1. Prepared by: Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P.E.
FINAL REPORT TCRP Project D-14 [Report 155] - Track Design Handbook for Light Rail Transit 2nd Edition
Prepared by: Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P.E.

2. TCRP Report 57 Updating Required
Over a decade since original publication
Doesn’t reflect other TCRP research since then
Streetcar issues not covered
Construction & Maintenance not covered in a comprehensive way.

3. The D-14 Project Research Team
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Wilson Ihrig & Associates
Metro Tech Consulting
Track Guy Consultants

4. Report 57

5. Changes From Report 57 Chapter 1 – GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Increased focus on who the Handbook user is
and how he/she fits within an LRT project.
Expansion of the definition of what LRT is.
Chapter 2 – LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT VEHICLES
Updated discussions about characteristics of
contemporary LRVs and Streetcars
Added and in-depth discussion of how to
select an appropriate wheel profile.

6. Changes From Report 57 Chapter 3 – LRT TRACK GEOMETRY
New discussion provided explaining the
relationships between lateral acceleration,
unbalance and the jerk rate
Expanded discussion concerning track crosslevel
and limitations on twist in tangent track.
Expanded discussion of alignment of freight
tracks and shared LRT/Freight tracks.
New article on issues where LRT shares a
corridor (but not tracks) with a freight carrier

7. Changes From Report 57 Chapter 4 – TRACK STRUCTURE DESIGN
The entire discussion about Nytram plots,
Filkins-Wharton diagrams and related issues
restructured to introduce basic concepts and
background information first and only then
develop the explanation of the methodology.
Discussions about restraining rails and their
application has been greatly restructured and
expanded with reference to TCRP D-7 project.

8. Changes From Report 57 Chapter 5 – TRACK COMPONENTS & MATERIALS
Tee rail discussion revised.
Groove rail discussion completely rewritten.
Restraining rail discussion completely rewritten.
Rail Fastener / Rail Fastening discussion
relocated and rewritten
Crosstie discussion largely rewritten

9. Changes From Report 57 Chapter 6 – SPECIAL TRACKWORK
Expanded discussion on types of frogs including
flangebearing and jump frog designs.
Revised/expanded discussion on selection of
turnout size.
Revised and expanded discussion on switches,
including those for embedded track.

10. Changes From Report 57 Chapter 7 – STRUCTURES & BRIDGES
Rewrote discussions of various types of
LRT structures and how they work.
Entirely new discussion on structures
carrying embedded track.
Entirely new discussion on open deck
structures and retrofitting existing
highway bridges to carry LRT track.

11. Changes From Report 57 Chapter 8 – CORROSION CONTROL
Miscellaneous revisions emphasizing inter-
disciplinary coordination issues.
Chapter 9 NOISE & VIBRATION CONTROL
Greatly expanded with extensive text revisions addressing salient issues including wheel/rail contact mechanics. Extensive new graphics .

12. Changes From Report 57 Chapter 10 – TRANSIT SIGNAL WORK
New text on embedded switch machines.
Expanded text on rail bonding for signal and
power current, including reference to TCRP
D-7 work
Chapter 11 – TRANSIT TRACTION POWER
Expanded discussion on how track alignment
affects OCS design. .

13. New Chapters for 2nd Edition
Chapter 12 – LRT TRACK IN MIXED TRAFFIC
Entirely new chapter with emphasis on track
alignment for streetcar style operations.
Chapter 13 – LRT TRACK CONSTRUCTION
Entirely new chapter with emphasis on how
LRT tracks of all types are actually built.
Chapter 14 – LRT TRACK MAINTENANCE
LRT track maintenance is typically organized
and how it can be directly affected by
design decisions. .

14. Reversed Metric vs. US Traditional Measurement Units
Changes From Report 57
Reversed Metric vs. US Traditional Measurement Units
Report 57 was prepared under the old Metrification
Policy.
Second Edition reverses the priority of SI vs. US
Traditional units of measurement
US units now first, with SI units [in brackets]
EXCEPTION:
When the dimension being discussed is metric in
origin (principally for manufactured products) the
SI units are listed first followed by a soft
translation to US Traditional Units.

15. Challenges that Remain
#1:
How can we keep the Track Design Handbook for Light Rail Transit
up-to-date?

16. For questions concerning this presentation or for further information / assistance contact: Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P.E. Senior Supervising Engineer / Professional Associate   Parsons Brinckerhoff Four Gateway Center, Suite 1305 Pittsburgh, PA  USA   Direct line: Cel phone: