BUILT-IN-PLACE SUBSTATIONS: BEAUTY AND BRAINS AT THE RIGHT PRICE--TRIMET'S TRACTION POWER SUBSTATIONS EVOLVE TO A HIGHER LEVEL

Light rail traction power substations (TPSs) do not have to be unsightly and hidden in the most remote recesses of the project. The large painted metal boxes surrounded by cyclone fence that have become the familiar norm for many projects are being replaced by built-in-place buildings in Portland, Oregon, where the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) and the community are concerned with aesthetics and have made the TPS an important and prominent design element. The general design, construction, costs, contract packaging, advantages and disadvantages, and features of the TriMet built-in-place substation buildings are discussed, and they are compared to similar packaged units. Built-in-place TPSs are far more likely to be accepted by their neighboring community. This acceptance allows them to be an important part of the architectural design of the stations, platforms, and other design sensitive locations. Field constructed TPSs using built-in-place buildings are a cost effective alternative to packaged TPSs. Built-in-place TPSs can offer more working space around equipment and better access to equipment, compared to packaged substations.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/circulars/ec058/ec058.pdf
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• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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

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• Authors:
  • Hastings, R
  • Pham, K D
  • Thomas, R S
• Conference:
  • Experience, Economics, and Evolution--From Starter Lines to Growing Systems. 9th National Light Rail Transit Conference
  • Location: Portland, Oregon
  • Date: 2003-11-16 to 2003-11-18
• Publication Date: 2003-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 678-695
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: E-C058
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Construction; Costs; Design; Electric substations; Light rail transit
• Identifier Terms: Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon
• Geographic Terms: Portland (Oregon)
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Finance; Highways; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00972192
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: E-C058
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 22 2004 12:00AM