FINAL REPORT TCRP Project D14 Report 155 Track

FINAL REPORT TCRP Project D-14 [Report 155] Track Design Handbook for Light Rail Transit 2 nd Edition 1 Prepared by: Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P. E.

TCRP Report 57 Updating Required Over a decade since original publication Doesn’t reflect other TCRP research since then Streetcar issues not covered Construction & Maintenance not covered in a comprehensive way. • • 2

The D-14 Project Research Team Parsons Brinckerhoff Wilson Ihrig & Associates Metro Tech Consulting Track Guy Consultants 3

Report 57 4

Changes From Report 57 Chapter 1 – GENERAL INTRODUCTION • Increased focus on who the Handbook user is and how he/she fits within an LRT project. • Expansion of the definition of what LRT is. Chapter 2 – LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT VEHICLES • Updated discussions about characteristics of contemporary LRVs and Streetcars • Added and in-depth discussion of how to select an appropriate wheel profile. 5

Changes From Report 57 Chapter 3 – LRT TRACK GEOMETRY • New discussion provided explaining the relationships between lateral acceleration, unbalance and the jerk rate • Expanded discussion concerning track crosslevel and limitations on twist in tangent track. • Expanded discussion of alignment of freight tracks and shared LRT/Freight tracks. • New article on issues where LRT shares a corridor (but not tracks) with a freight carrier 6

Changes From Report 57 Chapter 4 – TRACK STRUCTURE DESIGN • The entire discussion about Nytram plots, Filkins-Wharton diagrams and related issues restructured to introduce basic concepts and background information first and only then develop the explanation of the methodology. • Discussions about restraining rails and their application has been greatly restructured and expanded with reference to TCRP D-7 project. 7

Changes From Report 57 Chapter 5 – TRACK COMPONENTS & MATERIALS • Tee rail discussion revised. • Groove rail discussion completely rewritten. • Restraining rail discussion completely rewritten. • Rail Fastener / Rail Fastening discussion relocated and rewritten • Crosstie discussion largely rewritten 8

Changes From Report 57 Chapter 6 – SPECIAL TRACKWORK • Expanded discussion on types of frogs including flangebearing and jump frog designs. • Revised/expanded discussion on selection of turnout size. • Revised and expanded discussion on switches, including those for embedded track. 9

Changes From Report 57 Chapter 7 – STRUCTURES & BRIDGES • Rewrote discussions of various types of LRT structures and how they work. • Entirely new discussion on structures carrying embedded track. • Entirely new discussion on open deck structures and retrofitting existing highway bridges to carry LRT track. 10

Changes From Report 57 Chapter 8 – CORROSION CONTROL • Miscellaneous revisions emphasizing interdisciplinary coordination issues. Chapter 9 NOISE & VIBRATION CONTROL • Greatly expanded with extensive text revisions addressing salient issues including wheel/rail contact mechanics. Extensive new graphics . 11

Changes From Report 57 Chapter 10 – TRANSIT SIGNAL WORK • New text on embedded switch machines. • Expanded text on rail bonding for signal and power current, including reference to TCRP D-7 work Chapter 11 – TRANSIT TRACTION POWER • Expanded discussion on how track alignment affects OCS design. 12

New Chapters for 2 nd Edition Chapter 12 – LRT TRACK IN MIXED TRAFFIC • Entirely new chapter with emphasis on track alignment for streetcar style operations. Chapter 13 – LRT TRACK CONSTRUCTION • Entirely new chapter with emphasis on how LRT tracks of all types are actually built. Chapter 14 – LRT TRACK MAINTENANCE • Entirely new chapter with emphasis on how LRT track maintenance is typically organized and how it can be directly affected by design decisions. 13

Changes From Report 57 Reversed Metric vs. US Traditional Measurement Units • Report 57 was prepared under the old Metrification Policy. • Second Edition reverses the priority of SI vs. US Traditional units of measurement • US units now first, with SI units [in brackets] EXCEPTION: • When the dimension being discussed is metric in origin (principally for manufactured products) the SI units are listed first followed by a soft translation to US Traditional Units. 14

Challenges that Remain #1: How can we keep the Track Design Handbook for Light Rail Transit up-to-date? 15

For questions concerning this presentation or further information / assistance contact: Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P. E. Senior Supervising Engineer / Professional Associate Parsons Brinckerhoff Four Gateway Center, Suite 1305 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 -1220 USA Direct line: 1 -412 -644 -3050 Cel phone: 1 -412 -580 -1414 e-mail: lovejoy@pbworld. com http: //www. pbworld. com/ 16