DELAY AT LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT GRADE CROSSINGS

The concept of light rail vehicles (LRVs) operating at grade and alternately sharing the right-of-way perpendicular to the flow of automobile traffic is an attractive transit idea because of the potential cost savings to transit agencies. This paper is a partial review of an evaluation of the potential delay impacts on automobile traffic imposed by LRVs operating at grade. This report can assist decision-makers in determining where grade separations are appropriate. Also presented is a methodology for summarizing the operational characteristics of a light rail transit grade crossing with a single parameter, the crossing-volume-to-capacity ratio. The analysis centered on computer simulations using FHWA's NETSIM model. Results indicated that for light rail transit crossings located in excess of 400 ft from any adjacent intersection, the delay imposed on the motoring public warranted a grade separation only at very high traffic volumes or very short LRV headways.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr221/221-044.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309047137
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Board Special Report No. 221, Light Rail Transit: New System Successes at Affordable Prices - Papers presented at the National Conference on Light Rail Transit, May 8-11, 1988, San Jose, California, Conducted by the Transportation Research Board. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Rymer, Bruce
  • Urbanik II, Thomas
  • Cline Jr, James C
• Conference:
  • National Conference on Light Rail Transit
  • Location: San Jose California, United States
  • Date: 1988-5-8 to 1988-5-11
• Publication Date: 1989

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 621-634
• Monograph Title: LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT: NEW SYSTEM SUCCESSES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 221
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0360-859X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Costs; Grade separations; Headways; Light rail transit; Light rail transit grade crossings; Operations; Railroad grade crossings; Simulation; Traffic delays; Traffic volume; Warrants (Traffic control devices)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Operational analysis
• Old TRIS Terms: Traffic warrants
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00483695
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0-309-04713-7
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: May 31 1990 12:00AM