit

Typically used to travel from close-in suburbs to and within central city urban areas.

Carries 700 - 1,300 passengers

Average speed 20 - 55 mph

Stops are 1/2 mile to 1 mile apart

Bus runs every 10min. during rush hour and 30min. all other times

Cleveland RTA HealthLine

Specialized vehicles with frequent stops travel automatically on a dedicated guideway. Typically used to provide a highcapacity shuttle between destinations within a controlled, common location (such as airport terminals)

DFW Skylink

Automated Guideway

Carries 5,000 25,000 passengers

Average speed 5 - 35 mph

Stops are 1/8 mile to 1/2 mile apart

Rail runs every 1 - 5 minutes

Bus Rapid Transit

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operates in mixed traffic or its own lane. It usually consists of longer buses with more technology in them to speed up your trip. For example, many BRT buses communicate with traffic lights to keep lights green longer. Typically used to travel within a city and between close-in suburbs and the city. Carries 700 - 1,300 passengers Average speed 15 - 30 mph Stops are 1/2 mile to 1 mile apart

Buses run every 10 min. during rush hour and every 15 min. all other times

Locally, Capital Metro MetroRapid BRT lines between south and north Austin are a local example of BRT.

Streetcars operate as smaller light-rail type vehicles with frequent stops and can be used in mixed traffic. Typically used to travel within central cities and can be used to link transit systems.

Streetcar

Carries 400 - 1,000 passengers

Average speed 5 - 25 mph

Stops are 1/4 mile to 1/3 mile apart

Streetcar runs every 5 min. during rush hour and every 15 min. all other times

Portland Streetcar

Local bus uses standard vehicles traveling on fixed routes on city streets. Typically used to travel within suburban and urban areas. Bus runs every 15min. during rush hour, and every 30 min. all other times

Capital MetroBus

Local Bus

Carries 200 - 400 passengers

Average speed 10 - 45 mph

Stops are 1 block to 3 blocks apart

PCCC Mode Fact Sheet v.1 - Feb. 8, 2014