Los Angeles LRT Expansion, USA
In the 1950s and early 1960s Los Angeles had an extensive network of surface tramways, but all were at the mercy of the private car and were closed by 1963. The city went through two decades without a major public transport system, but recognised its shortcomings, and eventually chose to reintroduce a new mass transit system to the west coast US city."The introduction of mass transit orientated transportation has reduced the number of private cars on the road."
Today, there is one underground metro route and three operational light rail transit lines, with a fourth under construction. The first to open was the Metro Light Rail Blue Line, followed in 1993 by the first section of the Metro Red Line underground subway.The introduction of mass transit orientated transportation has reduced the number of private cars on the road and the city has also introduced high-speed bus routes, which use dedicated lanes to negotiate traffic.
THE PROJECT
At present, the population of Los Angeles has a 140km (87.6 mile) light rail and subway system, following the opening of the first phase of the Metro Gold Line from Union Station north to Sierra Madre Villa in 2003.As part of the current programme of works, the Metro Gold Line is being extended south from Union Station with eight stops to Pomona/Atlantic in the south east of the city.
On the opposite side of Los Angeles, the fourth LRT route is under construction – the Exposition Line – which is due to open for public service between Pico and Washington/National in 2010.
Combined, the two projects equate to a US$1,538m investment, with a budget of US$898m for the Metro Gold extension and US$640m for the Exposition Line.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The rail transit system in Los Angeles currently consists of the Metro Red Line – the 28km underground route from Union Station to North Hollywood, the 35km Metro Blue Line heading south from the city centre, the 32km Metro Green Line running east–west in the south of the city, and the Metro Gold Line, 22km long and the latest to be opened.With 13 stations on its northern route, Metro Gold Line is being extended south with another eight stations on a six-mile alignment from Union Station. It will form a continuation of the existing Gold Line, and the estimated ride time from Union Station to the southern terminus at Atlantic is 17 minutes.
Two of the new stations will be underground, and construction includes boring twin tunnels under Boyle Heights for a distance of 2.9km (1.8 miles). Groundworks began in 2004 with the aim of passenger services beginning before the end of 2009. A park-and-ride site is being provided at Atlantic station.
The first section of the Exposition Line entered a four-year construction phase at the end of September 2006, following completion of final design work by the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (Expo). Until complete, the line is owned by Expo, at which point it will transfer to the Los Angeles Metro. The first phase of the project will see the mid-city section from Downtown Los Angeles to Culver City built, a total of 13.6km (8.5 miles) with ten stations.
The majority of the route is being built at grade, but the stations at La Cienega Boulevard. and La Brea Avenue will be on elevation.
ROLLING STOCK
The underground line is worked by a fleet of trains built by Ansaldo Breda of Italy. The vehicles are similar to those in service on the New York Subway, with stainless steel bodies and typical underground high-density seating inside."The light rail system has the benefit of running mainly on an alignment segregated from neighbouring roads, allowing reliable journey times."
On the light rail routes, a fleet of modern LRVs are in service, running as two-car sets, usually in pairs. These trains form the backbone of an intensive service which can run at five-minute intervals during peak times; a reduced service operates during the day.SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATIONS
All trains on both the underground and light rail routes are governed by colour light signals. The light rail system has the benefit of running mainly on an alignment segregated from neighbouring roads, allowing reliable journey times.THE FUTURE
The first section of the Exposition light rail line is due to open in 2010, but a future proposed extension will take it to the City of Santa Monica. There are also plans to extend the underground route towards the Pacific Ocean, following a feasibility study into tunnelling. | Despite its short length, the Metro Red Line is heavily used. |
 | Underground and light rail services became part of Los Angeles transit system in the early 1990s. |
 | Modern stations are being built as part of the Exposition Line programme. |
 | As well as running at grade and through streets, Los Angeles’ light rail system has some elevated sections. |
 | The Los Angeles Underground (red) and Light Rail Lines. |
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Our war for energy independence and economic sustainability
ReplyDeleteThe US government and other governments are not serious about energy efficiency and renewable energy development and implementation – they are too busy playing politics and capitulating to the Oil Companies.
IT is time to get series to avert an economic catastrophe – I hope it is not too late
The world needs to invest $50 trillion in energy in coming decades, building some 1,400 nuclear power plants and vastly expanding wind power, solar power, geothermal energy in order to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to an energy study released Friday.
The report by the Paris-based International Energy Agency envisions an "energy revolution" that would greatly reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining steady economic growth.
"Meeting this target of 50 percent cut in emissions and replacing fossil fuel represents a formidable challenge, and we would require immediate policy action and technological transition on an unprecedented scale," IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka said.
The scenario for deeper cuts would require massive investment in energy technology development and deployment, a wide-ranging campaign to dramatically increase energy efficiency, and a wholesale shift to renewable sources of energy.
Assuming an average 3.4 percent global economic growth over the 2010-2050 period, governments and the private sector would have to make additional investments of $50 trillion in energy, or 1.2 percent of the world's gross domestic product, the report said.
That would be an investment more than three times the current size of the entire U.S. economy.
In addition, the world would have to construct 38 new nuclear power plants each year, and wind-power turbines would have to be increased by 18,000 units annually, solar energy output would have to be increased 20 fold every year.
Let us not forget as we are increasing the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency – the world population is increasing – the demand for energy by advancement in technology worldwide is also increasing. We have to take these factors into account.
Oil is going to hit at least $200 per barrel, gasoline at the pump will hit $6 or more per gallon, in some countries it is already $10 per gallon.
Most of the money would be in the commercialization of energy technologies developed by governments and the private sector.
"If industry is convinced there will be policy for serious, actions for accelerated development of renewable energy and efficiency, then these investments will be made by the private sector."
People are hurting financially and economically, this must end, we should strive for a thriving economy with new technology for renewable energy and efficiency.
We have the technology and knowhow let us stop playing politics – unite our people and our nation in a common goal to avert an economic disaster and maintain our quality of life for generations to come.
Let us serve as an example to the rest of the world.
Jay Draiman, Energy Analyst