EVALUATING A LARGE NUMBER OF STATION AND ALIGNMENT ALTERNATIVES

A novel three-step evaluation process was used to select the final alignment, station locations, and construction method for the Maryland Mass Transit Administration's rail transit extension into northeast Baltimore. During preliminary engineering of this subway line, known as Section C, several station box locations for two stations, numerous route alignments, and two tunnel construction techniques resulted in 24 alternative designs for the extension. Over a dozen evaluation categories, many with multiple criteria, had to be addressed including cost, patron access, constructability, environmental and community impacts, and joint development potential. A conventional evaluation matrix was not a practical nor appropriate means to select the best option. The evaluation procedure used had three steps--the first of which was a construction methodology evaluation conducted within a capital cost threshold established by a financing cap. Then, individual components that made up the alternatives, such as a station location, were evaluated to determine the best-to-worst ranking against the relevant criteria. The alternatives that included the most top-ranked components were then evaluated using a focused dislay matrix that included only those criteria that distinguished the remaining alternatives. This procedure, which was successful in identifying the plan for the extension now under construction, provides a practical means enabling engineers, architects, planners, operators, and policy makers to manage a large number of alternatives and evaluation criteria.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1990/1266/1266-024.pdf
• Record URL:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1266, Urban Public Transportation Research 1990. 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
• Authors:
  • Perrin, Sallye E
  • Benz, Gregory P
• Publication Date: 1990

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 229-240
• Monograph Title: Urban public transportation research
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1266
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Alternatives analysis; Construction management; Decision making; Location; Planning; Rail transit facilities; Rapid transit
• Uncontrolled Terms: Extension
• Geographic Terms: Baltimore (Maryland)
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00602763
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309050189
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 31 1990 12:00AM