In one hour, the earth receives more energy from the sun than the entire world uses in one year.

Boston rail station soaks up the sun

 

 

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick recently participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the state’s first rail station powered entirely by solar energy. This two-year project will be the Commonwealth's first net-zero energy rail station, according to the governor's office. The station’s renewal is a part of the $13.5 million transit-oriented development project near Fenway Park. The completed project will fill several acres with apartments, offices, stores, and new roads that will improve accessibility in and around the neighborhood. “This is going to turn ugly, underutilized parking lots into a world-class neighborhood,’’ said John Rosenthal, the project developer. The Massachusetts Dept. of Transportation will share the cost of the redevelopment through a lease agreement with Rosenthal, who is renting state land for his project.

In addition to retrofitting the rail station with solar panels, new bike amenities and improved pedestrian walkways will encourage energy efficiency through lower impact travel. The design also includes longer platforms and a new glass-framed head house. The upgrade allows for more than double the number of lines currently using the station, and will generate more than enough solar power to serve it. Once the renewed station is complete, it is projected to provide the opportunity for upwards of 150 jobs.

Solar panels are a clean means of collecting energy. They make use of renewable energy by converting light into electricity. The process of extracting electricity directly from light is called Photovoltaic (PV), which is the plan for the solar powered rail station in Boston. The other form of collecting energy is indirect conversion called concentrated solar power (CSP), which normally focuses the sun's energy to boil water to provide power. There are no harmful emissions from either form of solar power and its operations are virtually noise free, making it environmentally superior to alternative forms of generating electricity.

Chicago already recognizes the benefits of solar panels. A former industrial site on Chicago's South Side now houses more than 32,000 solar panels, making it the largest urban solar power plant in the nation. Also, earlier this year, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation that doubles the state's solar power supply. Although Chicago is known for harsh weather conditions, the sun in Illinois is more intense than in Japan and Germany, the world’s two largest solar markets. Therefore, the Chicago region could retrofit its rail stations with solar panels.

Chicago’s Reconnecting Neighborhoods plan, led by the Chicago Dept. of Planning and Development, Regional Transportation Authority and MPC, calls for transportation, housing and commercial improvements for the area near the United Center that parallel the renewal plans near Fenway Park . Both are sporting venues surrounded by vast parking lots and underutilized space, and Reconnecting Neighborhoods calls for enhancing community livability by building sustainable networks within the United Center neighborhood. Solar panels atop the elevated train stops and commercial developments would definitely contribute to the sustainable mission of Reconnecting Neighborhoods. The only hurdle is the capital cost for this technology. Chicago residents must consider if the financial cost for solar panels and community improvements are worth the opportunity to greatly decrease our carbon footprint, reduce our reliance on non-renewal energy sources, and sustain a vibrant neighborhood.

 

 For Additional Information:

 World Architecture News

 Boston News

 Siemensolar

 SLT Today

 

NEWS

MPC News

Honolulu's New Opportunity to link workforce housing and transit – Metropolitan Planning Council "A workforce housing forum in Honolulu, Hawaii, brings together more than 90 local, state and national housing leaders to explore effective strategies to address local housing challenges."

Local News

 

IDOT advertises first two Illiana Expressway jobs – The Northwest Indiana Times “In June, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn met at the Lansing Municipal Airport to sign a memorandum of understanding committing both states to work together on the Illiana Expressway."

Lawmakers target transit agencies – The Chicago Tribune “Separate measures submitted by Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, and Sen. Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills, call for sweeping out all the mass-transit directors as a result of the corruption scandal involving Metra's longtime boss, the late Phil Pagano.”

Dead Ride for Free on CTA with Fraud Rampant in Free Ride Program – FOX Chicago News “A joint investigation by FOX Chicago News and the Better Government Association has uncovered widespread fraud and abuse in the "seniors ride free" program -- including numerous cases where free passes continue to be used on trains and buses long after the registered cardholder died.”  

Argonne, Tollway in research deal – The Chicago Sun-Times “Argonne National Laboratory and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority announced a three-year research partnership Thursday focusing on solar energy, fuel efficiency and technology to help manage traffic and the environmental impact of road-building.”

Chicago-area's 'third airport' in Peotone is off the radar, LaHood says – The Chicago Tribune “The proposal for a Chicago-area "third airport'' near Peotone in Will County is on the far back burner, if it is on the stove at all, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood indicated this week in Chicago, prompting an angry response Wednesday from U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill.”  

Senate votes to put area transit agencies under auspices of state watchdog – The Chicago Tribune “The state's executive inspector general would have authority to investigate the Chicago area's transit agencies under legislation the Illinois Senate sent to the House on Wednesday.”  

World News

Minneapolis aims to upgrade transit service – The Minneapolis Star “Minneapolis proposal would add waiting space, shelters and signs, but a business representative said she has concerns about the effect on property owners.”

LaHood backs away from street sign regulation – The Washington Post “The Obama administration sought to distance itself Tuesday from an obscure transportation regulation that requires local governments to replace street signs with more reflective signs that use upper and lower case letters instead of all capitals.”  

Streetcars coming back to Atlanta – The Los Angeles Times “For the first time in more than six decades, this traffic-choked Southern city expects to see streetcars rumbling once more along its downtown streets.”

NTSB recommends changes after deadly copter crash – The Washington Post “The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday recommended redesign and modification of some elements of the Sikorsky S-76C model helicopter, the type that was involved in the 2009 helicopter crash that killed both pilots and six of seven passengers aboard.”

Electric car industry working to get infrastructure in gear – The Los Angeles Times “Battery-powered vehicles are about to start rolling into U.S. dealerships, and a sprawling industry is springing up to gain a foothold in what many hope will be a lucrative new niche.”

Midterms Threaten Obama’s Rail Plans – The New York Times “The Obama administration’s signature transportation initiative is almost always described as “high-speed rail.” But more than half of the $10.4 billion the administration has awarded for rail so far has not gone toward real bullet trains, but to build slower, conventional train lines that it hopes will form the foundation of a nationwide high-speed rail network.” 

 

Contact Information 

For comments, suggestions, or submissions, please contact Chantal Hayes, Communications Associate, at chayes@metroplanning.org or (312)-863-6019.