Definition of the Subject
Descendants of the streetcar, light rail vehicles (LRVs) have their own distinct characteristics, including a broad range of operating environments (both on-street and in semi-exclusive or exclusive rights-of-way) and a wide extent of typical operating speeds (from 15 to 60 mph or 10 to 40 km/h). This flexibility, coupled with passenger attraction and capacity of the vehicles, has made light rail an increasingly viable public transportation option.
Accommodating light rail transit (LRT) in these multiple environments while maintaining or improving safety has led transportation planners and engineers to utilize a variety of innovative traffic control practices. These practices are used to manage conflicting movements with LRVs and to provide motorists, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists with better information upon which to base their decisions and have evolved over time in response to changes in the way that...
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Abbreviations
- Bedstead barrier:
-
A type of pedestrian-light rail crossing control device whose design prevents a pedestrian from walking straight onto the tracks by forcing them to make one or more turns immediately ahead of the tracks.
- Channelization device:
-
A physical element that limits pedestrian movements to within the preferred pathway and that guides pedestrians to cross the LRT tracks at the designated crossing location.
- Dynamic envelope:
-
The clearance on either side of a light rail vehicle required for the overhang resulting from any combination of loading, lateral motion, or suspension failure.
- Flashing light signal assembly:
-
A warning device consisting of two red signal indications arranged horizontally that are activated to flash alternately when a light rail vehicle is approaching or present at a highway-rail at-grade crossing.
- Light rail transit (LRT):
-
A mode of transit service (also called streetcar, tramway, or trolley) operating passenger rail cars singly (or in short, usually two-car or three-car, trains) on fixed rails in right-of-way that is often separated from other traffic for part or much of the way.
- Light rail vehicles (LRVs):
-
Vehicles typically driven electrically with power being drawn from an overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph driven by an operator on board the vehicle and may have either high platform loading or low-level boarding using steps.
- Off-quadrant:
-
The location at a light rail crossing, from the perspective of an approaching motorist, on the far side of the tracks and same side of the roadway. Warning devices for pedestrians at highway-rail crossings are typically absent in the off-quadrant.
- Pavement markings:
-
Markings set into the surface of, applied upon, or attached to the pavement for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.
- Pedestrian:
-
A person who travels on foot or who uses assistive devices, such as a wheelchair, for mobility.
- Pedestrian automatic gate:
-
A type automatic gate at a highway-rail at-grade crossing that descends when activated by a light rail vehicle blocking the pedestrian path. The gate is typically delineated with red and white diagonal bars along its length and may include one small red light at the tip, which is illuminated when the gate is activated.
- Pedestrian-light rail at-grade crossing:
-
The general area where a pedestrian pathway and a light rail vehicle cross at the same level, within which are included the light rail tracks, pathway, design features, and traffic control devices for those traversing the area.
- Positive control device:
-
An element that provides a temporary or permanent physical barrier between the light rail tracks and locations where pedestrians can safely queue.
- Public transportation (also called transit, public transit, or mass transit):
-
Transportation by a conveyance that provides regular and continuing general or special transportation to the public, but not including school buses, charter, or sightseeing service.
- Right-of-way (r-o-w):
-
A strip of land devoted to light rail transportation purposes.
- Traffic control devices:
-
All signs, signals, markings, and other devices used to regulate, warn, or guide motor vehicle, pedestrian, or bicycle traffic.
- Swing gate:
-
A self-closing, non-locked, fence-type gate designed to swing open away from the track area and return to the closed position upon release.
- Z-crossing:
-
A type of pedestrian-light rail crossing control device whose design forces a pedestrian to make a 90-degree turn and walk parallel to and facing oncoming light rail vehicles immediately ahead of the tracks.
Bibliography
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Journal Articles
Farrán JI (2006) Pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic control practices for LRT – Innovations in the new Barcelona LRT system, TRB (2006). Trans Res Record 1955:56–61
Siques JT (201) Pedestrian warning and control devices, guidelines, and case studies TRB (2001). Trans Res Record 1762:18–24
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Farrán, J.I. (2013). Light Rail Transit in the US and Abroad, Examination of History and Innovations. In: Ehsani, M., Wang, FY., Brosch, G.L. (eds) Transportation Technologies for Sustainability. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5844-9_304
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