Quote:
Originally Posted by Quixote
A 100% at-grade LRT line (albeit with a bazillion stops) costing $3.6 billion. Inflation or not, this is absurd and should be given the axe just like the Gold Line extension along SR-60. The money would be better spent on extending the Sepulveda line farther north to San Fernando (another 2-3 stations at most) and implementing high-quality BRT infrastructure.
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That’s because LA’s current stock of LRT trains is a heavy bunch and requires deeper supported rail; necessitating utility relocation along corridors, AND... high-level boarding juices up $$ with raised platforms at stations. They could just build a true streetcar with lighter (weight) trains and non-level boarding platforms for much cheaper and less time… hello DTLA, Hollywood Bl, and yes… Van Nuys Bl
For weight comparison of Streetcar train vs. Light Rail let's use Portland, OR as they have extensive use of both...
Streetcar train weight: Skoda 10T =
28.8 Tons
Light Rail train weight: Siemens S70 =
49 Tons 
One of them gets built faster and cheaper with the least disruption... Can you guess which one?? Although with that tradeoff comes a smaller vehicle with less capacity... the question could be, could LA get away with building a lower capacity streetcar on Van Nuys bl for cheaper??? Light Rail is neither light in weight or capacity and should really change its name
Light Rail really should be called “Heavy Street Rail Transit” (HSRT)
