International Comparison of Light Rail Delivery in Urban Environments –

Case Studies from UK and Australia

Scott Ney, MIEAust CPEng, RPEQ, CEng MICE, PE Technical Executive – Parsons Brinckerhoff 05 March 2014

Overview

•  Common Project Themes and Challenges •  Recent Case Studies

–  Perth MAX (concept + business case) –  Edinburgh Trams (design and construction)

•  Summary and Lessons Learnt

Light Rail is more complex than most other Public Transport infrastructure

Common Themes

•  Minimising Risk –  “Role of LRT” in corridor selection –  Safety –  Cost –  Stakeholder inputs –  Public Perception

•  “Balance” –  Transport or Catalyst for Change –  Competing Stakeholders –  Requirement vs. Betterment –  Transport Priority

•  Integration –  Transport Integration –  Integration into built environment –  Design Integration

Common Challenges

•  Where should it be? –  Corridor –  Alignment –  Stops

•  “Approvability” –  Stop Locations and Urban

Design Impacts –  Traffic Operations and

Modelling –  Design Guidelines

•  Third Party Agreements •  Service Diversions •  Constructability - “Open for

Business” •  Thinking towards the future

The Integration Challenge

“Approvability”

Construct-ability

Cost

Design Criteria

Stakeholder Inputs

Agreements

Safety

Aesthetics

Beware of “The Ripple Effect”

Procurement

CIV

STR

OHW

GEO

TRK

UTL

DRN

SUB

SIG

ALG

RDS

TP

STP

E&B EMC COM

LDS

TRF

ARC

UD

DCT

VEH

How is a Light Rail Project successful?

Approvals Technical Constraints

Construction and

Maintenance Costs

Operations Urban

Regeneration Stakeholder

Inputs

Passenger Experience

Integrated Transport

Traffic Operations

Urban Design

Demand & Revenue Utilities

“Achieving the Balance”

Perth MAX - Overview

•  Task: Develop concept designs and all other information required to support the successful delivery of a Business Case and future funding

•  Scope of Works: –  Key technical systems

identification –  Design requirements –  Concept design –  Design interface

management –  Consultation

MAX – Opportunities and Challenges

•  Key Drivers: –  Filling the last big gap in

network –  Catalyst for change –  Traffic operations to and

thru CBD –  Future Development –  Build on previous work

completed –  Consider future expansion

MAX – Key work elements

•  Utility conflicts •  Depot location and

design •  OCC location •  Alignments thru CBD and

West Perth •  Integration and route

sharing with bus services

•  Integration of light rail operations into an active street environment

•  Integration with surrounding environment and optimising land use

Proposed MAX Network

Mirrabooka

Dianella

QEII Medical Centre Victoria Park Transfer Station

North Perth ECU

Project History

We are here

2011 to 2013

•  Concept Design CNC

•  Concept Design Inner City Transit )

•  Traffic Modelling of CBD

2013 - Mid-2014

•  Business Case and Reference Design.

Mid 2014 -2017

•  Project deferred

2017 to 2021

•  Detailed design •  Construction •  Commissioning

2022

•  First LRV operating

MAX - Outcomes •  The MAX project will introduce a new era of public transport in Perth; it will

support an ongoing transformation of the city by providing a frequent, high-capacity service in the inner-north and central-west and eastern suburbs

•  Light rail will provide an efficient and cost-effective solution to many of the transport challenges and land use opportunities in the region

•  Potential to facilitate and unlock redevelopment opportunities in key areas •  To move more people more reliably as part of an integrated transport network •  To help continue to make Perth a great place to live and work

Edinburgh Trams - Overview

•  Task: Detailed Design, Approvals, Construction Engineering and Construction Compliance

•  Strategy: –  Started with 4 independent

delivery contracts: 1.  Design / Approvals 2.  Utilities Construction (early

works) 3.  Vehicle Procurement 4.  Infrastructure Construction

–  Operator selected and in place before design contract –  Independent Technical Advisor

“The objective is to provide a high quality tram system for Edinburgh that

embraces the best practice demonstrated in other European cities, and is of a

standard appropriate to the city’s world renowned status.” *Source: Tram Design Manual

Edinburgh Tram Network

• New Build

• 24 route kilometres of double track running line, 9 km on-street running, 15 km off-street running

• 3.2 km single track ballasted track bed for sidings/access, and 1.2 km single track on a concrete track bed in depot/yard

• 32 Tram Stops

• 1 Depot

Key Message

“the city must strive for the standard which reflects the site, both in the

maintenance and in the enhancement of the public realm and seek to support

actions and initiatives that mitigate the negative impacts of vehicular traffic.”

- The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site Management Plan

Opportunities and Challenges

•  Traffic Operations •  Heritage •  Utilities •  Third party agreements •  Obtaining statutory approvals

–  Planning: prior approvals and listed building consents –  Technical: roads authority and utilities

•  Balancing constraints •  Negotiating competing requirements

–  Planning, roads authority and operational requirements –  Design aspirations versus budget –  Adjoining projects and developments

Traffic Operations

Combined Results of:

Run-time model

Intersection Modelling

Corridor Modelling

Strategic Objective •  Optimise tram progression

whilst minimising delay to traffic and pedestrians

Process Objectives •  Assess impact of design on

individual signal junction capacities and potential blocking-back

•  Assess tram progression and reliability

•  Calculate tram detector positions to mitigate progression/reliability issues

General design considerations

•  Develop a “sense of place” –  Quality of space –  Tram stop location

•  Adjoining projects •  Protect key views •  Traffic operations •  Parking / loading •  Stakeholder inputs •  Strategic transport

interchange –  Bus, Rail, Taxi

•  Pedestrian/cycle movements

•  Utility relocations

Technical considerations

•  Traffic movements through and around the city

•  Access management •  Gradients and sharp turns at either

end of square •  Overhead line equipment and street

lighting design •  Tramway delineation •  Future system expansion

Roads design working group met regularly to work through technical issues and concerns.

Planning considerations

•  Site history •  Listed buildings •  Key views •  Historic streetscape •  Key pedestrian area •  Capital Streets project •  Hard landscaping •  Design charettes undertaken

Tram design working group met regularly to work through planning issues and concerns.

Example of “Balance” and Integration in Design

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Option 4 Option 5 (Preferred) Option 6

Project perception

Summary

•  Principles of delivery and issues are similar on all projects - differences lie in project objectives and detail of the areas impacted

•  Maintaining “balance” is essential – there is no “right” answer in all cases

•  Many delivery models are possible –  Managing the outputs and interfaces is key

•  Projects must clarify priorities early to ensure communication with stakeholders is clear and consistent

•  Understand the outcome early –  Map to getting there –  Effect of Interfaces – not just technical –  Engineering is the easy part

Lessons Learnt

–  Early Operational inputs •  Design out potential issues

–  Establish Role of project –  Establish Priority

•  Transit operations (trams, bus, taxi) / others (pedestrians, cars)

•  Design considerations and conflicts

–  Design Charettes with key stakeholders at early project stages

•  set principles and expectations –  Approvals Bodies – advance

consultation and early works to understand key issues / constraints

•  Working Groups •  Relationships, requirements and

procedures

•  Key Considerations

Lessons Learnt (cont’d)

•  Key Considerations –  Local Masterplanning to include provision for trams / light rail –  Heritage Considerations –  Contracting Strategy –  3rd Party Agreement Closure

•  Utility Companies •  Key Stakeholders / Owners /

Operators (Railroads) •  Demarcation / Maintenance

between local authorities •  Adjacent Property / Building Owners

–  Vehicle Procurement – early industry involvement

Summary of Key Elements

Edinburgh Tram Perth MAX Stakeholders (NIMBYs) -  Principle of project -  Details

Stakeholders -  Few areas -  Project generally accepted

Contracting Political Utilities Utilities Traffic Operations / Tram Priority Traffic Operations / LRT Priority PT Integration -  Replacement of service -  Shared corridors / Taxi

PT Integration -  Interchanges -  CBD Alignment

“Betterment” Urban Integration Planning vs. Transport Objectives Planning Areas Integration with other projects Integration with planned development Depot location Depot location

•  Similar issues – different details… –  Take lessons learnt and apply early in project

Thank You!

Questions?

Scott Ney Technical Executive, Parsons Brinckerhoff

sney@pb.com.au www.pbworld.com

Thanks to: City of Edinburgh Council and

Western Australia Department of Transport