 |
Re: SMART real target of Novato lawsuit?
Author: Synonymouse
Date: 08-01-2008 - 13:13
Does anyone know what is the wire to rail height standard used by the Sacramento light rail system? This is similar to the operation I would visualize for my imaginary Petaluma to Santa Rosa streetcar line. 22' seems higher than that.
The gradients I am thinking of would be much steeper than any currently existing on the NWP. For instance I would replace the existing rotating low level bridge south of Petaluma with a fairly steep span parallel to the freeway bridge. No more issues with boats on the Petaluma River. Similarly at a busy intersection, such as the one at Washington Street and Lakeville in Petaluma I would dig a cheap and steep underpass. Costs real money and operationally it might slow things down a bit but it would be a tremendous pr coup with our local notoriously unhappy motorists. LRV's can do some pretty extreme things. I estimate that the long hill at the outer end of SF Muni's 3rd Street line must approach 10% but the Breda lrv's handle it in stride.
Obviously we can't afford the BART level of grade separation but the public expects something more modern and rapid than the side of the road 1903 P&SR interurban. At least some grade separation at major points of congestion would present a visual reminder to the public that streetcars can be as modern as you could wish, depending on how much you wish to spend.
The gradients I am thinking of would be much steeper than any currently existing on the NWP. For instance I would replace the existing rotating low level bridge south of Petaluma with a fairly steep span parallel to the freeway bridge. No more issues with boats on the Petaluma River. Similarly at a busy intersection, such as the one at Washington Street and Lakeville in Petaluma I would dig a cheap and steep underpass. Costs real money and operationally it might slow things down a bit but it would be a tremendous pr coup with our local notoriously unhappy motorists. LRV's can do some pretty extreme things. I estimate that the long hill at the outer end of SF Muni's 3rd Street line must approach 10% but the Breda lrv's handle it in stride.
Obviously we can't afford the BART level of grade separation but the public expects something more modern and rapid than the side of the road 1903 P&SR interurban. At least some grade separation at major points of congestion would present a visual reminder to the public that streetcars can be as modern as you could wish, depending on how much you wish to spend.
