Light Rail Systems

http://www.clairwyant.com

By: Megan Barnhart, Alex Fortoso, Desmond Roberts, Astrid

Lizardo

Overview

How the light rail looks and works

Safety and health aspects
Economy and traffic
UNC Charlotte benefits

Figure 1: Light Rail Station

Source:https://commons.wikimedia.org

What is a Light Rail System?

A Light Rail System is a form of public transportation that operates faster than a
street-running tram system that uses rolling stock.
A train system that carries passengers with smaller carts with the use of
electric traction technology.

Figure 1: Light Rail Stations

Source: www.
charlottecentercity.org

Where did they originate from?

The idea of light rail carts originated from cable carts.

Over time the light rail was developed with the use of electric traction technology and an
overhead wire.
The light rail system uses the same technology as a street carts but is faster and transports
more people and more routes throughout the United States.

Figure 1: Charlotte
Light Rail
Source: www.
urbanrail.net

How Light Rail Tracks are made

Source:YouTube.
YouTube. Web. 27 Apr.
2016.

How do Light Rails operate?

Key items to know are the pantograph,

catenary system, and power lines, and track.
Light Rails are electronically powered with a
wire system overhead the carts called a
catenary system.
The component on top of the train that is
connected to the wires system is called the
pantograph.
Once contact is made between the
pantograph and catenary system the direct
electricity from the lines converts to current
that is used to push the train.
Figure 1: Pantograph
and catenary
interaction framework
Source: www.
railwaypro.com

Health Benefits of Light Rail Systems

Public transportation helps reduce you reduce your BMI (Body Mass
Index)
Helps people meet the recommendation of physical activity per day
Lowers your odds of obesity

Figure 2:
Figure 1: Fat to Slim
Source:http://www.fotosearch.
com

Physical activity
guidelines
Source:http:
//www.slideshare.
net

How to Safely Ride a Light Rail

Keep you and your children behind the yellow lines

No horseplay at the station
No skateboarding, bike riding or rollerblading
Do not walk on tracks
Use caution when crossing tracks

Figure 1: Caution Lines at the Station

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org

Example of Someone Not Being Safe

Source:
PatrynWorldLatestNew.
"Subway Train Driver Stops
in Time after Pregnant
Woman Falls on Track in
Beijing - China." YouTube.
YouTube, 2014. Web. 27
Apr. 2016.

Courtesy Rules While Riding

Wait for passengers to exit before entering the train

Give your seat to elderly or people with disabilities
Keep your children under control
Keep personal belongings out of people's way

Figure 1: Crowded New

York Train
Source:https://en.
wikipedia.org

Figure 2: Seat Sign

Source:http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com

Tips About Riding the Light Rail

A lot of people touch the places inside the trains. Wash or Sanitize hands
after riding
Keep items close to reduce the chance of theft
Do not lean against light rail doors
Hold onto bars if you have to stand

Figure 1: Washing Hands Safety

Sign
Source:http://www.safetysign.com

Figure 2: Standing in
the Train
Source:http://www.
rgbstock.com

Dangers of Light Rails

Light Rails kill 12.5 people for every billion passenger miles
Unlike auto accidents, light rails accidents are not decreasing
Buses kill less people than light rails
Light rail systems are 2.5 times more dangerous than cars

Figure 1: Danger Sign

Source:http://www.evermarksales.com

How the light rail will affect traffic

The light rail is projected to show a minor
decrease traffic congestion and air
pollution.
The light rail is slower than a car or the
subway, it has about the same travel time
as a bus.
Although the light rail is conveniently
faster and easier when traveling
downtown
A single highway lane can hold about
2,750 people and the light rail can carry
about 15,000 people per hour

Figure 1 I-77 Charlotte

Source: wideni77.org

How the Light Rail will Affect Commuters

In 1990, Charlotte had the highest
percentage of its population driving
automobiles to work at 93 percent.
The blue line will be available every
10 minutes during rush hour and
every 15 minutes during non-rush
hour times.
The light rail will run every 20
minutes during the weekends and
every 30 minutes late at night.
Figure 1: Automobile Work Trip Market Share
Source: city-data.com

The Light Rails Effect on Charlottes Economy in the Future

Blue Line extension id a 1.2 Billion
dollar project
The streetcar line projected to run 10
miles would cost about $450 million
2030 Transit Corridor System Plan,
which calls for 29 miles of commuter
rail, 21 miles of light rail, 10 miles of
streetcar, and an expanded network
of buses and other transit services.

Figure 1: 2025 Plan Charlotte Mecklenburg

Source: www.publicpurpose.org

(Continued)
A projected 50,000 riders along the blue
line light rail route by 2035
Projected at least 1.1 million square feet
added in new development.
the Blue Line with plans to build more
than 2,500 homes near the Arrowood
Road and I-485 stations.
The average density along the Blue Line
is around 3.67 housing units per acre, but
is expected to grow to 9-12 units per
acre.

FIgure 1: Charlotte Light Rail

Source: sweethomecarolinareality.org

The More Environmentally Friendly Option

Taking the light rail would decrease the carbon
footprint of the entire city of Charlotte
The light rail expansion to UNCC would also
decrease the amount of cars coming to campus,
which will affect future parking expansions on
campus, and will ultimately benefit the environment

Lastly, the light rail can be powered by renewable

power/energy which would ultimately help the
environment

Figure 1: Reduce Reuse Recycle:

Source: homewoodal.net

Benefits of the Light Rail in UNCC, and the city of Charlotte

The addition of yet another, more simple
and direct, mode of transportation will
facilitate:
Commuting
Internship Opportunities
UNCC becoming a larger part of the
City of Charlotte
Entertainment + a safe way of
returning to campus
Less damage to the environment

Figure 1: UNCC
Source:colleges.niche.com

Source:YouTube. YouTube. Web. 26 Apr.

2016.

Commuting and Internship Opportunities

The city of Charlotte is a business hub, being the home of major corporations such as:
Chiquita Banana, Bank of America, and Nascar. The light rail addition to UNCC from
uptown Charlotte will connect aspiring professionals to corporations like these and
open a whole new world of opportunities in different professional settings. Internships
will also be facilitated because transportation would no longer be an issue.

Figure 1: Uptown Charlotte & light rail

Source: sweethomecarolinarealty.com

Figure 2: Uptown Charlotte

Source:charlottesgotalot.com

UNCC becoming a larger part of the city of Charlotte

Figure 1: Construction at UNCC

Source: Inside.uncc.edu

As of right now UNCC isnt a place that the

people of Charlotte visit or even think about
unless they work on campus or are students of
the university.
The light rail will definitely make UNCC a more
popular place for tourists and for residents of
Charlotte to visit.
Not only will it be a good way of combining the
city and the university, it will also make UNCC
incredibly cool because it will be one of the first
universities to have a light rail inside of its
campus

Entertainment + a safe way of returning to campus

Parties are a normal part of college,
and because of these parties a lot of
accidents happen while driving.
The addition of a cheap mode of
transportation that stays open until the
wee hours of the night, provides
students with the opportunity to have
fun yet remain safe and prevent
causing any harm to others
Figure 1: Party Uptown Charlotte
Source: movoto.com

Survey Statistics on the Light Rail System

When students were asked if they knew the light rail was being built on campus.

Freshmen: 96% said yes

Sophomores: 95% said yes
Juniors: 90% said yes
Seniors: 75% said yes

When asked if it will help traffic on campus.

Freshmen: 61% said yes

Sophomores: 47% said yes
Juniors: 63% said yes
Seniors: 100% said yes

Survey of Students on the UNC Charlotte Campus

Sources
"3 Reasons Light Rail Is an Efficient Transportation Option for U.S. Cities - MetaEfficient." MetaEfficient. 2010. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
" Breach of Faith." Light Rail and Smart Growth in Charlotte. Wendell Cox, 2002. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
"Charlotte NC Travel & Tourism." Charlotte NC Travel & Tourism. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
MacDonald, John M., Robert J. Stokes, Deborah A. Cohen, Aaron Kofner, and Greg K. Ridgeway. "The Effect of Light Rail Transit on Body Mass Index and Physical
Activity." American Journal of Preventive Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Aug. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Ojeda-Zapata, Julio. "Nuts and Bolts: How the Green Line Trains Work." Twin Cities. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
"Railway Technical Web Pages." Electric Traction Power Supplies. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.
"Safety along METRO Lines." Safety on METRO Lines. Metro Transit. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"The Antiplanner." The Antiplanner. 18 Feb. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
"UNC Charlotte." UNC Charlotte. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
"Will Light Rail Change the Way University City Develops?" PlanCharlotte.org |. Mary Newsom, 27 Aug. 2014. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.