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

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

3. 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

4. Timeline
Project Development/ Environmental/Municipal Consent
Final Environmental Impact Statement/Engineering
Construction
Passenger Operations
2023 4

5. 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: TH 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

6. Freight Rail Ownership & Operations6

7. 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

8. 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

9. Bass Lake Spur LRT Operations Freight Rail Operations
Double track at-grade & 2 overpasses: 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. More Information www.SWLRT.org Online: Email:
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