Hey all,
So a few of us have been inspired by the mayor's talk of a monorail through the sepulveda pass. We were curious that he would open Metro up to a tech other than Heavy and Light Rail, and that got us excited! We are looking for other like minded people in the community to join us in supporting the mayor and a tech that will allow us to travel fast and efficiently while saving us billions of dollars.
Red=Induction Motor, Blue=Steel Load Bearing Wheels, Yellow=Steel Guidance Wheels
Through our research we have found a rail technology that; from its inception, is meant to be elevated and uses existing technology. It has 4 steel wheels and is powered by an induction motor (similar to Vancouver skytrain and JFK airtrain) that gives it a slight lift [SERAPHIM Motor]. Because of the slight lift and because the motor is in the track, there is no need for the train to have friction with the rails. The wheels are used only as guide and not for propulsion, so it takes 90% of the train's load off of the track structure, thereby allowing the construction costs to be significantly lower and allowing us to construct most beams and pylons off site... greatly reducing construction time. We've found that traditional monorail has a max speed of 55mph; which in our opinion, isn't good enough. The train we are introducing can go to speeds in excess of 100mph. It is a mix/hybrid between a steel-wheel Metro subway, a Vancouver Skytrain, and a monorail, so we are calling it the HyTrain/HyRail. We realize there needs to be flexibility between the grades which is why some light rail needs to be underground and some heavy rail need to be elevated, and we also believe that if any modality is going over 20% out of their engineered grade, that there gets to be an evaluation on whether it truly meets the needs. As we run out of abandoned rail tracks that we can re-open with surface light rail; We believe that Los Angeles needs to "Graduate to the 3rd Grade." Meaning... we believe each transportation option should be engineered for the specific grade to maximize cost, speed, and efficiency..., and with elevated costs per mile ranging from ~$39-$72 million per mile, HyTrain is our answer. We believe
Heavy Rail=Underground=Below Grade
Light Rail=Surface=At Grade
HyRail/HyTrain=Elevated=Above Grade
1.Heavy Rail should be designated for Below Grade, unless it has a completely uninterrupted corridor at grade [Vermont Red line south the exception]
2. Light Rail should primarily be used for at grade surfaces where the right of way allows it to have signal priority through most intersections and where the maximum speed isn't affected by surface interactions.
3. We need an elevated solution to the corridors that are too dense for surface light rail and that are not dense enough for subterranean Heavy Rail
4. We need to look at areas where we can create a true Quad Track Express service across great distances even when right of ways are limited... thereby allowing metro a new revenue stream from using a premium charge for Express
5. We believe Metro needs to figure out how to fully service the Rams/Chargers stadium, Forum, and possible Clippers arena in Inglewood before a traffic nightmare engulfs us
6. We believe that the "problem" of introducing another rail tech that happens to be automated to LA's existing structure is solved by keeping 3-5 min headways along all corridors and reducing the amount of interlining... making a transfer to heavy, light, and Hy Rail quick and easy
7. We believe that with automation, the train driver position can be repositioned to a train conductor position whose job is to validate fares, ensure safety of patrons, and give a sense of security on the trains
8. We believe LA's vista are among its biggest assets and should be accessible to the public [not just the wealthy who can afford a house in the hills or in a high rise]... beautiful example is the expo line's elevated sections
In 1999, This type of train was selected by the state of Colorado for a line from Denver to the mountains. The tech was created and tested in Spain and this particular corridor was engineered by AECOM and Meneren. It would have began construction..., but just like in LA in the '90's and early 2000's... interests came in and they widened a freeway instead at the last minute, rather than build a train. Thankfully for us in LA, The engineering was complete and we have accessed it. We have spoken many times with Meneren CEO and are in talks with AECOM for our vision. We have spreadsheet and have already calculated the costs with inflation for all related corridors, and it will save Metro BILLIONS of dollars if we were to apply this tech in corridors where possible... thereby allowing us to complete much needed 2040 and later projects like the Vermont corridor Subway-El to the Green line, and the Crenshaw line to Hollywood, and the Green line to Norwalk.
Here is our vision...
PHASE 1
PHASE 1: Imagine going from LAX to Sylmar or Downtown LA in 15 min!!!
Quad Track and combine the Sepulveda Pass and Van Nuys corridor. Create both Local and Express service to from the Valley to LAX. Charge regular metro fare for local service and a premium for Express service getting people from Sylmar to LAX in 15 min. Create a PPP to construct this line by leveraging the added revenue from the express service $15-$20 per ride. Based on estimates from Colorado corridor which also went through mountainous terrain, we are estimating a per mile cost of $56-$72 million per mile to build four tracks along the 30 mile corridor from Sylmar to LAX. Total estimated cost... $1.68-$2.16 Billion
--Create a PPP to construct a Quad Track with both local and $$ premium express service from LAX to Downtown LA Union Station with a dual track spur to South Park/Pico Station, Convention Center/Staples. Service the Inglewood entertainment distict by leaving LAX along Century bl, then turning north along Prairie, before following the Harbor Subdivision to DTLA. Thereby linking LAX to the convention center with express service. Leverage express revenue $15-20 per ride, to create PPP financing. Estimated per mile cost for 18.19 mile corridor with Quad track is $56-$72 million per mile. Total estimated cost... $1.01-$1.31 Billion.
Total funding available from Measure R,M,Local state other, for the Sepulveda pass alone... $9.7 Billion. This saves us big time $$.
PHASE 2
PHASE 2:
Leverage technology to fix the West Hollywood and Gold line east side problems as well as create rail to Silicon Beach. With dual track Hytrain costs of $36-$56 Million per mile, we save tons and allow expansions not currently funded under current trends
Instead of making the C shaped, 2 prong extensions of the eastside gold line, extend the Gold line only along the 60. Create a new line from Downtown to Whittier along Whittier bl or Washington. Total funds available for both alignments of Gold lines... $6 Billion. Cost for 60 Light Rail $3 Billion. Cost for HyTrain from DTLA to Whittier with Dual Tracks for 13 miles...$511-$778 Million... saving over $2 Billion
In place of building the meandering S of the Crenshaw line up san Vicente to West Hollywood, create a new dual track line from Downtown LA's pico station along Pico to San Vicente and into West Hollywood with possible extension along Santa Monica bl back to La Brea. Total costs for new corridor at 10.5 miles... $386-$588 Million
Substitute BRT for HyTrain along the heavily trafficked Silicon Beach corridor of Lincoln bl. and use excess funds from Sepulveda pass corridor to build a Venice bl HyTrain to Venice Beach
PHASE 3
PHASE 3:
Use the Billions of dollars saved to expedite important corridors that are either funded in the 2040's and beyond, and to create new corridors only thought of in concept. Like the Vermont Corridor Subway, Glendale Corridor, Green line to Long Beach... etc
Our Mission: To add HyRail [HYT] into the list of options considered by Metro along with BRT, LRT, HRT, Commuter Rail when analyzing current and future high capacity corridors.
Again, we are looking for like minded people to join us. If you have any experience and/or would just like to join us, please DM me.
Meneren Website for info
#HyTrain #HyRail #3rdLA #ThirdLosAngeles #3rdGradeLA
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