List of US+Canada rail transit currently under construction

[Cirrus]

What this thread lists:
This thread attempts to track urban transit rail lines that are under construction only in the US and Canada. If your line is planned but not under construction yet, sorry but you don't belong. US lines are in black, Canadian are in blue. Intercity rail lines that are under construction are also included at the bottom, but with much less detail.

How is the info compiled?
For the most part, this is a crowdsourced list. The thread relies on users (that's you) posting replies to tell us when a new line begins construction, or finishes and opens to riders. I update the list at the top of the thread whenever something changes. That said, there are a couple of resources that people can use to help track things, most notably The Transport Politic's Transit Explorer (https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/transitexplorer/#6/38.617/-78.662) and UrbanRail.Net's Now Open list (http://www.urbanrail.net/news.htm#nowopen).

90

The list -- Under construction now:
Heavy Metrorail: 60 miles total

Honolulu Skyline phases 2 & 3 - 9 miles
Los Angeles Purple line extension phases 1, 2, and 3 - 9 miles
Montreal REM Deux-Montagnes, Anse-a-L'Orme, and Aeroport branches - 32 miles (50 km)
Toronto Ontario line - 10 miles (16 km)
Toronto Scarborough subway extension - 5 miles (8 km)
Vancouver Broadway subway - 4 miles (6 km)

Light Rail: 160 miles total

Edmonton Valley line phase 2 - 9 miles (14 km)
Los Angeles Crenshaw line airport extension - 2 miles
Los Angeles Foothill Gold line ext - 12 miles
Minneapolis SW line - 15 miles
Ottawa Stage 2 - 27 miles (44 km)
Phoenix South Central line - 6 miles
Seattle East, Federal Way, Redmond, and Lynnwood extensions - 35 miles
Toronto Eglinton Crosstown & Eglinton West - 18 miles (25 km)
Toronto Finch West - 7 miles (11 km)
Toronto Hurontario - 11 miles (18 km)
Washington Purple Line - 16 miles

Commuter Rail: 95 miles total

Boston South Coast Rail phase 1 - 37 miles
Chicago South Shore Line West lake extension - 8 miles
Dallas Silver Line - 26 miles
Miami downtown Tri-Rail extension - 9 miles
New York / New Jersey Lackawanna cutoff - 7 miles
San Francisco SMART Windsor extension - 3 miles
Toronto GO Hamilton east upgrades - 5 miles (9 km)

Streetcar: ~10 miles total

KC Main St extension - 3.5 miles
LA / Orange County CA - 4.1 miles
Philadelphia Rt 15 extension - 2.5 miles

Intercity: California high speed rail
Amtrak track improvements/additions on existing lines (many nationwide)



90

Now opened, and therefore removed from the list:
Listed alphabetically within each year. 2012:
Calgary LRT Northeast line extension 2.9km (1.8mi)
Dallas Blue line Rowlett extension - 5 miles
LA Expo line - 7 miles
Miami Airport Link metrorail - 2 miles
Portland streetcar Eastside - 3.3 miles
Providence MBTA Wickford extension - 20 miles
Sacramento Green Line phase 1 - 1 mile
Salt Lake City Front Runner south commuter rail - 44 miles
Seattle Lakewood line - 8 miles

2013:
Denver West line LRT - 12 miles
Houston North light rail - 5 miles
Orlando Sunrail phase 2 - 18 miles
Salt Lake City Airport & Draper light rail lines - 8 miles
Salt Lake City Sugarhouse streetcar - 2.7 miles

2014:
Atlanta streetcar - 1.4 miles
Calgary LRT Northwest line extension 2.4km (1.24mi)
Dallas LRT Orange line DFW extension - 10 miles
LA San Bernardino commuter rail extension
Minneapolis Central corridor LRT - 11 miles
Montréal RTM Commuter Train Mascouche line 52km (32mi)
Oakland Airport/BART connector - 3.2 miles
Orlando Sunrail phase 1 - 31 miles
Tucson streetcar - 3.9 miles
Washington Silver line Metro phase 1 - 12 miles

2015:
Charlotte streetcar phase 1 - 1.5 miles
Dallas Oak Cliff streetcar - 1.6 miles
Edmonton LRT Metro line extension 3.3km (2.1mi)
Houston Green & Purple light rail lines (minus Magnolia extension) - 8 miles
Houston Green line extension - 1 mile
Phoenix Mesa extensions - 3 miles
Portland Orange line - 7 miles
Sacramento Cosumnes light rail - 4 miles
Washington VRE Spotsylvania extension - 6 miles

2016:
Boston Wachusett commuter rail extension - 5 miles
Cincinnati streetcar - 2 miles
Dallas Blue line UNT extension - 3 miles
Dallas Bishop Arts streetcar extension - 1 mile
Denver East (airport) line commuter rail - 24 miles
Denver NW phase 1 commuter rail - 6 miles
Kansas City streetcar - 2 miles
LA Gold line - 12 miles
LA Perris commuter rail extension - 24 miles
New Orleans Rampart streetcar - 1.6 miles
Phoenix Northwest extensions - 3 miles
Seattle 1st Hill streetcar - 2.5 miles
Seattle U Link - 3 miles
Seattle Angle Lake / South 200th LRT - 2 miles
Vancouver SkyTrain Evergreen Extension 10.9km (6.9mi)
Washington H Street streetcar - 2.2 miles

2017:
Detroit QLINE streetcar - 3.3 miles
Denver I-225 line LRT - 11 miles
New Orleans Loyola / Union Terminal streetcar - 1.3 miles
New York 7 train extension to Hudson Yards - 1 miles
New York 2nd Ave subway ph 1 - 2 miles
San Francisco BART Warm Springs extension - 5 miles
San Francisco SMART commuter rail - 43 miles
Toronto Yonge-Spadina subway extension - 5 miles (9 km)

2018:
Charlotte Blue LRT extension - 9 miles
Connecticut New Haven to Springfield line - 62 miles
El Paso streetcar - ~2 miles
Florida Brightline - West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale segment
Florida Brightline - Fort Lauderdale to Miami extension
Milwaukee streetcar starter line - 2.25 miles
Oklahoma City streetcar - 2.3 miles
Saint Louis Delmar trolley - 2.2 miles
San Francisco eBART commuter rail - 10 miles

2019:
Dallas Fort Worth TEXrail DMU - 27 miles
Denver Gold line EMU - 11 miles
Denver SE line LRT - 2 miles
Kitchener-Waterloo ION line - 12 miles (19 km)
Ottawa Confederation line - 8 miles (13 km)
Phoenix Gilbert Rd LRT extension - 2 miles
San Francisco SMART Larkspur extension - 2 miles


2020:
San Francisco Berryessa BART extension - 11 miles
Denver North commuter line - 13 miles


2021:
Charlotte Gold Line streetcar - 2.5 miles
San Diego Mid-Coast LRT extension - 11 miles
Seattle Northgate LRT - 3 miles
Toronto GO RER Bloomington extension - 2.5 miles (4 km)
Toronto GO Hamilton extension - 5 miles (9 km)

2022:
Boston Green line LRT extension - 5 miles
LA Crenshaw extension section one - 6 miles
LA / San Bernardino Arrow / Redlands Line - 9 miles
San Francisco Central subway LRT - 2 miles
Philadelphia Wawa extension 3.5 miles
Phoenix / Tempe streetcar - ~3 miles
Washington Metro Silver line phase 2 - 12 miles


2023:
Edmonton Valley line phase 1 - 8 miles (13 km)
Honolulu Skyline phase 1 - 11 miles
Los Angeles Regional connector light rail - 2 mile
New York LIRR east access commuter rail - 4 miles
Milwaukee streetcar Couture/Lakefront branch - 0.2 miles
Montreal REM Brossard branch - 10 miles (17 km)
Orlando Brightline intercity extension
Seattle Tacoma Link streetcar extension - 2.4 miles


2024:
Phoenix NW LRT extension - 2 miles

[Busy Bee]

Isn't Honolulu considered somewhere in between Heavy and Light Rail. I was under the impression is very comparable to the Vancouver SkyTrain.

[the urban politician]

Nothing: 0 miles total


Chicago

[mfastx]

To make a correction, Houston's Uptown and University lines aren't being constructed yet, and might not be for some time (sadly), so that brings the milage total in Houston down from 28 miles to about 15.3 miles.

[Lipani]

San Diego is working on an 11-mile mid-coast extension (http://www.sandag.org/uploads/projectid/projectid_250_14205.jpg) for the trolley to UCSD and UTC, although I'm not sure if any actual construction has started yet since part of that project will be using an existing rail corridor.

[electricron]

Dallas will start building a 2 mile streetcar line later this year, and is already extending about a 1/2 mile an existing streetcar line.

[mhays]

Seattle will start the 2 mile First Hill Streetcar this month. This will connect the King Street / International District dual stations with First Hill (hospitals, housing, and Seattle U) and the new Light Rail tunnel station currently going in on Capitol Hill.

Won't run anywhere near often enough. Grrr.

[Cirrus]

Isn't Honolulu considered somewhere in between Heavy and Light Rail. I was under the impression is very comparable to the Vancouver SkyTrain.
Yes, it's in between. I suppose I could move it if people really want me to.

But getting into the weeds of details like that would be a major headache, and would really go beyond the scope of this list. The projects have to be categorized somehow, and there are plenty of discrepancies. Seattle's light rail is also sort of in between because it operates more like heavy rail. There are also major differences in the quality of the commuter rail projects. Some of them (such as Denver) are going to run basically like light rail, whereas others will only be a few trains per day.

[Cirrus]

To make a correction, Houston's Uptown and University lines aren't being constructed yet, and might not be for some time (sadly), so that brings the milage total in Houston down from 28 miles to about 15.3 miles.
Corrected. Thanks.

[SnyderBock]

From Wikipedia:
The Gold Line is a planned commuter rail line between Denver Union Station and Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

The Gold Line is part of the FasTracks project, and will be operated by Denver Transit Partners as part of the Eagle P3 public-private partnership. The line received final approval from the Federal Transit Administration in November 2009, and groundbreaking occurred on 31 August 2011, at a ceremony in Olde Town Arvada where US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the approval of a $1 billion grant to fund the project. Completion of the line is expected in 2016.

The line will be 11.2 miles (18.0 km) in length, and is expected to cost $590.5 million. There will be a total of eight stations: Union Station, 41st Avenue, Pecos, Federal, Sheridan, Olde Town, Arvada Ridge and Ward Road...

...Eagle P3 is scheduled to be completed in two phases. Phase one includes the construction of the East Corridor and a part of the section of the Northwest Corridor included in Eagle P3, as well as the maintenance facility. Also undertaken during this phase is the design work for the Gold Corridor and the remaining part of the Northwest Corridor included in Eagle P3, the purchase of rolling stock and the electrification of trackage in Denver Union Station. The second phase of the project is the construction of the Gold and Northwest Corridors that were designed during phase one.

Construction of the East Corridor began in August 2010 and the groundbreaking for the Gold Corridor took place in August 2011. Completion of the East and Gold Corridors is expected in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

On 21 October 2011, Wabtec signed a $63 million contract with Denver Transit Partners to construct the positive train control system for the Eagle P3 commuter rail lines. The contract included installation of the signaling and communications systems, a dispatch center and other management services...

...Under the terms of Eagle P3, a private company is responsible for designing, building, partially financing, operating and maintaining (DBFOM) two commuter rail corridors, the East Corridor and the Gold Line, as well as a maintenance facility for commuter rail equipment and an 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi) segment of the Northwest Corridor. Additionally, the private company is responsible for the operation of the North Metro line and the maintenance of facilities on the Northwest Corridor line. The contract stipulates that the Regional Transportation District owns all assets involved and collects all revenues generated, while Denver Transit Partners assumes all risks involved in the project's operation. In return, the RTD will make monthly payments to Denver Transit Partners, a total of $7.1 billion over the length of the operation. Eagle P3 is the first full DBFOM transit public-private partnership in the United States.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_P3

So would it be more like this?

Commuter Rail: 233.4 miles total
Denver East line - 23 miles
Denver Gold line - 11.2 miles
Denver NWES - 5.2 miles
New Jersey Lackawanna cutoff - 7 miles
New York LIRR east access - 4 miles
Orlando - 31 miles
Providence Wickford extension - 20 miles
Salt Lake City Front Runner south - 44 miles
San Francisco eBART lines - 80 miles
Seattle Lakewood line - 8 miles

[VivaLFuego]

Nothing: 0 miles total


Chicago


Well, if you count reconstruction (of core infrastructure), rehabilitation & modernization (of vehicles and facilities)...

[uaarkson]

:previous: This. Chicago's infrastructure plans are very exciting, even if no new rail is being built.

[fflint]

BART is now constructing 16 miles of heavy rail:


Transit and political leaders in San Jose to help break ground on BART extension (http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_20382200/transit-and-political-leaders-san-jose-help-break?source=rss)
April 12, 2012
San Jose Mercury News

Dignitaries from across the country are gathering in San Jose today to break ground for the BART-to-San Jose extension.

The $3.2 billion BART line from Fremont to East San Jose is the biggest public works project ever in Silicon Valley. The 16-mile extension will be fully completed in late 2016, with stations at Warm Springs, Milpitas and south of Berryessa Road.
....

Here's a couple relevent graphics from yesterday's Mercury News:

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2012/0411/20120411_063611_littlebart_200.jpg

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2012/0411/20120411_063533_bartmap.jpg
http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_20365718/expect-trucks-dirt-bart-construction-gets-under-way

...

[tdawg]

What a cool list. Great news about the new BART line. I'm more intrigued by the 80 mile eBART stat.

[fflint]

Also in the Bay Area, as of the 27th of this month, construction begins on the 37-mile initial segment of SMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rapid Transit) commuter rail, between Santa Rosa and San Rafael.

SMART explains its rail construction plan (http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120410/ARTICLES/120419931/1033/news?p=1&tc=pg)
Bob Norberg
The Press Democrat
April 10, 2012

The rail line from Santa Rosa to Petaluma will be a construction zone the next several months as the track is rehabilitated for commute trains.
....
Construction will start April 27 near Third Street in Santa Rosa and work south through Rohnert Park, Cotati to Petaluma.
....

[fflint]

And then there's SF's Central Subway, a 1.7 mile underground light rail extension to Chinatown. I'm not sure when to consider a project under construction--they're underground along the new route moving utilities and whatnot, but tunnel boring has not yet begun as far as I know. Wikipedia lists the Central Subway as under construction:

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Subway):
The Central Subway is an extension of the Muni Metro light rail system in San Francisco, California, from the Caltrain commuter rail depot at 4th and King streets to Chinatown. The subway is the second phase of the Third Street Light Rail Project. Ground was broken for the new route on February 9, 2010, and is currently scheduled for completion by 2019.

[bnk]

:previous: This. Chicago's infrastructure plans are very exciting, even if no new rail is being built.


There are 4 expansion proposals in this link 3 of them look good. But some fourmers are very passionate for hating the Starline proposal. Fine what ever, the other 3 should progress. When or if they get done?

http://metraconnects.metrarail.com/


The 33-mile SouthEast Service (SES) is proposed to run along existing freight and passenger railroad tracks, enhancing Metra's commuter rail service between the south suburbs and downtown Chicago. The SES line would link close to 20 communities in south Suburban Cook and Will counties, providing new opportunities for travel to downtown Chicago and economic growth and development for the south suburbs.
This new line would provide commuting opportunities for a fast growing, underserved corridor of the south suburbs.
http://metraconnects.metrarail.com/images/ses_map09012010.jpg
http://metraconnects.metrarail.com/ses.php


http://metraconnects.metrarail.com/images/upw_map.jpg
Improvements along the
UPW Line would:
■Provide expanded service and more transit options for commuters traveling into Chicago's Central Business District
■Provide reverse-commuting options to address growing trends in public transportation
■Spur economic growth by attracting new jobs and businesses that wish to take advantage of transit-oriented development
■Eliminate bottlenecks, allowing for more efficient operation of trains and reduced delays resulting in commuter time savings
■Increase the line's core capacity to help serve the strong anticipated growth in employment
http://metraconnects.metrarail.com/upw.php


http://metraconnects.metrarail.com/images/upnw_map.jpg
Improvements along the
UP-NW Line would:
■Provide expanded service and more transit options for commuters traveling into Chicago's Central Business District
■Provide reverse-commuting options to address growing trends in public transportation
■Spur economic growth by attracting new jobs and businesses that wish to take advantage of transit-oriented development
■Allow for the construction of two new rail yards to permit more train capacity and consolidate operations thereby promoting cost efficiency and providing more travel options for commuters
■Increase the line's core capacity to help serve the strong anticipated growth in employment


http://metraconnects.metrarail.com/upnw.php





I am not going to look it up but the CTA also will be undergoing major improvements and I have heard possible plans on extending some of the lines some day.

[ltsmotorsport]

For Sacramento, hopefully we'll see the next phase of the Blue Line in the south part of town begin construction within the year, but haven't heard much on that in a while.

The Green Line starter segment should be running in another month or two. Extension to Natomas and the airport? More funding please.

Planning for the streetcar from West Sac to midtown Sac has landed on a new route recently, taking it right past the site of the new intermodal terminal and arena.
http://www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/dot_media/street_media/news/DraftInitialStreetcarRoute%2811_4_2011%29v2.pdf

[Metro-One]

Yes, it's in between. I suppose I could move it if people really want me to.

But getting into the weeds of details like that would be a major headache, and would really go beyond the scope of this list. The projects have to be categorized somehow, and there are plenty of discrepancies. Seattle's light rail is also sort of in between because it operates more like heavy rail. There are also major differences in the quality of the commuter rail projects. Some of them (such as Denver) are going to run basically like light rail, whereas others will only be a few trains per day.

Thats why the term "heavy rail" and "light rail" is actually becoming antiquated, because there are soooo many different forms in between.

So a better way to list these projects (not including the commuter rail or streetcar) would be "fully grade separated" or "non fully grade separated"

Simply because that is the strict definition of a true metro, if it is fully grade separated or not. From there a grade separated rail can be split into light metro, heavy metro, automated, etc...

So, Honolulu would be fully grade separated while Seattle's would not, due to its at grade crossings and running along the road in areas.

Also, just as an fyi, places like Vancouver even further blur the "LRT" "HRT" border with the Canada line, which actually uses full HRT subway cars, but only runs 2 car train sets as of now (but automated).

PS - Metro-Vancouver is building 11 km of new grade separated skytrain (RRT = rapid rail transit) this year, pre construction, such as clearing and prepping utilities has already started.

[Nexis4Jersey]

whoops wrong thread...

[Prahaboheme]

Re: Orlando SunRail

It is a phased opening, but the total mileage is actually 61 miles.

Phase I (operational 2014): 31 miles
Phase II (operational 2016): 30 miles

http://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/Resources/Internet/DEPARTMENTS/Growth_Management/images/SystemMap607.jpg

[Cirrus]

I updated the list to add Denver Gold & NW commuter rail, San Francisco BART to Berryessa, and San Francisco Central subway LRT. I also added a note specifying that the Orlando commuter rail is phase 1 only (similar to my note for the DC Silver line).

San Francisco SMART will go on in 2 weeks.

[Centropolis]

The partially privately funded Delmar Loop streetcar is scheduled to break ground this fall. It's going to use renovated St. Louis Car Company vehicles instead of the Skodas.

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/ea/eea443a2-a5a0-11df-96f3-00127992bc8b/4c63337098d36.image.jpg
http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/ea/eea443a2-a5a0-11df-96f3-00127992bc8b/4c63337098d36.image.jpg

UNIVERSITY CITY • The Loop Trolley project, having amassed almost all the $43 million it needs, is ready to move into high gear.

Construction is expected to begin late this year, with the trolleys in operation about a year later.

When completed, the 2.2-mile system connecting the Delmar Loop to Forest Park will look a lot like the system that ran on St. Louis streets a half-century ago.

In a big change of plans, old, renovated streetcars will be used instead of pricier electric/battery cars. And the system will be powered by overhead electric lines running above Delmar Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue, like St. Louis' old streetcar system.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/loop-trolley-will-resemble-old-st-louis-streetcar-system/article_e01b1eed-f4ef-5183-8ce8-67fe3c6cf726.html#ixzz1rwJjxvGE

[Centropolis]

Just an update, and yeah no shovels in the ground yet. The planning has hit a milestone, though.

[northbay]

Great thread! It's impressive to see all the passenger rail construction going on across the country. (400+ miles!)

...San Francisco SMART will go on in 2 weeks.

Can't wait to see Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit on the list!

[northbay]

Commuter Rail: 233 miles total

Denver East, Gold, and NW lines -39 miles
New Jersey Lackawanna cutoff - 7 miles
New York LIRR east access - 4 miles
Orlando Sunrail phase 1 - 31 miles
Providence Wickford extension - 20 miles
Salt Lake City Front Runner south - 44 miles
San Francisco eBART lines - 80 miles
Seattle Lakewood line - 8 miles




Wait a sec. I'm curious how you arrive at 80 miles for eBART:


2.3 ROUTE/ALIGNMENT

Horizontal and Vertical Alignment

The Proposed Project (including maintenance facilities) would extend approximately 10 miles
from the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART Station eastward via the median of SR 4 (see Figure 2-1).
The distance from the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART Station to the terminus station platform in the
median east of Hillcrest Avenue is 9.1 miles; the remaining approximately 0.9 miles is for train
storage and maintenance.
http://www.bart.gov/docs/ecc/2.0_Project_Description.pdf

[natiboy]

It's so great to finally see Cincinnati on a list of cities currently building rail! It's been a long time coming...

For those who haven't seen it in my Cincinnati Development thread, here is a rendering of the rolling stock selected for the Cincinnati Streetcar (made by CAF in Elmira NY).
http://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m575/natiboy1/CincyStreetcarRollingStock.jpg
Source: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,18957.msg614239/topicseen.html#new


Also, Cincinnati is already applying for funds for further streetcar extensions.

[Cirrus]

Wait a sec. I'm curious how you arrive at 80 miles for eBART:
http://www.bart.gov/docs/ecc/2.0_Project_Description.pdfLooks like that's a mistake. I was reading this (http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/under-construction/#san-francisco), and misread SMART as a 2nd eBART line. 80 miles comes from adding 10 miles of eBART with 70 miles of SMART.

I'll change the list.

[northbay]

Looks like that's a mistake. I was reading this (http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/under-construction/#san-francisco), and misread SMART as a 2nd eBART line. 80 miles comes from adding 10 miles of eBART with 70 miles of SMART.

I'll change the list.

Man, now the mileage is hella goin down - should've kept my big mouth shut :D

I'm a big fan of the Transport Politic site by the way

[J. Will]

Seattle will start the 2 mile First Hill Streetcar this month. This will connect the King Street / International District dual stations with First Hill (hospitals, housing, and Seattle U) and the new Light Rail tunnel station currently going in on Capitol Hill.

Won't run anywhere near often enough. Grrr.

How often will it run? I can't find anything online.

If it's only 2.2 miles, it would take very little to maintain frequent service. Assume 4.5 miles round trip including turnarounds at either end. That shouldn't take more than 25-30 minutes for a round trip. That would mean only 5-6 streetcars would be required for 5 minute headways. Even if there is a short layover at either end, 7 streetcars should be enough to maintain 5 minute service.

[BnaBreaker]

I'm sure this question from laymen like myself has been answered many times in this forum before, and for the repetition I apologize. But I'm curious. What is the technical difference between light rail and streetcar? I see that Cincinnati's U/C system is qualified as streetcar, but in the rendering the cars look almost identical to Houston's, which is qualified as light rail.

[Centropolis]

Yeah that some light rail-y rolling stock in Cincinnati. I think that's cool, though. I always forget how big modern streetcars are.

[electricron]

I'm sure this question from laymen like myself has been answered many times in this forum before, and for the repetition I apologize. But I'm curious. What is the technical difference between light rail and streetcar? I see that Cincinnati's U/C system is qualified as streetcar, but in the rendering the cars look almost identical to Houston's, which is qualified as light rail.
Excellent question, because it is sometimes very hard to distinguish any difference. I believe you'll find Salt Lake City's Sugar House streetcar line will be using the exact same light rail cars as their newly opened light rail lines.

The only true common differences between the two are
(1) Light rail trains don't share lanes with other traffic while streetcars will.
(2) Light rail trains can use multiple units while streetcars don't.
(3) Streetcars can turn tighter curves than light rail trains.
And I don't think those common differences are 100% true for every case.

Because light rail are ran in multiple units, they're called trains instead of cars. They can also be used in longer corridors which require larger capacity trains. And because the trains are longer, they require dedicated lanes.

Therefore, it's function of the rail line more than the rolling stock equipment that makes the difference. Because, for all practical purposes, a streetcar is a single light rail unit, or vice versa, a light rail train is two or more streetcars coupled together.

[seaskyfan]

How often will it run? I can't find anything online.

If it's only 2.2 miles, it would take very little to maintain frequent service. Assume 4.5 miles round trip including turnarounds at either end. That shouldn't take more than 25-30 minutes for a round trip. That would mean only 5-6 streetcars would be required for 5 minute headways. Even if there is a short layover at either end, 7 streetcars should be enough to maintain 5 minute service.

10 minute frequency at least initially. 18 minute one way trip (including potential traffic delays).

Article from the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017951931_streetcar11m.html

[bunt_q]

Yes, it's in between. I suppose I could move it if people really want me to.


I think I'll have to insist. :) If you must choose, it's closer to heavy rail than light rail. If only by virtue of complete grade separation and third rail power.

[Cirrus]

What is the technical difference between light rail and streetcar?
Electricron's answer was good. It's really an operational difference more than anything else.

"Light rail" as we know it in this country originally grew out of an attempt to use streetcar vehicles as if they were heavier rapid transit lines.

[bunt_q]

Cirrus - back on Denver. If you're going to include the NW commuter rail, then you probably need to include the North commuter rail and the I-225 light rail. Both of those are closer to shovels in the ground than the NW line. (RTD's received unsolicited PPP proposals for both, so those two could very well start soon, even if the second ballot initiative fails.)

Or you can drop the NW rail, I'm fine with that too.

[Cirrus]

I had originally left NW off, but SnyderBock indicated it should be on.

I want to be fairly strict with things being under construction, though. There are so many in planning that the list would look a lot different if it includes things that haven't broken ground yet.

So I'll remove it. Is it just the 5 miles of the NW line that needs to come off?

[bunt_q]

I had originally left NW off, but SnyderBock indicated it should be on.

I want to be fairly strict with things being under construction, though. There are so many in planning that the list would look a lot different if it includes things that haven't broken ground yet.

So I'll remove it. Is it just the 5 miles of the NW line that needs to come off?

The 6.2 mile electrified segment to Westminster is tied to the contract for the Airport and Gold lines, so that's okay. The rest needs to come off.

East is 22.8 miles, Gold is 11.2 miles. So however you label it, 40.2 miles is fair to say are "under construction."

EDIT: Which I think is what you had to begin with, I just wasn't adding up the mileages. My bad.

[BnaBreaker]

Excellent question, because it is sometimes very hard to distinguish any difference. I believe you'll find Salt Lake City's Sugar House streetcar line will be using the exact same light rail cars as their newly opened light rail lines.

The only true common differences between the two are
(1) Light rail trains don't share lanes with other traffic while streetcars will.
(2) Light rail trains can use multiple units while streetcars don't.
(3) Streetcars can turn tighter curves than light rail trains.
And I don't think those common differences are 100% true for every case.

Because light rail are ran in multiple units, they're called trains instead of cars. They can also be used in longer corridors which require larger capacity trains. And because the trains are longer, they require dedicated lanes.

Therefore, it's function of the rail line more than the rolling stock equipment that makes the difference. Because, for all practical purposes, a streetcar is a single light rail unit, or vice versa, a light rail train is two or more streetcars coupled together.

That makes a lot of sense! Thank you Electricron for that very precise and detailed answer.

[bunt_q]

That makes a lot of sense! Thank you Electricron for that very precise and detailed answer.

Electricon's answer is right on...except, as he pointed out, when it's not, which is why it's such a tough question to answer.

(1) Light rail trains don't share lanes with other traffic while streetcars will... except that some light rail does operate in shared ROW.

(2) Light rail trains can use multiple units while streetcars don't....typically true, but many streetcar vehicles can be coupled into at least 2-units.

(3) Streetcars can turn tighter curves than light rail trains....can and should are not the same thing. Light rail typical is 82-feet, streetcars you can ratchet down to 50-feet... but then, light rail can theoretically go tighter. And most design specifications you'll see for streetcar systems call for the light rail standard anyways (less wear and tear on the vehicles; higher operating speeds). But this is an important factor in vehicle selection, so it's as good of a criterion to use as any.

So like anything else, the answer is, it depends. The light rail/streetcar distinction is very much an American thing, and as I think Cirrus pointed out, it stems from our habit of using light rail as a "metro light." But that is by no means necessary - plenty of places mix and mingle the two vehicle types operationally.

In the U.S., I think the easiest distinguishing characteristic is shared ROW versus not. That might require us to re-think some of the older light rail systems, but so what?

[bmfarley]

San Diego is working on an 11-mile mid-coast extension (http://www.sandag.org/uploads/projectid/projectid_250_14205.jpg) for the trolley to UCSD and UTC, although I'm not sure if any actual construction has started yet since part of that project will be using an existing rail corridor.
But, it is not yet under construction.

[JDRCRASH]

bunt_q, what about max speed? Could that be a distinction?

[electricron]

bunt_q, what about max speed? Could that be a distinction?
Not when the same transit agency is using the exactly same equipment to do both functions. Although generally streetcars are designed to go a max of 45 mph while light rail trains are usually a max of 55 mph. But the real max speed for streetcars in operation is the speed limit of all the other traffic on the same streets. That also usually sets the max speed of street running light rail trains too. This sort of makes the actually max speed of the streetcars/light rail trains equipment irreverent for street running applications.

[SnyderBock]

LRT is also has 65mph variants which are very common.

[electricron]

LRT is also has 65mph variants which are very common.

True, but I don't recall ever seeing any light rail trains going 65 mph in city streets. You will see those speeds in tunnels and aerial guideways where they are basically grade separated from other traffic. One could possibly build a streetcar going that fast, but why when their speeds are limited to speeds of the city streets? Could a streetcar ever accelerate to those speed before having to slow down for the next stop 1/8, 1/4, to 1/2 mile away?

We're not defining the differences between the vehicles anymore, but rather defining the difference between overall systems. Which is what I've been suggesting all along.

[TarHeelJ]

Atlanta's current streetcar project is actually 2.7 miles rather than 1.4 miles. I didn't see where anyone corrected that. :) http://www.atlantadowntown.com/_files/docs/atlanta_streetcar_presentation_december2011.pdf

[ardecila]

The whole concept of light rail when it was devised back in the 70s was to create hybrid regional systems at a lower cost than full-fledged metro/heavy-rail technology could deliver (BART and MARTA demanded huge sums of money and Baltimore/Miami were cut off before they could build a full system). The result was something that was a mix of streetcar and metro systems. This had precedents in systems like LA's, Philly's, and Newark's, where regular surface streetcars were routed into downtown subways to avoid street congestion.

In the 70s, the situation was reversed - planners realized that many downtowns had extensive downtown street grids that were under capacity, where lanes or entire streets could be given over to surface rail, avoiding the insane cost of downtown subways. In city neighborhoods and suburbs, freight-rail or freeway ROWs could be used to ensure high speeds, which were necessary in order to reach suburban destinations in reasonable amounts of time. These systems would have varying degrees of grade separation depending on the desired train speed and the levels of road traffic at each crossing.

Of course, because light-rail is just a way to describe some form of hybrid, it's impossible to define what IS and is NOT light rail. This is why Houston is building a "light-rail" system that's really just a big streetcar network, and why Honolulu is building a "light-rail" system that's really just a metro with short trains.

[mwadswor]

The 3 mile Mesa extension of the Phoenix light rail line is under construction.

Also, I'm not sure if you're counting people mover systems, but the Phoenix Sky Harbor people mover is under construction and on schedule to open late next year.

[seaskyfan]

Seattle's First Hill Streetcar line broke ground today.

http://www.seattlestreetcar.org/

[arkhitektor]

FWIW- Construction of Salt Lake's Sugarhouse Streetcar (2.74 miles) is now underway, though the 'official' groundbreaking isn't until next month:

http://www.rideuta.com/mc/?page=Projects-SugarhouseStreetCar-Construction

[N830MH]

The 3 mile Mesa extension of the Phoenix light rail line is under construction.

Also, I'm not sure if you're counting people mover systems, but the Phoenix Sky Harbor people mover is under construction and on schedule to open late next year.

Yes, please followed the link:

This is only for Central Mesa 3.1 mile extension.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/METROrailConstruction

And also, there is more PHX SkyTrain. You can see how is construction in progress.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/PHXSkyHarbor

You can see how is construction in progress. You will see it.

[Cirrus]

Atlanta's current streetcar project is actually 2.7 miles rather than 1.4 miles
2.7 track miles, which means including the tracks in both directions. Basically double-counting.

The 3 mile Mesa extension of the Phoenix light rail line is under construction. Also, the Phoenix Sky Harbor people mover is under construction.The Mesa web site (http://www.mesaaz.gov/lightrail/) says construction has not started yet. *Design* has started, but not construction. The facebook page N830MH linked to says construction starts on May 30. And no, I'm not going to include airport people movers; some of them might be rail, but we can all agree they're a different animal than urban rail.

Seattle's First Hill Streetcar line broke ground today.

Construction of Salt Lake's Sugarhouse Streetcar (2.74 miles) is now underway

San Francisco SMART will go on in 2 weeks. Added these three to the list.

[northbay]

San Francisco SMART will go on in 2 weeks.

Added these three to the list.

Thanks! I saw some construction workers the other day. It's finally started!

[bobg]

Relatively minor but RTD broke ground on the 1.5 mile I225 LRT extension from 9 mile to Iliff today.

They are still in the RFP process to extend it beyond Iliff. That process was initiated after Kiewit's unsolicited bid to finish the rest of that corridor.

[SnyderBock]

Not when the same transit agency is using the exactly same equipment to do both functions. Although generally streetcars are designed to go a max of 45 mph while light rail trains are usually a max of 55 mph. But the real max speed for streetcars in operation is the speed limit of all the other traffic on the same streets. That also usually sets the max speed of street running light rail trains too. This sort of makes the actually max speed of the streetcars/light rail trains equipment irreverent for street running applications.

LRT is also has 65mph variants which are very common.

True, but I don't recall ever seeing any light rail trains going 65 mph in city streets. You will see those speeds in tunnels and aerial guideways where they are basically grade separated from other traffic. One could possibly build a streetcar going that fast, but why when their speeds are limited to speeds of the city streets? Could a streetcar ever accelerate to those speed before having to slow down for the next stop 1/8, 1/4, to 1/2 mile away?

We're not defining the differences between the vehicles anymore, but rather defining the difference between overall systems. Which is what I've been suggesting all along.

I wasn't making a case for LRT to be used at 65mph in city streets. I was simply pointing out that they max out at 65mph, not 55mph. Depends on the model, yes, but the splits between Streetcar max speeds and LRT max speeds should be: 45mph max for Streetcars and 65mph max for LRT. That was all, I was saying.

[djggrind]

The Salt Lake City UTA 3.8 mile Draper light rail extension is missing as under construction. http://www.rideuta.com/mc/?page=Projects-FrontLines2015-DraperTRAXLine-Construction

[nomarandlee]

There are 4 expansion proposals in this link 3 of them look good. But some fourmers are very passionate for hating the Starline proposal. Fine what ever, the other 3 should progress. When or if they get done?
.
With good reason. Other then looking impressive on agency maps with superficial connectivity it would really provide very little excepting taking people to nowhere places to other nowhere places. It is MUCH to spend billions of dollars elsewhere on Metra lines. The other three projects (particularly the UP-W and UP-NW improvements) are very worthwhile IMO.

By the way a few years ago there was a press release about extending the Milwaukee North Line (Fox Lake) to have a split branch up north by Rockland Rd. that would extend north to Gurnee. Giving its proximity to Gurnee Mills, Six Flags, Lambs Farm, and Abott Laboratories I thought would have been a real good idea. Haven't heard anything about it since however.

[lawfin]

With good reason. Other then looking impressive on agency maps with superficial connectivity it would really provide very little excepting taking people to nowhere places to other nowhere places. It is MUCH to spend billions of dollars elsewhere on Metra lines. The other three projects (particularly the UP-W and UP-NW improvements) are very worthwhile IMO.

By the way a few years ago there was a press release about extending the Milwaukee North Line (Fox Lake) to have a split branch up north by Ro....ckland Rd. that would extend north to Gurnee. Giving its proximity to Gurnee Mills, Six Flags, Lambs Farm, and Abott Laboratories I thought would have been a real good idea. Haven't heard anything about it since however.

I for one wish Metra would for once focus on increasing train frequency on its more heavily used lines, even if this runs were "limited runs".....that is runs that didn't proceed to line terminus. I think the north line for instance should run on the half hour during the week; and perhaps eeven on Saturday, every hour or so on Sunday would be sufficient. Quit expanding to area where the stations might get 100 riders a day instead increase frequency in the inner metra region to turn metra into a more viable comprehensive transportation alternative.

[k1052]

I for one wish Metra would for once focus on increasing train frequency on its more heavily used lines, even if this runs were "limited runs".....that is runs that didn't proceed to line terminus. I think the north line for instance should run on the half hour during the week; and perhaps eeven on Saturday, every hour or so on Sunday would be sufficient. Quit expanding to area where the stations might get 100 riders a day instead increase frequency in the inner metra region to turn metra into a more viable comprehensive transportation alternative.

Ramping up city service with new infill stations and more frequency would probably require electrification. Not that it isn't a conversation worth having since Metra already blows through populated areas that have less than ideal CTA rail access.

Getting UP to seriously discuss electrification is going to be...challenging. Maybe Metra could do a pilot program on the RI first.

[lawfin]

Ramping up city service with new infill stations and more frequency would probably require electrification. Not that it isn't a conversation worth having since Metra already blows through populated areas that have less than ideal CTA rail access.

Getting UP to seriously discuss electrification is going to be...challenging. Maybe Metra could do a pilot program on the RI first.

Let me preface with the fact that I am in no way a transit professional, engineer etc. Why would electrification be required....pollution, fuel costs? I am curious.

I imagine one of the barriers to increasing frequency..... besides the institutional inertia of an organization that has historically looked to ever expanding into suburbia as its method of growth.....is that there may be capacity constraints at the DT terminus and other "crossovers" where trains that don't complete a run can be rerouted back the other direction.

I don't know the lingo so I am trying to describe as best I can.

[DenverInfill]

Denver just broke ground on 1.5 mile LRT extension

http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/i225_2

[Busy Bee]

Let me preface with the fact that I am in no way a transit professional, engineer etc. Why would electrification be required....pollution, fuel costs? I am curious.

I imagine one of the barriers to increasing frequency..... besides the institutional inertia of an organization that has historically looked to ever expanding into suburbia as its method of growth.....is that there may be capacity constraints at the DT terminus and other "crossovers" where trains that don't complete a run can be rerouted back the other direction.

I don't know the lingo so I am trying to describe as best I can.


It really has little to do with pollution or fuel cost - although those would be side benefits. To best understand why electrified trains serving lines with short intervals between stations just look at the L, and imagine if the propulsion was diesel instead of electricity.

Or for another example imagine a diesel locomotive hauled train of 6 carriages, nearly fully loaded. You've seen a train like this accelerate from zero mph. It is painfully slow, not to mention loud. Most of Metra's operations are just this. Now imagine an electrically driven 6 carriage EMU train leaving a station fully loaded - quick acceleration, low noise.

Diesel propulsion of trains = low starting torque and long acceleration time. Electric propulsion of trains = high starting torque and fast acceleration time.


As a side note, I'd love to see those new Stadler KISS double deck EMU's running on newly electrified Metra lines. I can dream...

[Cirrus]

Added the 1.5 mile and 3.8 mile Denver & SLC lines.

[SnyderBock]

It's a little bit early, but RTD Denver plans to issue a notice to proceed in the 3rd quarter of this year and begin Construction from Denver Union Station to the National Western Stock Show/Denver Coliseum complex in early 2014. This is the EMU North Corridor. Not sure on exact miles for this phase 1, I think it's ~2-3 miles? can't add it to the list yet, but they'l be doing a groundbreaking, before we know it.

[ltsmotorsport]

Sacramento Regional Transit just broke ground on the first part of the Blue Line extension today.

Link to information on today's event and expansion overview:
http://blueline2crc.com/information-center/

[ltsmotorsport]

Here's a link to the recent article about the extension from the Sacramento Bee.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/29/4521906/work-begins-on-light-rail-extension.html



http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2012/05/29/12/30/11zqcB.Xl.4.gif
Sacramento Bee

[202_Cyclist]

Another light rail extension to add to the list.

Mesa light-rail expansion on track
Construction to begin on $200 mil extension


by Sean Holstege
May. 30, 2012
Arizona Republic

"Valley Metro is set to break ground today on the first light-rail expansion, a 3.1-mile stretch into downtown Mesa that city leaders hope will bring a sorely needed economic boost.

The $200 million extension is expected to attract thousands more East Valley riders daily and potentially nurture new development along the line.

Mesa's hopes reflect a broader optimism among Valley transit planners. After delaying and scaling back projects during the recession, they see new signs of life for efforts to build out the system..."

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/05/29/20120529mesa-light-rail-break-ground.html

[Cirrus]

What would folks think if I pinned this? Good idea? Bad idea?

[northbay]

good

[Kingofthehill]

good

[Cirrus]

Oh, and I added the Mesa and Sacto extensions.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

i believe the Crenshaw line in LA should also be considered under construction. They are relocating utilities at this point if i remember correctly and heavy construction should start in August

[Smuttynose1]

The MBTA is currently extending the Fitchburg commuter rail line 4.5 miles to an under construction station called Wachusett, to be located adjacent to the Route 2 highway. Most of the funding is from the federal stimulus act.

Wachusett Commuter Rail Extension
http://transportation.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2010/10/wachusett-commuter-rail-extension.html

[SnyderBock]

RTD Denver received an unsolicited bid for the remaining 9.5 miles of the I-225 LRT line, from Kiewit. A second competitive bid from Balfour Beatty Ames Joint Venture was also submitted. Both bids were determined to be viable. Kiewit's bid was superior though and RTD plans to recommend moving forward with their offer. This means a significant unfunded portion of FasTracks will now move forward. Kiewit says they will have the LRT line open by 2015 -- construction will be underway soon! Can't add it yet, but it's certainly looking positive.

[daperpkazoo]

Minneapolis/Saint Paul's Central Corridor is not and never was the "central line". It will open as the Green Line.

[afiggatt]

The Miami Metrorail 2.4 mile extension to the Miami airport opened this week. I was wondering when was the last actual track mileage extension with a new station of a rapid transit heavy rail system in the US? Not an infill station or a rebuild, but an actual extension of a Metro rail system?

The last extension to the DC Metro system was the Blue line 3.2 miles extension to Largo Town Center in December, 2004. When the last extension to BART? Any other Metro or subway system extensions since 2004?

In the next 4+ years, the 11 miles and 5 stations of the DC Metro Silver Line phase 1 will open (December 2013 projection), #7 Line extension in NYC in 2014?, then the Second Ave Subway phase 1, so the new few years will be busier than the last few.

[fflint]

When the last extension to BART? The SFO/Millbrae extension, with four new stations, opened in June, 2003.

[afiggatt]

The SFO/Millbrae extension, with four new stations, opened in June, 2003.
Found that the Tern Urbano transit system in San Juan, Puerto Rico opened in December 17, 2004. Almost to the same day, the DC Metro Blue line extension to Largo Town Center in MD opened on December 18, 2004.

Unless there were other extensions I don't know of, it may have been 7-1/2 years since the last extension of a heavy rail rapid transit system in the US opened for service. Been a number of new light rail and streetcar lines, but not heavy rail transit. I was wondering in context of the systems and track mileage of heavy rail rapid transit that are currently under construction or just opened in Miami, how long has it been since there new Metro / subway extensions or new service were added in the US.

[Kenneth]

awful for Detroit, every major and non major cities building away, and my hometown still cant get it togeather.

[seaskyfan]

Groundbreaking for the next Sound Transit light rail expansion will be next Friday, August 17th. This is for a 4.3 mile extension of the Link main line from the University of Washington to the Northgate neighborhood.

http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/News-releases/Northgate-Link-light-rail-groundbreaking-invite.xml

[Ragnar]

I think the Miami Airport Orange Line extension opened, so it can probably be taken off the "under construction" list.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Pre construction utility replacement starts tomorrow on the Regional connector subway in Downtown LA.

some sort of work is now being done on the following lines in LA

1) Gold Line LRT Foothill Extension 2 - Heavy Construction
2) Expo Line LRT Phase 2 - Heavy Construction
3) Crenshaw Line LRT - Pre Construction Utility Work
4) Downtown Regional Connector - LRT Subway - Pre Construction Utility Work
5) Purple line Subway - Utility work starts next month

[202_Cyclist]

Pre construction utility replacement starts tomorrow on the Regional connector subway in Downtown LA.

some sort of work is now being done on the following lines in LA

1) Gold Line LRT Foothill Extension 2 - Heavy Construction
2) Expo Line LRT Phase 2 - Heavy Construction
3) Crenshaw Line LRT - Pre Construction Utility Work
4) Downtown Regional Connector - LRT Subway - Pre Construction Utility Work
5) Purple line Subway - Utility work starts next month

But we're to believe that high speed rail won't work in California because there is no transit once you get to Los Angeles. Ha!

[fflint]

I don't think this fits the intent of the thread, but Caltrain (commuter rail) is currently constructing one mile of aerial track (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=5802439&postcount=687) in San Bruno.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

But we're to believe that high speed rail won't work in California because there is no transit once you get to Los Angeles. Ha!

its practically impossible and the 380,000 rail boardings a day dont count :D

[seaskyfan]

Sound Transit's Sounder Commuter Rail is opening two new stations tomorrow in South Tacoma and Lakewood.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019363197_sounder07m.html

[easy as pie]

honolulu's near lock for mayor in november has killing the rapid transit project as his #1 priority, so we can expect that one to disappear from this list pretty much as of his election (he's ahead by 30 points in the polls). a real bummer, considering how great the project is, how far along it is, how well funded it is, how tough it was to keep it all together for so long, how horrible hawaiian traffic is, how smoggy it gets there, how unbikeable the place is, and how well it could shape development on oahu over the next 100 years. way to go, guys!

in better news, i was talking with some folks at a recent spur party here in sf and there should be an announcement fairly shortly on the extension of our f streetcar line into by another .5 mile or so along the water and through an existing tunnel (to fort mason).

[Austinlee]

EDIT: Ok i'm specifically not supposed to show this detailed look at Pittsburgh new $529 million under river subway extension because it is already completed. So I won't post it here. But click here to view the correct Transportation light rail thread to see this very cool project - http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=167125&page=11

[SnyderBock]

Keiwit will start construction on the final 9.5 miles of the I-225 LRT line, very soon. Construction is scheduled to be fully complete by mid-2015 (only 2.5 years away) and then followed by 6 months of testing before it goes operational in early 2016.

That brings this total:
Denver West & 225 lines - 14 miles
Up to 22.6 miles for LRT under construction in Denver

[202_Cyclist]

I suppose this is as good of a place as any to post it but the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report yesterday looking at New Starts and Small Starts transit funding from 2004 to 2012.

Funding for New Starts and Small Starts Projects, October 2004 through June 2012

"Local funding exceeded total federal funding contributions for the 25 New Starts projects, accounting for $16.3 billion, or almost half, of $33.8 billion of total project funding (see figure below) from October 2004 through June 2012. This outcome reflects the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) policy to encourage project sponsors to seek less than 60 percent of the project's costs from New Start funds--less than the allowable 80-percent New Starts-share maximum. Local agencies used a wide variety of sources, but most commonly used sales taxes for their contributions to the projects; sales taxes were used for 13 of the 25 projects. Federal funds from all sources for New Starts projects totaled about $15.2 billion. The New Starts program alone provided about $14 billion, or 92 percent of the federal funds during this period. Federal-aid highway funding that was "flexed," or transferred, to transit was the second largest source of federal funds, providing about $720 million. Finally, states provided about $2.3 billion, or about 7 percent of total funding, to 13 of the 25 projects. States obtained most of this funding from bonds or other debt mechanisms.

Conversely, total federal funding was the largest source of funding for the 32 Small and Very Small Starts projects, constituting about $1.4 billion, or two-thirds of $2.1 billion in project funding. Most federal funds, about $1.1 billion of the $1.4 billion, came from the Small Starts and Very Small Starts programs. Flexed federal highway funds again were the second largest federal funding source and provided about $195 million. Local agencies provided about $513 million or about 24 percent of total project funding. Local sales taxes, the primary source of local funding, were used on about half of the projects and provided 55 percent of local funding. States again provided the smallest share, about $188 million or almost 9 percent of total funding, and 17 of the 32 projects received state funding. States obtained most of the funding from bonds and other forms of debt..."

http://gao.gov/assets/660/650030.pdf

[electricron]

honolulu's near lock for mayor in november has killing the rapid transit project as his #1 priority, so we can expect that one to disappear from this list pretty much as of his election (he's ahead by 30 points in the polls). a real bummer, considering how great the project is, how far along it is, how well funded it is, how tough it was to keep it all together for so long, how horrible hawaiian traffic is, how smoggy it gets there, how unbikeable the place is, and how well it could shape development on oahu over the next 100 years. way to go, guys!

That near lock for mayor - LOST !
Honolulu Rail will become a reality.

[SnyderBock]

I wonder what percentage of New Starts funding came from private financing? They left that part out. Pre-2004, it was likely zero percent or near zero percent. So it'd definitely be interesting to know just how much that grew since 2004.

[Cirrus]

I updated the main list on the first page, to include:
LA's Crenshaw line
Boston's Wachusett extension
Seattle's Northgate light rail
When Denver's 225 line actually starts, I'll add it.

And I removed the 2 mile Miami Airport link, which is complete

[fflint]

Portland's East Side streetcar line opened in September.

50560445

[Cirrus]

Removed.

[Cirrus]

Dallas' Blue line extension opened (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/20121203-dart-blue-line-launches-long-awaited-rail-service-in-rowlett.ece) so I moved it off the list.

[ltsmotorsport]

A quick blurb about Regional Transit's Blue Line extension recently. They just received federal funding for the full phase 2 extension and work will begin in April, with an opening towards the end of 2015. This news in in addition to the work already started on the grade separations.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/30/5020198/back-seat-driver-rt-looks-at-closing.html


And the initial Green Line segment opened a while back as well. The next phase will take it over the American River in the Natomas neighborhood and eventually to the airport, but that will be quite a few years out.

[Cirrus]

Apparently DART also opened 4 miles of its Orange line extension yesterday. I've left the Orange line extension on the list because they are still working on the 2nd phase (to DFW Airport), but reduced the mileage.

[IMBY]

I just read through all these posts and I'm ready for a good cry!

Las Vegas, of all cities, can't even get a streetcar or light rail down its famed Las Vegas Strip to the downtown Fremont Street district, let alone steer it to the nearby Airport. :koko:

I've been puzzled about this in all the 16 years I've lived here! Can't exactly put my finger on the reasons why.

Some say, the casino operators would be against it, as they want their patrons to spend all their time and $ in their mega resorts. Build a rail system and it would be too easy for them to go elsewhere, to their competitors.

Our powerful taxi unions in this city are not to be taken lightly, as light rail could very well bring an end to many of their jobs. When the monorail (that kiddy train!) was built, and there were wheels mysteriously falling off it, I knew a retired taxi driver who told me: That's no mystery! The taxi drivers are sabotaging the system!

And if there's truth to that, imagine how they'd sabotage our light rail system!!! A mysterious, unsolvable bombing?

I do pray that most cities in this country get light rail, get accustomed to it, fly into a city and there's a rail car waiting for you at the Airport, to speed you away to your destination.

And then? Within time, with all the 3-4 million visitors that come to Las Vegas, they will start asking questions, embarrassing us:

"What's this anyway!!! No rail line from the Airport to the Strip? And this is suppose to be such a modern, futuristic city!!! You mean I'm stuck taking taxi's everywhere!!!":runaway: