Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904
Issue link: https://metromag.epubxp.com/i/283391
wheelchair spaces and can hold about 200 passengers. T ey have wide doors on both sides, which allow easier passenger movement, and they are also very quiet. Here in town, they will operate at speeds up to 35 mph; with a software change, they can operate at higher speeds. DISCUSS SELECTION of overhead wire technology. While there are other technologies available, most streetcar systems use overhead catenary wires for power. Any system that's not used widely is inevita- bly less reliable and more expensive than a more widespread system. That said, battery and supercapaci- tor energy storage technology is evolving quickly. Siemens is installing supercapac- itors on a new light rail transit line in Port- land, Ore. T is line is expected to open in 2015, and we will certainly be looking at how well it works. WHAT PLANS are there to expand the service? Expansion is already under way — there are projects in motion that will ex- plore the feasibility of the f rst extension to the Beltline. HOW WILL the streetcar integrate with current and future transit services? The decisions made along the way have always been made with an eye to- ward the future. T e nature of the part- nership certainly promotes that. Our vi- sion is that the Atlanta Streetcar is the first step in building an interoperable comprehensive regional streetcar and light rail transit system. It will connect Atlanta and the region through connec- tions to MARTA heavy-rail and planned streetcar and light-rail corridors. The f rst planned expansions are anticipat- ed to extend from the Downtown Loop to the Atlanta Beltline. STREETCAR 26 < m ETRO m AGAZINE APRIL 2014 metro-magazine.com Establish a structure that identifies a definite person or position in charge. Establish a decision-making process to solve problems. Be realistic with timelines and budget; only put forward and accept realistic timelines and budgets. Ensure that you have people who are familiar with rail industry construction and operations. Make sure you have people who can think out of the box and work together to solve difficult issues. WHAT TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS PROJECT WOULD YOU SHARE WITH OTHER TRANSIT PROPERTIES LOOKING INTO STREETCAR DEVELOPMENT? M E T R O 0 4 1 4 _ S T R E E T C A R . i n d d 2 6 METRO0414_STREETCAR.indd 26 3 / 1 8 / 1 4 2 : 2 2 P M 3/18/14 2:22 PM