Applying a European Urban-Style Light Rail Transit Design Approach in North America: Recent Experience and Lessons Learned in Canada

Over the last 5 years several cities in Canada have looked to European Light Rail Transit (LRT) design experience to address their need to develop integrated transit solutions, improve transit service and transportation choice, and support wider city shaping objectives. This paper examines studies undertaken in Vancouver (the UBC Line), Edmonton (West– Downtown Connector–Southeast Corridor), Calgary (North Central Corridor), Hamilton (B-Line, serving McMaster University), and Mississauga–Brampton (Hurontario-Main LRT). In each of these cities urban style LRT projects have been developed based on a European design approach. This approach advocates low floor, level boarding LRT, with segregated operation and priority at intersections. This maximizes the benefits of investment in LRT and also forms the basis for a wider “complete street” design approach, including a re-ordering of transportation hierarchies (more emphasis on pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users), a re-allocation of road space, a greater emphasis on comprehensive urban design, and an integrated planning approach that links LRT with complementary transportation demand management measures and transit-oriented land use policies. The paper highlights the methods and techniques that have been applied to develop the projects in each city, including the design process; development of complementary measures; focus on putting the passenger first; the discipline of the business case and multiple account evaluation; stakeholder engagement; and funding, procurement, and delivery strategies. The LRT in Dublin, Ireland, will also be used as an example to highlight the benefits of urban style LRT, examining the benefits that have been realized since the project opened in 2004. The paper will conclude by setting out a practical checklist that can be applied to any city considering LRT as a means of upgrading its transit infrastructure and creating more sustainable lifestyles connecting residents to jobs, recreation, education, and other opportunities.

• Record URL:
  • https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/22467
• 
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• Authors:
  • Jones, Alan
• Conference:
  • 12th National Light Rail Conference
  • Location: Salt Lake City Utah
  • Date: 2012-11-11 to 2012-11-13
• Publication Date: 2013-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 151-168
• Monograph Title: Sustaining the Metropolis: Light Rail Transit and Streetcars for Super Cities
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: E-C177
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Lessons learned; Light rail transit; Light rail vehicles; Programming (Planning); Urban areas; Urban design; Urban transportation
• Geographic Terms: Canada; Dublin (Ireland); Europe
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01514788
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 20 2014 10:19AM