Metro Magazine, September/October 2018
portunity to extend the reach of existing transit services to provide connections to new developments and minimize the increase in vehicular traffic on adjacent roadways For example the Portland Aerial Tram was constructed in conjunction with the South Waterfront Campus of OHSU to provide an alternative to accessing the main OHSU campus via automobile There are other factors to consider before choosing an urban aerial cableway As a new technology there will be a learning curve as transit operators develop operations and maintenance expertise with a new technology The system can be more sensitive to high winds and electrical storms that require temporary shutdowns so the severity and frequency of these conditions in a region should also be considered Also insurance costs and air rights must also be evaluated before moving forward to determine a systems cost effectiveness Challenges with implementing aerial cableway systems do exist but the benefits have the potential to outweigh any limitations and provide an overall mobility enhancement in urban areas 11 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2018 mETRO mAGAZINE tech report qstraint com quantumTHE BUS DRIVERQUANTUM keeps drivers in their seats and gets them back on the road More miles and less curb time goes hand in hand with independent securement in under 25 seconds YOU CAN BE Untitled 4 1 1 24 18 3 54 PM The potential to integrate transit oriented development TOD near stations The ability to provide service between residential areas and key destinations Aerial cableway systems can be integrated into urban environments seamlessly to offer an additional mobility option increase transit ridership and reduce congestion They can also serve as a low cost option for a specific destination such as an airport connector With a relatively small footprint and minimal infrastructure to operate an aerial cableway can be constructed for about 50 to 60 million per mile depending on the number and complexity of system stations Level boarding allows for passengers of all ages and mobility levels to board and exit the cabins and with cabins arriving as frequently as every 12 seconds passengers are quickly on their way As an all electric system the aerial cableway uses less energy with fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other transit options Typically the annual operating and maintenance costs for aerial cableway systems is about 1 million per station In addition an aerial cableway systems can be constructed in as little as 12 to 18 months minimizing disruption and temporary construction impacts within urban environments EXTEND EXISTING TRANSIT SERVICES Aerial cableway systems provide an opChristopher Wahl AICP is Lead Planner and Dave Schumacher is Sr Planning Manager with WSP This rendering shows a conceptual design created by WSP USA for an urban cableway station in San Diego WSP
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