MBTA Green Line 3-car Train Operating Plans to Enhance Capacity and Reliability

MBTA Green Line 3-car Train Operating Plans to Enhance Capacity and Reliability PDF Author: Alexandra A. Malikova
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Book Description
Transit agencies face a variety of challenges, from increasing ridership to changes in infrastructure, to system expansions, all of which require significant preparation to accommodate the changes without affecting passengers or the agency negatively. The MBTA Green Line, a Boston light rail system serving nearly 230,000 average weekday passengers, will be undergoing major changes in the next two decades, including nearly doubling of ridership and system expansion. In order to prepare for these changes, measures need to be taken to increase capacity and plan for operations on the new segment. Starting in Fall 2010, the MBTA added to a 2-car train operation, and subsequently increased, a number of 3-car trains on three of the four Green Line branches, in order to begin to address the capacity issue. This thesis analyzes service performance before and after implementation of 3-car trains to find that although scheduled capacity increased slightly, the actual capacity of the system remained constant during the morning peak period and decreased during the evening peak period. Furthermore, there were some negative impacts with respect to passenger waiting time and running times, thus worsening the overall passenger experience. However, since 3-car trains will be required for increasing capacity on the Green Line, it is recommended that trials of 3-car trains continue, with the restriction that only 2- or 3-car trains operate on a branch. Furthermore, field observations at terminal stations on two of the branches show differences in operations management practices, which help explain some variability in service along the route, and point to strategies to improve service reliability.

MBTA Green Line 3-car Train Operating Plans to Enhance Capacity and Reliability

MBTA Green Line 3-car Train Operating Plans to Enhance Capacity and Reliability PDF Author: Alexandra A. Malikova
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Book Description
Transit agencies face a variety of challenges, from increasing ridership to changes in infrastructure, to system expansions, all of which require significant preparation to accommodate the changes without affecting passengers or the agency negatively. The MBTA Green Line, a Boston light rail system serving nearly 230,000 average weekday passengers, will be undergoing major changes in the next two decades, including nearly doubling of ridership and system expansion. In order to prepare for these changes, measures need to be taken to increase capacity and plan for operations on the new segment. Starting in Fall 2010, the MBTA added to a 2-car train operation, and subsequently increased, a number of 3-car trains on three of the four Green Line branches, in order to begin to address the capacity issue. This thesis analyzes service performance before and after implementation of 3-car trains to find that although scheduled capacity increased slightly, the actual capacity of the system remained constant during the morning peak period and decreased during the evening peak period. Furthermore, there were some negative impacts with respect to passenger waiting time and running times, thus worsening the overall passenger experience. However, since 3-car trains will be required for increasing capacity on the Green Line, it is recommended that trials of 3-car trains continue, with the restriction that only 2- or 3-car trains operate on a branch. Furthermore, field observations at terminal stations on two of the branches show differences in operations management practices, which help explain some variability in service along the route, and point to strategies to improve service reliability.

Strategies for Meeting Future Capacity Needs on the Light Rail MBTA Green Line

Strategies for Meeting Future Capacity Needs on the Light Rail MBTA Green Line PDF Author: David A. Sindel
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 246

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Book Description
The MBTA Green Line in the Boston metropolitan area is the busiest light rail system in the United States. Aging infrastructure and vehicles, a soon-to-be-constructed line extension, and the potential for 40% ridership growth by mid-century will tax already inconsistent service. But in this challenge lies opportunity: a potential full-fleet replacement and accompanying infrastructure upgrades would remove constraints which have long affected operations and vehicle selection. Service evaluation and operations planning including frequency assignment, scheduled setting, and vehicle allocation are relatively well-understood problems for simple public transit lines. However, complex systems like the Green Line - those with multiple overlapping service patterns or branches sharing a trunkline - often present a transit planner with multiple tradeoffs and difficult decisions. Similarly, selection of appropriate rolling stock to help meet increasing capacity requirements is more difficult on a legacy system with physical constraints. Detailed analysis of various automated data collection sources can be used to assist medium-term and long-term planning decisions for these complex systems. This thesis offers a sequential approach to improving the Green Line in that context. Analysis before and after schedule changes in spring 2016 (including the removal of three-car trains) shows that overall capacity increased and passenger waiting times decreased. However, this is largely the partial reversal of service deterioration since 2010, rather than significant longterm improvement. The development of a linear optimization model for determining service frequency and vehicle allocation provides a method to incorporate observational data into evaluation of alternate service scenarios. Analysis of potential rolling stock models based on capacity and physical characteristics indicates that current light rail product lines from four manufacturers can be viable for future Green Line use, although some modifications and infrastructure upgrades will be necessary to meet long-term capacity needs. Although the specific details of this case study are particular to the Green Line, the process should be broadly applicable to other complex branched transit systems.

Imagine Boston 2030

Imagine Boston 2030 PDF Author: City Of Boston
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781389647642
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Today, Boston is in a uniquely powerful position to make our city more affordable, equitable, connected, and resilient. We will seize this moment to guide our growth to support our dynamic economy, connect more residents to opportunity, create vibrant neighborhoods, and continue our legacy as a thriving waterfront city.Mayor Martin J. Walsh's Imagine Boston 2030 is the first citywide plan in more than 50 years. This vision was shaped by more than 15,000 Boston voices.

Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual

Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual PDF Author: Transit Cooperative Research Program
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISBN: 0309087767
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 29

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Book Description
Accompanying CD-ROM contains full text of the manual, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, and a library of related documents.

Interborough Rapid Transit

Interborough Rapid Transit PDF Author: Interborough Rapid Transit Company
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Local transit
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description


The City Record

The City Record PDF Author: New York (N.Y.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : New York (N.Y
Languages : en
Pages : 1430

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Book Description


Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way

Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Railroads
Languages : en
Pages : 510

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Book Description


The Urban Rail Development Handbook

The Urban Rail Development Handbook PDF Author: Daniel Pulido
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 146481273X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 845

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Book Description
Cities across the globe are looking to develop affordable, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible transportation solutions that can meet the accessibility needs of expanding metropolitan populations and support future economic and urban development. When appropriately planned and properly implemented as part of a larger public transportation network, urban rail systems can provide rapid mobility and vital access to city centers from surrounding districts. High-performing urban rail services, when carefully approached as development projects, can help enhance quality of life by giving citizens access to employment opportunities, essential services, urban amenities, and neighboring communities. The purpose of this Handbook is to synthesize and disseminate knowledge to inform the planning, implementation, and operations of urban rail projects with a view towards: -- Emphasizing the need for early studies and project planning; -- Making projects more sustainable (economically, socially, and environmentally); -- Improving socioeconomic returns and access to opportunities for users; -- Maximizing the value of private participation, where appropriate; and -- Building capacity within project implementing and managing institutions This Handbook provides experiential advice to tackle the technical, institutional, and financial challenges faced by decision makers considering urban rail projects. It brings together the expertise of World Bank staff and the input of numerous specialists to synthesize international 'good practices' and recommendations that are independent of commercial, financial political, or other interests. The material presented is intended as an honest-broker guide to maximize the impact and manage the challenges of urban rail systems in cities in both developed and developing countries. Rather than identify a single approach, this Handbook acknowledges the complexities and context necessary when approaching an urban rail development by helping to prepare decision makers to ask the right questions, consider the key issues, perform the necessary studies, apply adequate tools, and learn from international good practice all at the right time in the project development process.

High-speed Rail

High-speed Rail PDF Author: Petra Todorovich
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781558442221
Category : High speed ground transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This Policy Focus Report was a product of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the Regional Plan Association and their joint venture America 2050. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy has been engaged in a series of projects with the Regional Plan Association for more than a decade. The partnership spawned the national initiative known as America 2050, which is aimed at meeting the infrastructure, economic development and environmental challenges of the nation, in preparation for a population increase of about 130 million by 2050. A major focus of America 2050 is the emergence of megaregions - large networks of metropolitan areas, where most of the population growth by mid-century will take place. Examples of megaregions are the Northeast Megaregion, from Boston to Washington, or Southern California, from Los Angeles to Tijuana, Mexico. High-speed rail is capable of linking employment centers and population hubs in corridors up to 600 miles in length in 11 U.S. megaregions.This Policy Focus Report was a product of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the Regional Plan Association and their joint venture America 2050. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy has been engaged in a series of projects with the Regional Plan Association for more than a decade. The partnership spawned the national initiative known as America 2050, which is aimed at meeting the infrastructure, economic development and environmental challenges of the nation, in preparation for a population increase of about 130 million by 2050. A major focus of America 2050 is the emergence of megaregions - large networks of metropolitan areas, where most of the population growth by mid-century will take place. Examples of megaregions are the Northeast Megaregion, from Boston to Washington, or Southern California, from Los Angeles to Tijuana, Mexico. High-speed rail is capable of linking employment centers and population hubs in corridors up to 600 miles in length in 11 U.S. megaregions.

Automatic Train Control in Rail Rapid Transit

Automatic Train Control in Rail Rapid Transit PDF Author: United States. Congress. Office of Technology Assessment
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : High speed ground transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 268

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Book Description