.
Transit Technologies Worksheet
A Review of Transit
Technology Specifications
1. Heavy Rail Transit
2. Commuter Rail Transit
3. Light Rail Transit
4. Modern Streetcar
5. Heritage Trolley
6. Dedicated Lane BRT
7. Express Bus
Photo credits from left to right
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
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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)
.
Heavy Rail Transit
Station Type:
Station, Platform
Distance Between Stations:
Urban Core >1 mile
Periphery 1-5 miles
Service Frequency:
5-10 Minutes (Peak)
Alignment:
Separate Right of Way
Right of Way Width:
25-33 Feet
Turning Radius:
330 Feet
Vehicle Length:
40-70 Feet per car
Up to 10 car trains
Example Cities:
Washington DC (Metro)
San Francisco (BART)
New York (MTA)
Boston (MBTA)
Chicago (CTA)
Projected Costs per Mile
$50-$250 Million
High System Cost:
$558 Million (Estimated)
San Francisco Central Subway
Low System Costs:
$73.12 Million (Estimated)
Chicago Blue Line Rebuild
Service Type:
Regional, Urban
Operating Speed:
50-80 MPH
Typical Power Source:
Electric
FRA Compliant: (Able to run on
tracks with freight trains)
No
Photo: New York City Subway
From: Answers.com
.
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:
Boston (MBTA)
New Jersey (NJT)
New York (Long Island RR)
Dallas – Fort Worth (TRE)
San Jose – San Francisco
(CalTrain)
Projected Costs per Mile
$3-$25 Million*
High System Cost:
$16.57 (Estimated)
Chicago Southwest Corridor
Commuter Rail
Low System Costs:
$1.2 Million
Nashville
Service Type:
Regional, Intraurban
Operating Speed:
30-60 MPH
Station Type:
Station, Platform
Distance Between Stations:
2-5 Miles
Service Frequency:
20-30 Minutes
Alignment:
Generally built on existing
tracks at grade street crossings
Right of Way Width:
37+ Feet
Turning Radius:
140-460 Feet
Vehicle Length:
150-500 Feet
Engine and Coaches
Typical Power Source:
Diesel
FRA Compliant:
Yes
Photo: Caltrain, San Fransisco Peninsula
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:
Denver
Minneapolis
Dallas
Houston
Salt Lake City
Projected Costs per Mile
$20-$60 Million ($56)^
High System Cost:
$65 Million
Los Angeles Gold Line (2003)
Low System Costs:
$34 Million
Houston (2004)
Service Type:
Regional, Urban
Operating Speed:
20-60 MPH
Station Type:
Sidewalk Sign, Station,
Platform
Distance Between Stations:
~1 Mile
Service Frequency:
5-30 Minutes
Alignment:
Aligned center or side of street
corridor on separate right of
way
Right of Way Width:
19-33 Feet (Double Track)
11-13 Feet (Single Track)
Turning Radius:
50-100 Feet
Vehicle Length:
50-80 Feet per car and up to 4
car trains
Typical Power Source:
Electric
FRA Compliant:
No
^ This includes estimates and
figures for Complete Systems
in Final Design, Under Con-
struction, or completed after
2003 that do not include tun-
neling <http://www.lightrail.
com/LRTSystems.htm>
Photo: Hudson Bergen LRT
From: transitpicsgallery.com
.
Modern Streetcar
Vehicle Length:
35-60 Feet
Typical Power Source:
Electric
FRA Compliant:
No
* Modern Streetcar and Light
Rail systems are often lumped
in with road and utility recon-
struction increasing the costs.
Low cost systems are viable
however there are no examples
at the moment
Photo: Portland Streetcar
From: railwaypreservation.com
Station Type:
Sidewalk Sign, Station,
Platform
Distance Between Stations:
0.25 Miles
Service Frequency:
8-15 Minutes
Alignment:
In Street with traffic, no grade
separation
Right of Way Width:
19-24 (Double Track)
11-13 (Single Track)
Turning Radius:
40-80 Feet
Example Cities:
Portland
Seattle (Design Phase)
Washington DC (Under
Construction)
Projected Costs per Mile
$10-$25 Million
High System Cost:
$23.7 Million
Portland
Low System Costs:
*
Service Type:
Urban Circulator
Operating Speed:
8-12 MPH
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.
.
Heritage Trolley
Vehicle Length:
35-50 Feet
Typical Power Source:
Electric
FRA Compliant:
No
Photo: San Francisco F Line
From: APTA Heritagetrolley.org
Station Type:
Sidewalk Sign, Station,
Platform
Distance Between Stations:
0.25 Miles
Service Frequency:
8-15 Minutes
Alignment:
In Street with traffic, no grade
separation
Right of Way Width:
19-24 (Double Track)
11-13 (Single Track)
Turning Radius:
40-50 Feet
Example Cities:
New Orleans
Memphis
Little Rock
Kenosha
Galveston
Projected Costs per Mile
$2-$12 Million
High System Cost:
$12 Million
Charlotte
Low System Costs:
$2.5 Million
Kenosha, Wi
Service Type:
Urban Circulator
Operating Speed:
8-12 MPH
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)
.
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:
Boston
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
Eugene
Projected Costs per Mile
$4-$40 Million
High System Cost:
$55 Million
Pittsburgh West Busway
Low System Costs:
$6.25 Million
Los Angeles San Bernadino
Freeway HOV Busway
Service Type:
Regional, Urban
Operating Speed:
8-12 MPH
Station Type:
Sidewalk Sign, Station,
Platform
Distance Between Stations:
0.25-2 Miles
Service Frequency:
8-20 Minutes
Alignment:
HOV lanes or separated right
of way in median or on curb
Right of Way Width:
12 (Pittsburg Single)
28 (Pittsburg Double)
Turning Radius:
40-70 Feet
Vehicle Length:
30 -50 Feet
Typical Power Source:
Diesel, Electric
FRA Compliant:
N/A
Photo: Proposed Van Ness BRT
From: sfcta.org
Example Cities:
Any City with a Bus System
Projected Costs per Mile
$1-$2 Million
Service Type:
Regional, Urban
Operating Speed:
15-19 MPH
Station Type:
Sidewalk Sign, Platform
Distance Between Stations:
Limited stops along normal
bus routes
Service Frequency:
10-20 Minutes
Alignment:
In Street with traffic
Right of Way Width:
Street Width
Turning Radius:
33-46 Feet
Vehicle Length:
30-50 Feet
Typical Power Source:
Diesel
FRA Compliant:
N/A
Photo: Maple Grove Minnesota Express
Bus
From: www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/adminis-
tration/transit
.
Express Bus
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.
.
Contact Us
Reconnecting America
436 14th Street Suite 1005
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 268-8602
Data Sources:
APTA HeritageTrolley.org
TCRP 90 - Bus Rapid Transit
Lightrail.com
DART Technology Review Report
‘Future Transport in Cities’
- Brian Richards
‘Urban Public Transportation -
Systems and Technology’
- Vukan R. Vuchic
