DENVER | Transportation Thread

[TakeFive]

Creating a better transit system is about incorporating new tech, a dose of common sense (and cooperation) and the funding to create, operate and maintain the system. Think better efficiency.

An easy, quick read illustrates how Los Angeles improved their system when they gravitated to their Metro Rapid routes. Fewer stops - their rule of thumb is stops spaced about 3/4 of a mile apart. Frequent service (especially) during Peak Hours, use of low-floor multi-door buses and traffic signal priority seem to be key components. There are other tech enhancements that can also add to the efficiency and appeal. One necessity is an easy and functional payment system. L.A.'s system is defined as Express service with BRT characteristics.

[TakeFive]

Some local trolley-like routes require more frequent stops. Check out the "new tech" that landed in River City.

Image courtesy LouisvilleKY.gov

All-Electric ZeroBus Fleet Launches Downtown
January 12, 2015 - LouisvilleKY.gov

ZeroBus, TARC’s all-electric fleet, is now providing fare-free rides for passengers along Main, Market and Fourth streets. The zero-emissions all-electric buses replace diesel-powered trolleys, the highest polluting TARC vehicles.

“Louisville is the first city in this part of the country to have a fleet of all-electric buses in operation, putting us at the leading edge of high-technology, cleaner, greener transportation,” Barker said. “We encourage everyone to hop on a ZeroBus and stop along the way for some of the best Louisville has to offer in restaurants, museums and entertainment.”

How did Louisville pull this together?

The all-electric system - 10 buses and two charging stations - is an $11 million investment, with the bulk of funding from federal and state grants. Louisville Metro contributed $500,000.

Proterra Inc., of Greenville, S.C. is the bus manufacturer but the best way to get a good read on this dandy new bus is to head out to the Left Coast and Jay Leno's Garage.

• Video Link

[Cirrus]

Neat. The "trolleys" those are replacing are just diesel buses with a stupid old-timey shell. They were not in any way real trolleys. Big upgrade.


LouisvilleTrolley.com

I would however love to see some cities use trolleybuses on a BRT line. Nobody's done it yet, but it would give BRT more of a rail-like sense of permanence

[CastleScott]

^ I sure wish RTD would go electric trolley bus downtown and even on future BRT (they would look great on Colfax!).

[trubador]

So the DP reported that the G line to Arvada is delayed due to software issues that control the gate. I'm not sure if the 225 line uses the same software, but that line is still far behind on testing. The whole story doesn't make a lot of sense. They have know about these problems since at least April of last year. It shouldn't take that long to fix the software, unless (and this is my theory), they subbed the code part out and that contractor was offshore or is not longer responding to the vendor, or there is some sort of contract issue. It just doesn't take that long to fix software issues, unless you don't know how to fix the code.

[TakeFive]

^ I only know what I read but the R line issues are totally different from the G and A lines.

Previous article in the DBJ indicated that a circuit board on the R Line’s electronic systems didn’t work properly and a replacement had to come from Switzerland. If the trains are being tested (again), that would indicate that they are back on course.

[CastleScott]

^ Guys from what I've read I believe this could be tied into the PTC system that RTD decided to go full on with the commuter lines-this Positive Train Control system is something so highly complex that Amtrak and the freight railroads continue to struggle to implement before the federal mandate takes affect (trains communicating to signals, other trains and dispatching via a GPS type system). Just something that's quite interesting btw..

[TakeFive]

^ Yep, I just took the time to read yesterday's Denver Post article by John Aguilar which states:

Henry Stopplecamp, assistant general manager of capital programs for RTD, explained that the chief problem stems from an attempt to integrate a positive train control safety system with a wireless signaling system — something that has never been done before in the United States.

“RTD is the first to use this technology,” he said.

The biggest issue has been with the at-grade crossing gates but there's been other issues with sensors too. Apparently Denver Transit Partners thinks they're on course towards a fix but until they get there... they know they'll need another FRA time extension. This is specific to the commuter rail or A, B and G lines.

[PLANSIT]

R-Line will be opening soon. Maybe in phases.

[trubador]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

^ Yep, I just took the time to read yesterday's Denver Post article by John Aguilar which states:

The biggest issue has been with the at-grade crossing gates but there's been other issues with sensors too. Apparently Denver Transit Partners thinks they're on course towards a fix but until they get there... they know they'll need another FRA time extension. This is specific to the commuter rail or A, B and G lines.

Does that story make any sense to you? They have had problems since last April (and maybe before they opened the line). It doesn't take that long to get a replacement part. If they had to go back in the design process because the PLC or some other component isn't working that is a different story.

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by trubador

Does that story make any sense to you? They have had problems since last April (and maybe before they opened the line). It doesn't take that long to get a replacement part. If they had to go back in the design process because the PLC or some other component isn't working that is a different story.

It's the latter. This isn't some broken part, the intial PCS design in regards to the crossing gates was basically non-functional and the fix has been far more elusive then DTP expected.

[transistor]

How hard could this possibly be that it is taking so long. Its a gate that goes up when a train comes by, and goes down when the train is gone, not the space shuttle.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by trubador

Does that story make any sense to you? They have had problems since last April (and maybe before they opened the line). It doesn't take that long to get a replacement part. If they had to go back in the design process because the PLC or some other component isn't working that is a different story.

Finally an explanation that makes some sense.

I probably know more about Morse Code than software code but while you can create software for most any purpose, the real challenge comes when software meets real world human variances or unanticipated issues. With respect to the crossing gates it seems they "over-designed" the software so that when human variances occurred it snowballed forward. With a software fix/update determined the last step will be to redo some of the hardware along the track.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

Finally an explanation that makes some sense.

I probably know more about Morse Code than software code but while you can create software for most any purpose, the real challenge comes when software meets real world human variances or unanticipated issues. With respect to the crossing gates it seems they "over-designed" the software so that when human variances occurred it snowballed forward. With a software fix/update determined the last step will be to redo some of the hardware along the track.

Great article. I personally think people are exaggerating the impacts of these "issues" a bit. The A-line does run on time at a very high percentage now, and these issues are going to be fixed sooner than later. I have taken it several times to the airport for flights now, and I have yet to have serious issues. Any new system is going to have hiccups in the first year or so, and this is no different.

[TakeFive]

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

R-Line will be opening soon. Maybe in phases.

Phasing could be interesting; perhaps to Florida? It would be good to get the Iliff station open.

Delays continue for RTD’s new Aurora R Line
January 12, 2017 by QUINCY SNOWDON - Aurora Sentinel

Now, the earliest the project could be theoretically completed is March, though even that seems to be a stretch, according to Tom Tobiassen, former RTD District F Board Member.

Tobiassen said Kiewit, the contractor building the light rail line, has yet to hand the project over to RTD for additional testing. Once that power transfer occurs, RTD will need to conduct at least an additional 45 days of daytime testing, according to Tobiassen.

[TakeFive]

This is pretty hilarious and a bit interesting at that.

DRCOG planning a gridlocked future for Denver Metro Area
December 16, 2016 By Bruce Baker - Complete Colorado

The message I heard, during the November 21 Westminster City Council Study Session, is that the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) is planning to let traffic congestion get worse and that they hate cars. It wasn’t a surprise. Nearly every level of government on the Colorado Front Range seems to hate cars. That is why DRCOG thought they could celebrate their latest car-hating program at our study session, they were among friends.

We take for granted the freedom and benefits that a fast, efficient highway network gives us. It is a mixing and unifying force to the whole of society because it reduces the restrictions that geography and distance impose and that trap people.

Different rant slant than what I was familiar with; a lot of the focus here is on freedom and access versus the "urban elites" and their "wealthy islands."


In any case this year's transportation push revolves around finding funding for CDOT and their $9 billion gap in needed funding. Most Republicans recognize (now) that CDOT can't sell bonds w/o a revenue stream to pay the bonds back. Since they seem to still be averse to increasing the gas tax, I've heard that increasing the state sales tax from its current 2.9% is the most likely proposal to voters. My preference would be a bit of both; couple a (more) modest increase in the sales tax with a modest increase in the gas tax. Or maybe they'll just continue to kick the can... one never knows with legislative bodies.

Almost forgot... Laura Bliss has an exceptional piece on the I-70 redevelopment at CityLab.

[TakeFive]

photo by L.A. Urban Soul, Flickr via Discover Los Angeles

Electric DASH Buses To Begin Service In DTLA Next Week
Jan 12, 2017 By Joe Linton - Streetsblog LA

The four new 35-foot electric buses were purchased by LADOT under a $2.8 million grant from the California Energy Commission, administered by CALSTART. The buses are manufactured by BYD in Lancaster in northern L.A. County.

LADOT DASH electric buses have a range of approximately 150 miles, enough to easily cover a downtown DASH bus daily routine. The buses charge overnight at LADOT’s DASH Transit Maintenance Facility on Washington Boulevard in South Los Angeles. Full recharging takes approximately three hours.

Anybody know how RTD's new Mall Ride buses are performing?
BYD is the same manufacturer that makes RTD's new EV Mall Ride buses. They're actually manufactured in China and assembled in Lancaster CA.

[TakeFive]

"Can This Electric Bus Really Go 350 Miles On a Single Charge?"
"Some think a breakthrough by a California company could be the beginning of the end for smoky, noisy buses"
SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 By Randy Rieland - SMITHSONIAN.COM


Image courtesy of Proterra via SMITHSONIAN.COM


Proterra Unveils 350-Mile Range Electric Buses at APTA Conference in L.A.
Sep 13, 2016 By Joe Linton - Streetsblog LA

At the American Public Transit Association’s annual meeting in downtown Los Angeles, electric bus maker Proterra unveiled its new Catalyst E2 transit bus. The Catalyst E2 electric bus is “named for its unprecedented Efficient Energy (E2) storage capacity.” According to Proterra:

Proterra manufactures these buses at plants in L.A. County’s City of Industry and in Greenville, South Carolina.

This is impressive

Los Angeles County’s Foothill Transit is among the nation’s early adopters of electric bus technology, with a planned all-electric bus fleet by 2030. According to Doran Barnes, Executive Director at Foothill Transit and new APTA board chair:

I want one of these buses

Proterra's (recent) history is incredible. Despite the higher cost to open and operate a plant in California, Proterra didn't hesitate and wanted to be closer to their biggest market which they assume will be the West Coast. They had no difficulty in finding Venture Capital to fund their new facility in City of Industry which is to start production in May. It will triple their existing capacity in Greenville, South Carolina. 2017 production is spoken for and they also have big orders from Seattle and Reno.

[The Dirt]

Originally Posted by TakeFive

photo by L.A. Urban Soul, Flickr via Discover Los Angeles

Electric DASH Buses To Begin Service In DTLA Next Week
Jan 12, 2017 By Joe Linton - Streetsblog LA


Anybody know how RTD's new Mall Ride buses are performing?
BYD is the same manufacturer that makes RTD's new EV Mall Ride buses. They're actually manufactured in China and assembled in Lancaster CA.

I've still only seen the old buses since they ran the pilot a few years back. Anyone seen the new ones yet?

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by The Dirt

I've still only seen the old buses since they ran the pilot a few years back. Anyone seen the new ones yet?

I've seen one on the Mall, but haven't had a chance to ride it yet. It seems as if the ordered units have only just begun to arrive.