Innovations in Transit: Light Rail Systems

Light rail is a hybrid of heavy rail and express bus service. Like the former, light rail has stations, a train-like exterior, can carry more passengers than a bus, and runs on a fixed guideway. It operates like an express bus service because it can run on exclusive rights-of-way or along streets. Its ability to operate in a variety of traffic settings makes light rail a very attractive option for urban and dense suburban settings.

Compared to the $50-$250 million per mile cost of heavy rail, light rail costs only $20-$60 million per mile. Eliminating the heavy track, mandatory right-of-way, and third rail construction significantly reduces the price of a light rail system. Traveling at an estimated 20-60 mph, light rail systems can move an average of 20,000 people per hour, while cars move significantly less – only 2,000 cars per lane, per hour.

In 1991, Monterrey, Mexico opened the country’s first light rail system outside of Mexico City – the Metrorrey light rail network. The initial line connected the city east to west and ran on a combination of underground and elevated independent track. Its success allowed city officials to expand the system an additional 11 miles to service the University of Monterrey and other major job corridors. By 2007, more than 66 million passengers were traveling along the light rail line.

Not only can light rail help meet the need for today’s growing public transit demands, it also can be the catalyst for environmentally sound and energy-independent initiatives. The investment in light rail is significantly less than heavy rail and light rail systems can provide greater access and mobility for residents in traditionally underserved transit areas.

Metrorrey Light Rail, Photo: Martin Castillo

For additional resources:

Reconnecting America Factorids – Center for Transit-Oriented Development
Metrorrey - Urban Rail

NEWS

Local News

Congress’ boost to Amtrak fueled by high gas prices, too much traffic – Chicago Tribune “Among other precedents, it authorizes $3.4 billion to create high-speed passenger rail corridors and provide rail capital-improvement grants to states.”

GPS data drive growth, cuts costs – Chicago Tribune “By providing information on fleets in real-time using GPS, the start-up helps customers cut fuel usage by reducing idle time, boosting productivity and improving maintenance, said TJ Chung, president and chief executive.”

Why the rush on $2.5B Midway Airport deal? – Crain's “The argument from the Daley administration is that the city is getting a terrific deal at a time of financial crisis, and that it ought to act quickly lest that bird in hand fly away.”

We’re driving less, but highways are more crowded – Chicago Tribune “For an average of 13 hours and 19 minutes each day, vehicle speeds are less than 50 m.p.h. on at least 20 percent of the Chicago-area highway system, according to the Urban Congestion Report compiled by the Federal Highway Administration.”

CTA and I-GO to launch shared smart card – Chicago Sun-Times “Starting at the end of the year, people who sign up for the I-GO car sharing program can use the same card they¹d use to open the car to ride the CTA.”

Freight trains go green – Southtown Star “Instead of a single hulking diesel engine, GenSet locomotives rely on a series of electrical generators, similar to the ones that temporarily provide juice to buildings during power outages.”

Built for speed – and carpools – Chicago Tribune “Under the proposal, the inner lane of the most congested stretches of tollways would be designated express lanes intended for vehicles with two or more passengers, carpoolers and mass transit.”

Tangled traffic costs Chicago $7 billion, group says – Medill Reports “A recent study estimates that people in the six-county Chicago area waste about $7 billion each year in lost work time and fuel costs sitting in traffic.”

World News

Study offers short-term fixes to keep traffic moving in Southern California – Los Angeles Times “More toll lanes, one-way streets, pricier parking and bus-only lanes are the best short-term fixes to keep traffic moving in the Southland, according to a study released today by the Rand Corp.”

Streetcar of Sam’s desire on track – Vancouver Sun “Fifty years after the city's original streetcar network was paved over, the city has unveiled plans for the 60-day demonstration of a new streetcar line for the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics with an $8.5-million price tag.”

Issues: Infrastructure: Approach With Caution – Congressional Quarterly “But now, with the economy in trouble and the government weighing a $700 billion bailout of the financial system, Washington politicians are facing a different kind of question: what role federal spending on roads, bridges and public conveyances should play in any recovery.”

Transportation leaders say next president must improve U.S. infrastructure – Logistics Management Magazine “The nation’s roads, bridges, airports, ports, intermodal links and waterways are deteriorating to an embarrassing point where it threatens U.S. competitiveness.”

Traffic Cure Worsens the Pain – Washington Post “So much traffic clogs Washington area roads that Cox Communications has to use 20 percent more trucks here to serve the same number of customers as in other regions.”

Study summarizes affordable housing near transit developments – Denver Business Journal “A new study on transit-oriented development by the National Housing Trust shows that some affordable housing around bus and rail stations in metro Denver is in danger of disappearing because of expiring federal contracts.”

Ultimate green vehicle: podcar – Indy Star “Unlike mass transit, podcars carry two to 10 passengers, giving travelers the freedom and privacy of their own car while reducing the use of fossil fuels, lessening traffic congestion and freeing up space now monopolized by parking.”

Motorists prefer road charging to road tax, survey finds – Birmingham Post “The Institution of Civil Engineers found that 60 per cent of motorists believe forms of congestion charging and demand management are fairer than the current system of fixed vehicle excise duty, where costs are loaded to clobber gas-guzzling cars.”

Resources

Freeways Without Futures – Congress for the New Urbanism
Candidate Issue Index: Candidates on Transportation – The Brookings Institution

Contact Information

For comments, suggestions or submissions, please contact Emily Tapia Lopez, Associate, at etapia@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6047.