Washington DC: Rail transit

[cambron J]

aquablue

I have family who lives around Tysons and they don't like the way the tracks look. I can see what they mean. Elevated tracks aren't that nice looking.

A group proposed an all tunnel option employing a large diameter tunnel boring machine. tysonstunnel.cam (archived at web.archive.org).

Both tracks would be in the same tunnel. They also proposed placing the stations with the envelope of the large diameter tunnel by stacking the tracks.

The design of the station violated all of WMATA's design standards for stations in subway. That was not the reason why the option was rejected. As 202_Cyclist stated above the cost of the all tunnel would have exceeded the Federal Transt Administration cost benefit threshold requirement.


Station and tunnel sections.


Station plan and elevation.


Tunnel profile.

[Nouvellecosse]

Yeah that project really wouldn't make sense in any lower density suburban-type area considering using a tunnel is often double the cost of elevated lines. That kind of money would be a total waste for little reason other than making it look prettier.

[aquablue]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Yeah that project really wouldn't make sense in any lower density suburban-type area considering using a tunnel is often double the cost of elevated lines. That kind of money would be a total waste for little reason other than making it look prettier.

Haha, well, the highway people in the 60's thought that way... oh, who cares about aesthetics, people won't mind if we place a 6 lane highway right next to such and such historic downtown area, waterfront, etc, etc.

Not that bad in this case, but still, pretty can pay $$$ in the long run (people invest in pretty) and it can COST big money if pretty is thrown out without thinking about the future. Seattle waterfront anyone? Boston?= I myself drove around the area and thought it was OK but I can see how people who don't go in for the urban infrastructure fetish would not be too pleased.

[Eightball]

The elevated pylons/tracks look way better than the massive traffic sewer roads they run over/by imo.

[202_Cyclist]

The Purple Line will likely beat ridership forecasts

By Ben Ross
October 28, 2014
Greater Greater Washington

"Tucson's new streetcar and the light rail between Minneapolis and St. Paul are beating ridership forecasts. It's a good bet that the Purple Line, which will break ground next year, will do the same. What do they have in common? All run through the heart of major state universities..."

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/...hip-forecasts/

[OhioGuy]

*sigh* ^ Is the Purple Line in the Maryland suburbs, the Red Line in Baltimore, and the Corridor Cities Transitway now all dead because of the surprise gubernatorial win by Republican Larry Hogan? I think the Purple and Red lines were both just about a year away from final decision and start of construction? Hogan campaigned for roads and against these transit improvements. He also campaigned for rolling back the tax increase that the Maryland legislature and Governor O'Malley signed which helps pay for those transit projects. Can the lame duck legislature/O'Malley pass anything before leaving office at the end of the year which can ensure the funding goes through to construct these transit projects regardless of Hogan taking over as Governor?

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by OhioGuy

*sigh* ^ Is the Purple Line in the Maryland suburbs, the Red Line in Baltimore, and the Corridor Cities Transitway now all dead because of the surprise gubernatorial win by Republican Larry Hogan? I think the Purple and Red lines were both just about a year away from final decision and start of construction? Hogan campaigned for roads and against these transit improvements. He also campaigned for rolling back the tax increase that the Maryland legislature and Governor O'Malley signed which helps pay for those transit projects. Can the lame duck legislature/O'Malley pass anything before leaving office at the end of the year which can ensure the funding goes through to construct these transit projects regardless of Hogan taking over as Governor?

Barf! Is it too early to pour a stiff cocktail and begin therapeutic drinking?

[RCDC]

Thanks, Baltimore for your 7% voter turnout...

[cambron J]

OhioGuy
Can the lame duck legislature/O'Malley pass anything before leaving office at the end of the year which can ensure the funding goes through to construct these transit projects regardless of Hogan taking over as Governor?

No. The Maryland General Assembly is only in session for 90 calendar days each year beginning on the second Wednesday in January.

[OhioGuy]

The Washington Post editorial board has a good piece this morning:
A Purple Line Litmus Test for Larry Hogan

MARYLAND’S GOVERNOR-ELECT, Larry Hogan, whose victory rested largely on a promise to revive the state’s economy, faces an almost immediate opportunity to prove his pro-business bona fides. The issue is a critical one: whether to go ahead with the 16-mile Purple Line light rail project north of the District.

If Mr. Hogan, a Republican, gives a green light to the Purple Line, it would be an early sign that he intends to govern as a job-creating chief executive. If he pulls the plug on the project, and he suggested during the campaign that he might, he would cast doubt on that commitment — and, in the process, signal that he is more partisan than pragmatic.

[202_Cyclist]

We would be significantly better off if these NIMBYs used their endless amount of money and free time to do something beneficial instead of fighting transit.

Chevy Chase approves $25,000 to search for endangered species DNA near Purple Line

By Katherine Shaver
November 6, 2014
Washington Post

"The Town of Chevy Chase will contribute $25,338 for a study to detect whether seeps and wetlands in Montgomery County, near the planned route for a light-rail Purple Line, contain DNA of endangered shrimp-like creatures.

The town council voted 3 to 1 Wednesday evening to approve a grant request from the nonprofit Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail. The trail advocacy group sued four federal agencies in August, alleging that they improperly approved a Maryland Transit Administration environmental study of the Purple Line without adequately considering the project’s potential impacts on two crustaceans.

The trail group says the extremely rare Kenk’s and Hay’s Spring amphipods could be harmed by the line’s construction and additional stormwater runoff that would result from increased development after the line is built..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...r-purple-line/

[cambron J]

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Pictures 01 10 2015

Nothing has begun at the sites of any of the stations, however lanes along the Dulles Access Road are being shifted in area of the Innovation station. Grading has begun in the area of Sulley Road VA-28 and preparations are being made for the construction of the bridge over Horse Pin Run west of Sulley Road. Visible construction continues to be mostly confined to Dulles Airport property.

All of the columns that have come out of the ground south of Rudder Road and along Airfreight Lane are done, there are roughly 5 at the south end just north of Aviation Drive that have not been started.

All but hand full of the columns along Autopilot Drive are done. The columns in the median of Autopilot Drive north of Rudder Road has not come out of the ground yet.

Things have begun north of Materials Road on both the mainline and the yard leads. The mainline columns have come out of the ground to the Dulles Greenway. East and west yard lead columns are mostly rebar cages sticking out of the ground. Construction of the mainline and west yard lead columns in the Dulles Greenway right of way have not begun.

Test track and Commissioning Facility

The contractor is getting close to prepping the roadbed for ties south of Greenbelt Road. The rail that was staged in the south park and ride lot at the Greenbelt station has been moved to various locations along the test track right of way.

Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 10 13 1014.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility.
This and previous posts in this series can be seen at cambronj.blogspot.com.

[202_Cyclist]

cambron_J:

Thank you for posting.

In other news, I saw my first real, live, streetcar in the wild yesterday evening on H Street. It was pretty exciting.

[Eightball]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

cambron_J:

Thank you for posting.

In other news, I saw my first real, live, streetcar in the wild yesterday evening on H Street. It was pretty exciting.

+1 props to cambron J.

But please do tell about the streetcar action!

[cambron J]

You guys are welcome.

Odd thing is the area used for the casting plant to manufacture the post-tension segments for the phase I elevated spans has not been resetup for the manufacture of the phase II segments.

[cambron J]

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project progress update e-mail 02 04 2015

Phase 2 Construction Marches Along at Dulles

While ridership on Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project (Silver Line) continues to meet and exceed expectations since opening last summer, the pace of Phase 2 construction building. Most of the work continues to take place at Dulles Airport but work has also extended onto the Dulles International Airport Access Highway, Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Greenway.

The design-build contractor for Phase 2, Capital Rail Constructors, is focused on building approximately 200 piers to support the aerial guideway at Dulles.

The first girders, which provide horizontal support to the piers for the aerial guideway, are expected to arrive in late winter and will be delivered to Dulles Airport. The girders average 150 feet long, 8 feet tall and 190,000 pounds. Delivery and installation of these massive beams will require use of multiple cranes which will, in turn, necessitate lane closures and possible detours on the Airport property. Project crews are developing extensive plans for managing traffic during this time and the public will be informed of any impacts prior to work beginning.

Work is also taking place on Autopilot Drive near car rental agencies and police/fire facilities. Work is these areas will intensify in the spring.


Dulles Airport Construction: Pier construction in the airport's cargo area.
Photo courtesy of Capital Rail Constructors

Wintertime Blues

Old Man Winter is taking its toll on some Phase 2 construction. Paving and striping work cannot take place when temperatures hit the freezing mark so some work has been delayed at some locations at Dulles, as well as the Dulles Access Highway and Dulles Toll Road.

Looking back a bit

Late last year, significant preparation work was done at the future location of the Dulles Airport Station along the Saarinen Circle side of the Parking Garage 1. Included in that work was the "recycling" of the mature trees in front of the garage. The trees were transplanted at a nursery on airport property and will be replanted as needed at other airport sites.


Map: Phase 2 route map<h2>Off the Airport Site</h2>Preliminary construction continues along some sections of the Dulles Greenway, west of the airport. The Greenway crosses over Broad Run, a tributary of the Potomac River, between the Route 606 and Loudoun County Parkway exits. Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project crews have begun construction of a bridge in the median of the Greenway at this location so the Silver Line may also cross over Broad Run. Similar construction is underway on the Dulles Access Highway at the Horsepen Run bridge at Dulles Airport, and will soon begin at the Centreville Road bridge.

Significant civil work will also begin this year in the Kiss & Ride area of Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride and at the future Herndon Station. Meetings will be held with county officials who operate the existing garage and residents of nearby neighborhoods in the coming weeks.


Greenway Construction: The map above shows the location of the Broad Run Bridge that is being constructed in the median of the Dulles Greenway.
<i>Graphic courtesy of Capital Rail Constructors</i>

###

Based on the opening above, the elevated at Dulles Airport will not utilize post-tension type construction for the spans. I could be wrong but it sound like some kind of steel beam will be used, either a steel box beam similar to the elevated crossing of the Capitol Beltway on the Red line in Bethesda or a pair of steel beams similar to the elevated at the Rhode Island Avenue station.

[202_Cyclist]

Charles light rail project needs $20M for planning stage

Initiative could present cheaper transit option for state funding

By Jeff Newman
Mar. 4, 2015

"With Maryland facing yet another fiscal crunch and Gov. Larry Hogan weighing whether to fund the Purple Line and Red Line projects, Charles County’s light rail initiative represents a cheaper option for funding mass transit, project officials told the county commissioners last week.

The light rail project is midway through a $5 million transit study, which the state funded following passage of the 2013 gas tax increase, and next requires $20 million in order to begin project planning, said the county’s Chief of Resource and Infrastructure Management Jason Groth and Gary V. Hodge, a former county commissioner.

But Commissioner Ken Robinson (D) questioned whether the project was even viable under Hogan (R) given that his predecessor, former Gov. Martin O’Malley, led “a very mass transit-friendly administration, and even under those circumstances we were way down on the list [of transit projects]…"

http://www.somdnews.com/article/2015...uthernMaryland

[cambron J]

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Pictures 03 28 2015

Work has begun at three of the six stations. All of the work being done is preparatory.

At Herndon the contractor installing the 34.5 KV power feed bus that runs the full length of the route was excavating the shafts to tunnel the power conduits under the westbound Dulles Access Road. Similar work was being done in front and west of the site of the Dulles Airport station.

Crushed stone for the relocated westbound Dulles Access Road sub grade at the Innovation station was being put down east of a section that has been paved.

The abutments west of Sulley Road VA-28 for the bridge over Horsepen Run are done. DCMP has announced that the beams for the bridges will be set during the week of 04 06 2015.

South of the cell-phone parking lot a traveling crane to be used to set the elevated spans is being assembled. The ground along Autopilot Drive north of Rudder Road is being prepared to accommodated the traveling crane.

Column construction continues north of Materials Road. Many of them now have column cap on them. Several of the yard lead column have begun coming out of the ground.

The right shoulder of the eastbound Dulles Greenway has been closed south of Old Ox Road in the area of the elevated flyover to the median.

Nothing has begun at the sites of the Loudoun Gateway (VA-606) and Ashburn (VA-722) stations.

On a side note. You will be able to see a movie at the Starplex multi screen cinema adjacent to the Ashburn station at Loudoun Station.

Test track and Commissioning Facility

Preparation of the grade for the test track continues along the right of way. Track has been laid from the south end of the test track to just south of the contractor right of way access location south of Greenbelt Road.

Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 03 28 1015.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility.
This and previous posts in this series can be seen at cambronj.blogspot.com.

[202_Cyclist]

Plan advances for Metro station at Potomac Yard

By Luz Lazo
March 30, 2015
Washington Post

“A new Metro station in Alexandria’s growing Potomac Yard community is a step closer to reality with the release of a federal environmental impact study that says the project would spur economic development and boost transit.

The report, released last week by the Federal Transit Administration, details the station’s potential impact on the community, overall development, wetlands and views from the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

The station, which would connect to Metro’s Yellow and Blue lines between the Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations, is expected to drive development and add about 5,000 riders to the transit system. It will improve regional transit accessibility and increase the share of trips made by transit, bike and foot at Potomac Yard, the report said…”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...f89_story.html

[202_Cyclist]

Commuter rail could extend all the way to Haymarket

By Canaan Merchant
April 7, 2015
Greater Greater Washington


Map of the proposed extension and station locations. (Image courtesy of Greater Greater Washington).

“Northern Virginia's commuter rail service, VRE, is taking the first steps to extend its Manassas Line 11 miles farther west, to Haymarket.

The extension would bring commuter rail to three new stations in Prince William County, which is growing quickly. It would split off as a spur from the Manassas Line, with some trains going on to Broad Run on the existing line, and some trains going to Haymarket...”

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/...-to-haymarket/