BackgroundPurpose of the Technology Review Purpose of the Technology ReviewThe rail vehicle, or vehicles, to be selected by the City of Ottawa to operate on the future rapid transit network will have a major impact on the look and feel of the system, the design of the stations and track, and the capacity and operations of the system. The purpose of the technology review is therefore to look at the major characteristics of available rail vehicle-types and systems to allow for discussion on the implications of each choice and the interactions between characteristics. This work will serve as a starting point in informing both the evaluation and ultimate selection of a preferred technology or technologies for use on Ottawa’s future rail rapid transit network. Technology choices will be analysed within the context of the City’s existing and future rapid transit network with regard to specific issues such as:
The technology review will provide information on the characteristics of various technologies and operating requirements that will guide decision-making. The review will not recommend a specific manufacturer or vehicle-type but assist in developing a framework which will assist in future planning and procurement. It is important to note that the difference characteristics interact to varying degrees, and that a decision in one area may preclude choices in other areas. For instance, use of third rail power supply requires a completely segregated corridor, as does automated train operation. Other characteristics influence choices without necessary precluding them. An example of this would be the use of high floor vehicles, which are more challenging to use for partially separated median operation in road corridors as they require more extensive station facilities and create a greater visual intrusion in the streetscape, whereas use of low floor vehicles would be more compatible easier to access from adjacent sidewalks. Ottawa’s Rapid Transit NetworkThe current TMP Rapid Transit Network (Figure 1) was approved as part of the Transportation Master Plan update approved by Council on November 28, 2008. This network envisages the use of BRT and electric LRT technology to meet existing and future rapid transit needs out to the year 2031. Critically, the updated rapid transit network identifies the need to convert parts of the established BRT network to rail technology and, most critically, to solve the downtown bus congestion issue. The solution adopted involves the construction of a transit tunnel through the downtown (from roughly Booth Street to the University of Ottawa). A Planning and Functional Design study is currently underway which considers the downtown tunnel and conversion of the Transitway between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair. An Environmental Assessment will be launched for this project in the fall of 2009. Completion of this line is anticipated to occur before 2018. Figure 1: City of Ottawa Rapid Transit Network
The rapid transit network consists of three major types of corridor (Transitway, Transit Intensive and Transit Priority). Within these three corridor types, a variety of operating conditions may be encountered, each of which has different requirements impacting on the choice of vehicle technology. The unique corridor segment types identified are:
Figure 2 illustrates where the different corridor types are located on the rapid transit network. BRT (Transitway and Transit Intensive) corridors have been included in the review as it is assumed that they could be potentially be converted to a rail-based technology beyond the 2031 planning horizon. The potential combinations of characteristics, corridors and services need to be considered in selecting the best technology solution for Ottawa.
Figure 2: Corridor Segment Characteristics of the Rapid Transit Network
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