Southwest LRT METRO Green Line Extension Challenges and Opportunities in a Shared Freight/LRT Corridor Jim Alexander, P.E. SWLRT Project Director Metro Transit

Today’s Topics METRO Green Line Extension Overview Shared Corridors (LRT & Freight) Wayzata Subdivision Kenilworth Corridor Bass Lake Spur 5 shared roadway crossings 2

METRO Green Line Extension Opening in 2023 14.5 miles 16 stations $2.003 B Single seat trips to Minneapolis, U of M, St. Paul Connections to the Airport and Mall of America via the Blue Line 3

Timeline Project Development/ Environmental/Municipal Consent 2013-15 Final Environmental Impact Statement/Engineering 2016-18 Construction 2018-22 Passenger Operations 2023 4

Civil Contract Scope 44 structures 29 new bridges: LRT, pedestrian, roadway, freight 7 existing bridges with modifications 6 pedestrian tunnels 2 cut and cover tunnels: TH62 582 ft., Kenilworth 2,236 ft. 15 at-grade LRT crossings Includes 5 shared crossings 117 retaining walls Track: ~182,000 TF 7.8 mi shared LRT and freight rail corridor LRT Bridge over Excelsior Blvd and Bass Lake Spur 5

Freight Rail Ownership & Operations 6

Wayzata Subdivision LRT Operations Freight Rail Operations Double track at-grade & retained structure/overpass: 1.4 mi total 10-min headways/approx. 220 trains/day 55 mph max Freight Rail Operations Single track at-grade: designed to accommodate 2nd track 12-13 trains/day 25 mph max, designed to 40 mph max Shared Corridor Considerations No shared crossings Spacing ranges from 25 to 53 ft. (2nd track) Corridor Protection Barrier 7

Kenilworth Corridor LRT Operations Freight Rail Operations Double track at-grade and tunnel: 2.6 mi total 10-min headways/approx. 220 trains/day 40 mph max Freight Rail Operations Single track at-grade 2 - 3 trains/day 10 mph max Shared Corridor Considerations 1 shared crossing with signals and gates Spacing ranges from < 25 to 75 ft. Corridor Protection Barrier: where spacing between LRT & freight is less than 25 ft. Intrusion detection: where spacing between LRT & freight is between 25 & 50 ft. Bridges of Kenilworth Channel 8

Bass Lake Spur LRT Operations Freight Rail Operations Double track at-grade & 2 overpasses: 3.8 mi total 10-min headways/approx. 220 trains/day 55 mph max Freight Rail Operations Single track at-grade, except at west end includes siding 2 - 3 trains/day 25 mph max Shared Corridor Considerations 4 shared crossings with signals and gates Spacing ranges from 25 to 210 ft. Intrusion detection: where spacing between LRT & freight is between 25 & 50 ft. Wooddale Avenue 9

Shared Roadway Crossings FRA has jurisdiction over 5 shared roadway crossings: 21st St, Beltline Blvd, Wooddale Ave, Blake Rd, 5th Ave Crossing Design Quiet zone ready Crossing devices controlled by LRT signal house All devices activated by freight or LRT Freight house interconnected to LRT house LRT interconnected to traffic signal Multiple sets of devices, ped-specific flashers, flashers between LRT & freight 21ST Street 10

Shared Roadway Crossings Pedestrian crossings Channelization/maze force peds to turn & look Challenges with bicycles & snow clearing TCRB Report 175 Guidebook on Pedestrian Crossings of Public Transit Rail Services Blake Rd Station 11

Shared Roadway Crossings: 5th Ave Considerations Spacing between LRT & freight is approx. 210 ft AREMA requires crossings with < 200 feet spacing to be operated together Mainline and siding freight tracks Adjacent to signalized intersection at Excelsior Blvd ADT (forecast year 2040) Excelsior: 25,300 5th Ave So. of Excelsior: 1,950 NB/1,950 SB, 25-30% truck traffic Limit potential for vehicles to be stopped between crossings Effectively manage traffic delays at signalized intersection Prevent queues on tracks 5th Avenue Gate 1 SB - LRT Excelsior Boulevard Gate 2 NB - LRT Gate 3 SB - Freight Gate 4 NB - Freight 12

Shared Roadway Crossings: 5th Ave Design approach: LRT movements LRT only sequence LRT detection initiates signal preemption Gate 4 drops, acts as a queue cutter for NB vehicles between freight and LRT Gates 1 and 2 drop Gate 3 remains up, eliminates SB vehicles from queueing onto LRT tracks If freight traffic occurs, Gate 3 drops 5th Avenue Gate 1 SB - LRT Excelsior Boulevard Gate 2 NB - LRT Gate 3 SB - Freight Gate 4 NB - Freight 13

Shared Roadway Crossings: 5th Ave Design approach: Freight movements Freight only sequence Freight detection initiates signal preemption Gate 1 drops, preventing SB vehicles from entering area between freight and LRT Gates 3 and 4 drop Gate 2 remains up, eliminates NB vehicles from queueing onto freight tracks If LRT traffic occurs, Gate 2 drops 5th Avenue Gate 1 SB - LRT Excelsior Boulevard Gate 2 NB - LRT Gate 3 SB - Freight Gate 4 NB - Freight 14

More Information www.SWLRT.org Online: Email: SWLRT@metrotransit.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/southwestlrt 15