North Metro Commuter Rail Line Conception to Implementation

Transcription

1 Line Jane Donovan, P.E. North Metro Deputy Project Manager Jacobs Engineering Denver, CO Jennifer Whiteside, P.E. North Metro Structures Lead RTD Denver, CO

2 18.5 Miles, building 13 Electrified Commuter Rail 8 Stations, building 6 2,593 new parking spaces Frequency 20 minute peak 30 minute off-peak Denver Union Station to 124 th 27 minutes Single track with multiple passing tracks Serves Denver, Commerce City, Thornton, Northglenn, Adams County

3 Summary: North Metro Commuter Rail The traveling public often wonders why opening day of operation doesn t immediately follow approval for funding. The ballot measure to fund RTD s FasTracks program was passed in Now in 2016 the North Metro Commuter Rail Line is still under construction with opening day set for Environmental Impact Statement Request for Proposal Design Construction Systems Integration Testing and Operation Unbelievable details that can cause delay Successful partnerships that save money and remove roadblocks.

4 : Breaking News 2004

5 : Breaking News 2010

6 Analysis of alignments during the Environmental Impact Statement

7 Stakeholder Coordination

8 8 North Metro Commuter Rail

9 Stakeholder Coordination

10 NWSS to 72 nd Avenue is one of the most expensive segments in the FasTracks System. Why? Corridor through the cross country section is all on Structure Approximately 9500 feet or 1.8 miles Crosses 11 major existing corridors: State Highway, irrigation ditches, waterways, 5 mainline or spur rail tracks Getting to 72 nd Avenue increases the competitiveness of the NMRL extension (the final 12.5 miles from 72 nd to the EOL station at 162 nd ) for a federally funded New Starts Grant. 10 INDICATES NMRL CROSSING OF A MAJOR EXISTING CORRIDOR

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12 February 2013 Unsolicited Proposal April 2013 Stop Work Order June 2013 RFP for Phased approach December 2013 NTP for DUS to 124 th with option to extend to 162 nd Avenue

13 Final Design ROW Acquisition Civil & Infrastructure Systems & Stations Testing & Training North Metro Schedule

14 Design Challenges Development of Design Basis Manual

15 Design Challenges Skyway Bridge Nearly two mile long structure Direct Fixation Track (DF) North Metro team conducted an extensive survey on state of practice and a cost comparison study Due to length of Skyway Bridge in particular, DF was found to be less expensive due to reduced dead load, allowing for longer spans and fewer foundations through possibly contaminated areas Requires off-bridge water quality features, difficult due to right-of-way constraints and any contaminated ground

16 Design Challenges Skyway Bridge Rail Structure Interaction Analysis & Rail Break Analysis Determination of forces imparted to the bridge substructure due to differential movement between bridge superstructure and fixed rail or due to a broken rail on the structure Also study the gap resulting from a broken rail to protect against derailment due to wheels passing over an excessive gap in broken rail

17 Construction issues happen 72 caissons & 66 columns on Skyway alone Caissons drilled out of tolerance or anomalies in CSL tests Requires collaboration between owner, contractor and designer to stay on schedule Innovative solutions to unique construction problems Integration between rail, structures, and systems is always a challenge

18 North Metro Commuter Rail Construction Seven of 10 bridges at various stages of construction One freight rail bridge is completed Demolition underway on a bridge retrofit Several stations under construction Grading underway

19 Testing North Metro Commuter Rail Due to political and public pressure to open on time as well as construction issues and delays, testing is often rushed Testing includes all systems components, including gates, signals, and Positive Train Control FRA requires 21 days without incident prior to certification Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) also oversees all railroad crossings Without adequate time for testing, problems can arise Public safety is paramount within the industry and at RTD. Neither RTD nor the PUC would allow the line to open if it were not safe