An Insight to Light Rail

Name of Presenter: Ms. Moldoff

Department: Civil Engineer

Date: October 30, 2015

Social Value:

Civil engineering is the primary drive behind the vast networks of infrastructure across the globe. It is this system of roads, canals, bridges, and the like that allow us to ship a package across the country or drive safely on an interstate. Civil engineering will continue to be the backbone that allows for the success of our global society. Here in our backyard, the promotion of the rail industry will allow for more efficient methods of transportation in the Capital Region,by reducing the amount of congestion on the roads and railroad stations. The development of highways over railways and roads had significant cultural impact and social implications that can be read about here: http://www.uvm.edu/landscape/learn/impact_of_interstate_system.html (No, that's not going to be on the quiz.)

Government/Economics:

There is interesting history about the role of government in promoting interstates over highways. Some can be found here: http://www.history.com/topics/interstate-highway-system .(No, that's not going to be on the quiz.) Here in our backyard, the government funding of the rail industry will allow for more efficient methods of transportation in the Capital Region. This project, which was started in 2008 and is currently in construction, has received ~$680M worth of grants from the state and federal governments. The plan included an additional 17 miles of track on the Albany Schenectady double line as well as the expansion at the Rensselaer Station, among the busiest in the nation. One goal of this project is to reduce the travel time for commuters, but the newly added tracks could also be used for freight trains. Moving goods by train is more efficient than by tractor-trailers on the interstates because greater amounts of material can be shipped by train making for greater fuel efficiency. Also,  large trucks cause greater wear and tear on the roads which costs additional money to replace.

Concepts/terms:

·         Berms: In this case, piles of debris moved during construction that has been covered by a soil fabric. Berms can also mean any natural or artificial embankment or any strip alongside a road.

·         Control Point: A location that controls the positioning of the tracks.

·         Positive Train Control (PTC): Automated system to control the speeds of trains.

·         Trains cannot tolerate a 2% grade.

·         Trains can be as fast as 124 mph and still have at grade intersections. They take several miles to stop and can’t be easily heard from a distance

·         Tracks are laid down at 95 degrees F  to prevent warping

·         Ballast – material (usually crushed rock) that creates friction to stop metal train tracks from moving. (In other context, balance is a heavy weight used for stability)

·         Superbalance – raising up one side in a curve to keep train from tipping or going off track (banking in a turn)

·         Culvert – a tunnel that goes underneath a road or track

Connections:

·         Possibly Dr. Borton with the reduction of fossil fuels being spent on tractor-trailers shipping goods.