.

Transit Technologies Worksheet

1 2
A Review of Transit
Technology Specifications

1. Heavy Rail Transit

2. Commuter Rail Transit
3. Light Rail Transit
4. Modern Streetcar
5. Heritage Trolley 3 4
6. Dedicated Lane BRT
7. Express Bus

5 6

Photo credits from left to right 7

1. answers.com
2. newrecruit.com
3. lightrail.com
4. APTA Heritagetrolley.org
5. APTA Heritagetrolley.org
6. sfcta.org
7. thetransitcoalition.us
8. infilldenver.com
 . Transit
Heavy Rail

Definition:
The term heavy rail refers to
a mode of transportation that
is defined less by its vehicle
weight than by its complexity
and operational rigidity. Heavy
rail systems typically consist
of steel-wheeled, electric
powered vehicles operating in
trains of two or more cars on a
fully grade-separated right-of-
way. (FTA)

Example Cities: Station Type: Typical Power Source:

Washington DC (Metro) Station, Platform Electric
San Francisco (BART)
New York (MTA) Distance Between Stations: FRA Compliant: (Able to run on
Boston (MBTA) Urban Core >1 mile tracks with freight trains)
Chicago (CTA) Periphery 1-5 miles No
Projected Costs per Mile Service Frequency:
$50-$250 Million
5-10 Minutes (Peak)
High System Cost:
Alignment:
$558 Million (Estimated)
San Francisco Central Subway Separate Right of Way

Low System Costs: Right of Way Width:

$73.12 Million (Estimated) 25-33 Feet
Chicago Blue Line Rebuild
Turning Radius:
Service Type: 330 Feet
Regional, Urban
Vehicle Length:
Photo: New York City Subway
Operating Speed: 40-70 Feet per car From: Answers.com
50-80 MPH Up to 10 car trains
 .
Commuter Rail Transit

Definition:
Commuter Rail is an electric
or diesel propelled railway
for urban passenger train
service consisting of local
short distance travel operating
between a central city and
adjacent suburbs.

Example Cities: Operating Speed: Vehicle Length:

Boston (MBTA) 30-60 MPH 150-500 Feet
New Jersey (NJT) Engine and Coaches
New York (Long Island RR) Station Type:
Dallas – Fort Worth (TRE) Station, Platform Typical Power Source:
San Jose – San Francisco Diesel
(CalTrain) Distance Between Stations:
2-5 Miles FRA Compliant:
Projected Costs per Mile
Yes
$3-$25 Million*
Service Frequency:
20-30 Minutes
High System Cost:
$16.57 (Estimated)
Chicago Southwest Corridor Alignment:
Commuter Rail Generally built on existing
tracks at grade street crossings
Low System Costs:
$1.2 Million Right of Way Width:
Nashville 37+ Feet

Service Type: Turning Radius: Photo: Caltrain, San Fransisco Peninsula

Regional, Intraurban 140-460 Feet From: newrecruit.com
Stephen DesRoches
 Light Rail. Transit

Definition:
The term light rail refers
more to this mode’s relative
simplicity and operational
flexibility than to actual
vehicle weight or cost.
With an overhead power
supply, light rail systems can
operate in mixed traffic and
widely ranging alignment
configurations. (FTA)

Example Cities: Station Type: Vehicle Length:

Denver Sidewalk Sign, Station, 50-80 Feet per car and up to 4
Minneapolis Platform car trains
Dallas
Houston Distance Between Stations: Typical Power Source:
Salt Lake City ~1 Mile Electric
Projected Costs per Mile Service Frequency: FRA Compliant:
$20-$60 Million ($56)^
5-30 Minutes No
High System Cost:
Alignment:
$65 Million
Los Angeles Gold Line (2003) Aligned center or side of street ^ This includes estimates and
corridor on separate right of figures for Complete Systems
Low System Costs: way in Final Design, Under Con-
$34 Million struction, or completed after
Houston (2004) Right of Way Width: 2003 that do not include tun-
19-33 Feet (Double Track) neling <http://www.lightrail.
Service Type: 11-13 Feet (Single Track) com/LRTSystems.htm>
Regional, Urban
Turning Radius: Photo: Hudson Bergen LRT
From: transitpicsgallery.com
Operating Speed: 50-100 Feet
20-60 MPH
 .
Modern Streetcar

Definition:
The U.S. term streetcar is
generic to most forms of
common carrier rail transit
that runs or has run on streets,
providing a local service and
picking up and discharging
passengers at any street corner,
unless otherwise marked.

Example Cities: Station Type: Vehicle Length:

Portland Sidewalk Sign, Station, 35-60 Feet
Seattle (Design Phase) Platform
Washington DC (Under Typical Power Source:
Construction) Distance Between Stations: Electric
0.25 Miles
Projected Costs per Mile FRA Compliant:
$10-$25 Million Service Frequency: No
8-15 Minutes
High System Cost:
* Modern Streetcar and Light
$23.7 Million
Alignment: Rail systems are often lumped
Portland
In Street with traffic, no grade in with road and utility recon-
Low System Costs: separation struction increasing the costs.
* Low cost systems are viable
Right of Way Width: however there are no examples
Service Type: 19-24 (Double Track) at the moment
Urban Circulator 11-13 (Single Track)

Operating Speed: Turning Radius:

8-12 MPH 40-80 Feet Photo: Portland Streetcar
From: railwaypreservation.com
 Heritage. Trolley

Definition:
The terms Heritage Trolley
and Vintage Trolley are used
to describe modern use of
trolleys of a design dating
from roughly 1900 to 1950.
The terms can be used to refer
either to a replica car that more
or less accurately reproduces
a trolley from the first half
of the 20th century, or to an
original preserved car restored
to accurate or nearly accurate
standards. (APTA)

Example Cities: Station Type: Vehicle Length:

New Orleans Sidewalk Sign, Station, 35-50 Feet
Memphis Platform
Little Rock Typical Power Source:
Kenosha Distance Between Stations: Electric
Galveston 0.25 Miles
FRA Compliant:
Projected Costs per Mile Service Frequency: No
$2-$12 Million
8-15 Minutes
High System Cost:
Alignment:
$12 Million
Charlotte In Street with traffic, no grade
separation
Low System Costs:
$2.5 Million Right of Way Width:
Kenosha, Wi 19-24 (Double Track)
11-13 (Single Track)
Service Type:
Urban Circulator Turning Radius:
Photo: San Francisco F Line
40-50 Feet From: APTA Heritagetrolley.org
Operating Speed:
8-12 MPH
 Dedicated. Lane BRT

Definition:
Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a
relatively new umbrella term
for urban mass transportation
services utilizing buses to
perform premium services on
existing roadways or dedicated
rights-of-way.

Example Cities: Station Type: Vehicle Length:

Boston Sidewalk Sign, Station, 30 -50 Feet
Pittsburgh Platform
Cleveland Typical Power Source:
Eugene Distance Between Stations: Diesel, Electric
0.25-2 Miles
Projected Costs per Mile FRA Compliant:
$4-$40 Million Service Frequency: N/A
8-20 Minutes
High System Cost:
$55 Million
Alignment:
Pittsburgh West Busway
HOV lanes or separated right
Low System Costs: of way in median or on curb
$6.25 Million
Los Angeles San Bernadino Right of Way Width:
Freeway HOV Busway 12 (Pittsburg Single)
28 (Pittsburg Double)
Service Type:
Regional, Urban Turning Radius:
Photo: Proposed Van Ness BRT
40-70 Feet From: sfcta.org
Operating Speed:
8-12 MPH
 . Bus
Express

Definition:
An Express bus is a bus service
that is intended to run faster
than normal bus lines. These
buses usually run between
the downtown sections of
cities and the more residential
Suburbs or Outer Boroughs.

Example Cities: Alignment:

Any City with a Bus System In Street with traffic

Projected Costs per Mile Right of Way Width:

$1-$2 Million Street Width

Service Type: Turning Radius:

Regional, Urban 33-46 Feet
Operating Speed:
Vehicle Length:
15-19 MPH
30-50 Feet
Station Type:
Typical Power Source:
Sidewalk Sign, Platform
Diesel
Distance Between Stations:
FRA Compliant:
Limited stops along normal
N/A
bus routes Photo: Maple Grove Minnesota Express
Bus
Service Frequency: From: www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/adminis-
tration/transit
10-20 Minutes
 . Us
Contact

Data Sources:
APTA HeritageTrolley.org
TCRP 90 - Bus Rapid Transit Reconnecting America
Lightrail.com
DART Technology Review Report
‘Future Transport in Cities’
436 14th Street Suite 1005
- Brian Richards
‘Urban Public Transportation -
Oakland, CA 94612
Systems and Technology’
- Vukan R. Vuchic (510) 268-8602