Podar City : San Jose - News

October 22 2010 21:23 (Age: 2 yrs)

FEASIBILITY OF PRT IN ITHACA, NEW YORK

On September 30 th 2010, an attentive assembly of New York State officials welcomed a presentation by members of C&S Engineers and Connect Ithaca, LLC in Albany, NY. The research team was in the state capitol delivering the findings of its Preliminary Feasibility Report for the utilization of PRT as a means to reduce VMTs in Ithaca and greater New York.   Co-sponsored by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the study focused on the City of Ithaca as a case study to assess the viability of implementing Podcars in New York.

Why Ithaca?

The city’s population is 29,287 and the greater metropolitan area has a population of 100,135. The total number of jobs within Tompkins County, where Ithaca is located, is 57,032. The City is also home to two major college campuses: Cornell University and Ithaca College. These demographics are consistent with areas that have a growing demand for transit and where PRT is stated to be the most efficient. Several recent local studies have also documented the need for improved transit service and the desire to have increased development density that would rely on alternative transportation modes.

Existing relevant studies were compiled and reviewed to obtain background transportation and travel behavior information. Fully 40 percent of Tompkins County commuters currently use alternative modes of transportation, compared to only 25 percent nationwide. Several studies document the region’s continued support of transit and increased density in urban areas and the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Long Range Plan suggests that PRT as a transit option is worth further investigation.

After review, the team suggests that a full PRT system for Ithaca would include an extensive network connecting West Hill, South Hill and East Hill/Cayuga Heights; serving as a circulator route between downtown and the major educational institutions, as a connector between park and ride facilities and these major employment centers and provide access to retail and medical facilities on the city’s perimeter.

However, the extent of the PRT system is limited by the funding for this study and therefore focuses on a Phase 1 section that will link Cornell University, Downtown and Ithaca College. These three destinations were selected because they offer the highest density of workplaces in the county, have a broad mix of uses, and have a significant amount of existing housing within a five-minute walk of the proposed system. In addition to serving the three major destinations, the following considerations were taken into account in the assessment of route prioritization:

  1. The area served by the route must have sufficient capacity to support new mixed-use, transit oriented development (TOD).
  2. The route must provide access to storage parking location(s) to insure the near term market viability of new housing development, and ease existing parking problems in neighborhoods surrounding developed or developing areas like Collegetown.
  3. The route must extend to or include a location suitable for a maintenance and operations facility (likely including pod storage tracks).

The proposed route is depicted in the previous figures and is summarized below:

  • Guideway Length: Total equivalent double track length – 4.5 miles
  • Single track – 4 miles/Double track – 2 miles/Station associated track – 1 mile
  • Total equivalent single track length – 9 miles
  • Stations: 26 Total Stations
  • 7 Large stations (4 berths each) / 19 Small stations (2 berths each) 
  • Vehicles: 350
  • Storage Depots: Total capacity for 500 vehicles (provided in two facilities)

Capital and O&M Costs

Development of capital and operation and maintenance costs were developed based on data provided by seven PRT vendors who responded to a request for information (RFI). The following is a summary of the estimated capital costs per mile of double track:

  • Guideway & infrastructure: $15 million per mile
  • Vehicles: $3-6 million per mile
  • Stations: $4 million per mile
  • Storage and Maintenance Facilities: $4 million per mile
  • Total: $26-29 M per mile

The Study Route is the equivalent of approximately 5.75 miles of double track so the total infrastructure cost of a PRT system similar to the Ithaca Study Route would be $150 to $168 million. It is anticipated that design will be 16% of the capital costs, adding $24-27 million. With the additional $1.5 million anticipated for ROW acquisition, the total estimated capital cost of a PRT system in Ithaca that can be used for planning purposes is $175 to $196 million. Based on the average of this cost range, $186 million, the per mile cost for a PRT system in Ithaca can be estimated at $32 million per mile of two-way track.

Technical Feasibility

Optimum technical characteristics of a PRT system operating in Ithaca, New York were developed based on the scale and character of the existing built environment, the Upstate NY climate, and Ithaca’s challenging topography. With the above factors in mind, the following system characteristics have been identified:

  • Minimum turning radius must be 50’ (15m) or less to keep track within public rights of way.
  • System must exhibit quieter than automobile operation (<65db) because of inevitable proximity to buildings.
  • System selected must have enough design flexibility to allow for track to be positioned over the center of streets, above the touch- point of the tree canopy, so as to hide the infrastructure from the pedestrian level and minimize impingement of natural tree shapes.
  • Track underside should not exceed 24” (0.6m) to minimize the visual impacts of overhead tracks, especially where dual direction lines are located.
  • Support pole spacing should be equal to or exceed utility pole spacing (60’ – 80’ average).
  • Edge to edge visual intrusion of support structures must be minimal. (<24” dia.)
  • In most areas opposing support poles would ideally be placed on the sides of the road, typically within the tree lawns, and connected

Preferred Guideway for Ithaca System - Although this is an area that will require additional research, based on currently available data the preferred system for Ithaca, NY would include an elevated guideway with either a captive or suspended bogey.

In addition, the Ithaca PRT Study covered the following details of Feasibility:

  • Right-of-Way Assessment Assessment of Transit Oriented Development
  • Ridership Forecast
  • Approval Requirements
  • Benefits over Other Modes
  • Potential Challenges
  • Financing
  • Project Benefits

In general the study has concluded that a PRT system can be physically accommodated within the existing built environment of a mature city like Ithaca and that a PRT system in conjunction with transit-oriented development would provide substantial environmental, quality of life and economic benefits to the region. However, the study has also identified several areas that will require additional research before the City and the region can make a decision to pursue the implementation of a PRT system in Ithaca.

The Executive Summary is here: http://issuu.com/simplylovelife/docs/executive_summary 

 

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