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Charlotte light rail extension to begin construction in March
Chris, this specific project is actually budgeted at $1.2 billion, I did work for the city. The observer made a typo, which is where I assume Trains is getting the info. This specific line has features which inflate the cost. There is 4 active rail lines that have to be bridged over, the NCRR (Norfolk Southern) mainline has to be shifted to accommodate the light rail running parallel to it for three miles, and the line is supposed to run in the median of North Tryon Street which requires the relocation of the southbound lanes for 4 miles to build the new median. There are also at least 4 grade separated intersections using large bridges, two large parking decks, a large bridge over wetlands, and a underpass to exit the median of North Tryon street. There were also 200+ parcels which had to be individually purchased. I think $100 million is for cost overruns and another $100 million is for the art in transit program (decorative bridges, station design, and landscaping). A new storage yard is also supposed to be built at the location of the recently vacated Norfolk Southern intermodal yard.
I’m glad to see that Charlotte is expanding their transit system. And while I’m all for mass transit, especially by rail, I have to wonder why these projects seem to cost so much per mile. I’m sure they must acquire ROW and move utilities but 60 million a mile. Maybe Trains could do a story on the cost associated with building a new transit line.
One reason why freeways have not been built thru urban areas is the cost both in dollars and in disruption to the local population. Rail can generally be built in existing thoroughfares without the need to tear down buildings.
What about the cost of building an 8 lane highway of comparable length?
If we are comparing 8 lane highways to light rail, let’s compare the real commuter capacities as well. Lynx enthusiasts CLAIM equivalence, but let’s check.
Charlotte’s Lynx runs every 10 minutes in rush hours, with 236 seats per train. That’s 1410 passengers per hr each way.
If trains are placed at max capacity, 2min, that number increases to 7050/hr. If we DOUBLE the size of the trains to the maximum allowed by the station design, that’s 14,100/hr.
A single expressway lane, dedicated to commuter buses as in NYC/North NJ, carries over 2000 buses per hour, at 50 seats/bus (or more), an amazing 100,000+ commuters per hr - per lane.
So it’s not 8 lanes, it’s 1/7 of one lane for equal capacity, but let’s round up to ONE lane.
Now for cost, the 10 mile extension of Lynx trackage to UNCC will cost $120 million per mile. The cost of ADDING a lane to urban expressways runs $10-20 million per lane-mile.
William Sweeney,
The Lincoln Tunnel Express Bus lane, also known as the XBL, carries an average of 1,791 buses per day during the 4 hour period that it is open from 6 AM to 10 AM. That works out to about 448 buses per hour; no where close to 2,000 per hour and higher. And that number, 1,791, comes directly from the Port Authority the owner of the Lincoln Tunnel.
That means that at 50 seats per bus the XBL moves 22,387 people per hour.
And the only reason that it can even reach that density is thanks to the fact that on the NY side the buses move directly into the Port Authority bus terminal without encountering any traffic lights.
Turning to Lynx, a two car train moves 472 people so on 10 minute headways that’s 2,382. But if we decrease headways and increase the number of cars, that number climbs quickly. For example, with 3 car trains running on 5 minute headways, they’re now moving 8,496 per hour. With 4 car trains on 2.5 minute headways they’re moving 22,656 pax/hour.
Frankly I’m not sure that Charlotte needs that much capacity, but it is possible to get it.
As for your costs on things, most freeways cost more than you’'re estimating. Furthermore, they need expensive repavings about every 7 to 10 years and a major bridge rebuilding every 20 or so. Those light rail tracks will last 40 to 50 years and the cars 30 to 40 years. The average life of a bus is only 10 to 12 years.