01044150

Component

http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/155725.aspx

This paper reports on changes and additions to light rail transit (LRT) and streetcar systems in the United States and Canada that have occurred since the last National Light Rail Conference was held in 2003. There were two completely new LRT start-ups during this period, Houston, Texas, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as a new streetcar line in Little Rock, Arkansas, all in 2004. In addition, several cities extended existing lines: Jersey City, New Jersey; Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; Los Angeles, San José, and Sacramento, California; Portland, Oregon; and Calgary and Edmonton, Canada. These developments are discussed in the text and reflected in the accompanying data tables. The paper also provides an overview of ongoing work to further extend several of the existing LRT systems in North America, and progress on still more new starts. In the latter category, Phoenix, Arizona; Seattle, Oregon; and Charlotte, North Carolina, are under construction, the LRT projects in Norfolk, Virginia, are advancing through design, and the Oceanside–Escondido light diesel multiple unit (DMU) line is under construction in California. In summary, interest in and implementation of LRT, streetcar, and light DMU projects continue.

01044135

English

pp 3-18

2007-1

Transportation Research Circular

Light Rail Transit: A World of Applications and Opportunities. Joint International Light Rail Conference

Web

Tables (6)

Diesel multiple unit cars; Light rail transit; Line extensions (Rail transit); Streetcars; Tables (Data)

Service start up

Canada; North America; United States

Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads

TRIS, TRB

Mar 14 2007 2:44PM

• A Comparative Discussion of the Light Rail Transit Mode and the Bus Rapid Transit Initiative
• A Report on the Status of Planning for MetroLink Expansion in the St. Louis Region
• Analysis of St. Louis MetroLink Performance
• Applying the Versatility of Streetcar Technology to North American Urban Transit
• Calgary's CTrain: Effective Capital Utilization
• Center Truck Performance on Low-Floor Light Rail Vehicles
• Comparative Performance of Public Transport in U.S. New Start Rail Cities Versus Bus-Only Cities
• Construction of the Newark City Subway Broad Street Extension
• Crashworthiness Standards for the U.S. Light Rail Environment
• Evaluation of Multiple-Unit Streetcar Operation in Toronto, Canada
• Fare Evasion in Light Rail Systems
• Feasibility of Combined Rail–Road Transport System in the Netherlands
• How Much Do We Really Know? An Evaluation of Past and Current Research Regarding the Costs and Benefits of the Hiawatha Light Rail Line
• Implementing a Winning Approach to Good Facility Design
• Incident-Friendly and Secure Light Rail Vehicle Design
• Innovative Traffic Control Practices for Light Rail Transit: A European Perspective
• Light Rail Transit in Calgary: The First 25 Years
• Provision of Expedited Rail Transit Service
• Regional Transportation District Light Rail Central Corridor Capacity Analysis
• Regulations and Standards: A Double-Edged Sword
• Safety of Noncompliant Passenger Rail Equipment
• Service Planning On Hudson–Bergen Light Rail: The Systems Engineering Basis
• Shortline Railroads and Rail Transit: Joint Development Planning Issues
• Surface Rail Service and Surface Transit Ridership: A Statistical Inquiry
• Using Climate Response in Designing Fixed Guideway Stations and Bus Passenger Shelters: An Application in Phoenix, Arizona