Innovative Traction Electrification Design for the Portland Streetcar Loop Project

The $148M 3.3 mile Portland Streetcar Loop Project extends from the Pearl District, across the existing Broadway Bridge, to serve the eastern half of the Portland Central City. The project alignment includes 28 new streetcar stops and crosses the TriMet MAX Light Rail alignment at two locations. At the Broadway Bridge, the streetcar is grade separated above the MAX Yellow Line tracks. At Holiday Street the streetcar crosses the MAX Blue Line at Grand Ave and MLK Jr. Blvd locations. Five 300KW traction power substations (TPSSs) are required per loadflow simulation. To reduce project costs, two streetcar TPSSs were eliminated by interconnecting the streetcar overhead contact system (OCS) with light rail OCS near the two crossings. Interconnection of the two system rails is also required. A cost saving of $1M was realized due to the elimination of two streetcar TPSSs. Several benefits to TriMet light rail system are also realized due to the interconnection: a) redundant feed between the MAX Yellow and Blue Lines; b) better load sharing; c) higher dc system voltage and; d) lower rail voltage rise. At the time it was built in 1911, the 1,613 ft Broadway Bridge was the world's longest double-leaf bascule bridge. Overhead conductor rails (OCR) designed by Furrer + Frey for lift bridge applications are installed on the bridge. OCR offers several advantages including no messenger wire required, no contact wire tension, and simplified maintenance. The OCR attached to the opening span is required to be de-energized and grounded during bridge opening to ensure safe operation. The controls and sectionalizing operation are accomplished through power contactors controlled by Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). This paper discusses the streetcar traction electrification system including TPSS protection and controls, interconnection and interfacing with TriMet light rail system, and the Broadway Bridge PLC control system.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.apta.com/mc/rail/previous/2013/papers/Papers/LooijengaK-PhamK-INNOVATIVE-TRACTION-ELECTRIFICATION-DESIGN-FOR-THE-PORTLAND-STREETCAR-LOOP-PROJECT.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract used with permission from American Public Transportation Association.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Public Transportation Association

  1666 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
  Washington, DC  United States  20006
• Authors:
  • Pham, Kinh D
  • Looijenga, Kai
• Conference:
  • 2013 Rail Conference
  • Location: Philadelphia PA, United States
  • Date: 2013-6-2 to 2013-6-5
• Publication Date: 2013

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Maps; Photos;
• Pagination: 13p
• Monograph Title: 2013 Rail Conference

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Cost effectiveness; Electric substations; Interconnection (Electric power); Lift bridges; Light rail transit; Streetcars
• Uncontrolled Terms: Programmable logic controllers
• Geographic Terms: Portland (Oregon)
• Subject Areas: Design; Passenger Transportation; Railroads; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I70: Traffic and Transport;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01502483
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 24 2013 1:09PM