Philips Hwy./US1

[thelakelander]

Without knowing the traffic count in Santa Clara its hard to say if such a move at University would be worth it or not.  What really complicates the University situation is Bowden.  Those intersections are really right on top of each other.

[BridgeTroll]

This one may be more accurate to compare with P.H.  Same LRT line but crossing Montague expressway.  This is a major commuter artery through the valley.  Four lanes in each direction and 55 mph speed limits.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.409283,-121.94476&z=19&t=h&hl=en

[mtraininjax]

Would the trains be rolling through University/Bowden at 55 during rush hour? Probably not, and the gates would be down well in advance. It would force people out of the cars, because the light cycles are not long enough now as it is. I can see lots of P'oed drivers as a result of this.

[BridgeTroll]

Look at the google map mtrain... zoom into the intersection.  There are no gates.  The LRT trains use the same signals as traffic.  They cross the intersection at grade and with traffic.

[mtraininjax]

Bridge, I don't need to look at a map to know that not using gates at that intersection is a death sentence for an unsuspecting driver. In the photos that Lake showed, there were gates at the intersections on both sides, to keep people from driving around the tracks. We need those here as well.

[BridgeTroll]

I guess the folks in California are just better drivers than here then... because virtually NONE of the crossings through San Jose and Santa Clara have gates.  Zoom in, go to street level view and check it out... follow the tracks through the entire line.  I'm not making this up dude...

[British Shoe Company]

At least The Jacksonville Police Department  has cleaned up the most the prior issues that made  Philips Hwy. famous!
For those who miss the old Philips Hwy.  There is still (8th, and Main)

[Ocklawaha]

http://www.youtube.com/v/HaLrQdy6Jj8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1
South Fresno, CA

FYI guys, California does indeed have state-of-the-art crossing protection on lines and roadways that meet certain standards. They also have perhaps the largest collection of ancient "Wig-Wag" signals remaining on earth. These early crossing signals for automobiles are interesting, a standard crossing sign (called a crossbuck), a rather large bell mounted on top of the post, and a single arm which reaches over the auto traffic lane with the classic round R X R disc sign. When a train approaches the bell starts which is very loud, and the R X R sign starts swinging back and forth like a hypnotist's gold watch.

If Corridor rail can morph into full commuter rail on the Florida East Coast, then we'd be better off looking at Southside Blvd for an LRT line. Such a route would use the new Matthews bridge or tunnel and probably climb up and over the Arlington Interchanges at: Southside and Arlington Expressway/Southside and Atlantic.

Dallas uses some overpasses on roads such as Arlington Expressway. In Medellin, we didn't use anything but grade crossings from blows our freight rail line into places such as the LG appliance plant, or Renault "EL CARRO COLOMBIANO" etc... But on the other side of the fence we ran a double track, overhead electric heavy rail line, that frankly blows the socks off of anything in the USA...being a sort of cross hybrid between BART in SFO, and ACELA in DCA. Our electric Metro line doesn't have a single grade crossing for roads or highways, it does have a few at grade crossings of the narrow gauge national railroad system. Dallas LRT currently tops out at 65 mph, and runs in a transit mall for LRT traffic in downtown Dallas. No reason this system couldn't top out at 90+ mph, smooth as silk.

Someone asked about bridges, LRT can handle regular grades without cables, or cogs, as steep as 12%, though most locations set a limit at 8%. Electric cars such and as Dallas LRT or the ancient ones in New Orleans, have remarkable acceleration, in Oregon slang, the MAX LRT SYSTEM, is sometimes refereed to as the "G Force". Light Rail trains (streetcars and trolley buses) have much quicker acceleration then a diesel bus, and frankly about even with some little red sports car imports. The same applies to braking power, especially in foul weather, coming down the grade electric rail has far more control and stopping power then our new buses. Think about this the next rainy day you happen to ride over the Matthews or Hart aboard JTA!

Most railroad companies, diesel, electric, or urban LRT, set a ruling grade that sets a limit for the entire lines gradient. For those non transportation Jaxson's reading this the grades are measured by the amount of accent or descent per 100' feet of travel. A one foot rise would equal a 1% grade, a 3 foot rise in 100' feet equates to a 3% grade, etc...

The only other trick to use in making for faster LRT or Commuter Rail is to be certain the crossing protection is timed for the speed limits. If the gates are set to be down 15 seconds ahead of that moment when a freight train rolls past at 45 mph, and we introduce a 90 mph passenger train, then we have a problem. It's just a matter of circuits and some simple math, and your autos and trains will be happy.

OCKLAWAHA

[BridgeTroll]

Ock... In santa Clara... the light rail shares the intersections with regular traffic... using ONLY stop and go lights.  They cross intersections and make turns on the same streets as traffic.  Most of the time the train is running in the median strip out of the way of traffic... but... at intersections... they cross the same as cars.

Just click this link and zoom in all the way to street level and you will see what I mean...

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.409283,-121.94476&z=19&t=h&hl=en

[thelakelander]

Crossing at-grade with traffic in Phoenix




Crossing a downtown intersection in Houston


In this Houston intersection, left turns are not allowed

[British Shoe Company]

Those are cool pic's.   I would love something like that on Phililps Hwy.

[British Shoe Company]

Crossing at-grade with traffic in Phoenix




Crossing a downtown intersection in Houston


In this Houston intersection, left turns are not allowed

[British Shoe Company]

I saw a car with lights like that.  He had 24's (rims) I wonder if he purchased them, or took them from Houston?

[Ocklawaha]

In Houston, some of those lights, the ones without the streaks, are in the streets. Where we, and Texas, normally place reflective road markers, Houston is trying out a new system of LED markers for transit routes, also some colored ones for crossings.

OCKLAWAHA