07-05-2017, 03:57 PM
(07-05-2017, 03:32 PM)Canard Wrote: I like when rapid transit runs down the middle of highways, like in Chicago and DC. When you're driving and stuck in traffic, you see the trains zip by and think "Hmm, I should ride that instead". When you're on-board, you look out and think "Yep, I made the right choice today."
It's also using an already-used big swath of land, so no taking is required. I think it's very worth exploring, as much as I think elevated LRT is stupid (should be another technology at that point which requires less material, ie, Monorail).
Short sections of elevated LRT where needed on a mostly not-elevated LRT line are definitely not stupid. This is exactly what LRT can do that monorail can’t — be part of the street in many areas, but elevate in places where that gives a big advantage. I agree monorail can make sense when most of a substantial system would need to be elevated anyway.
I guess monorail actually can be at-grade, but doing so requires total separation between the monorail and adjacent uses. No level crossings possible.
That’s not to say that I think elevated in the median of the 401 (or anywhere else) is a good idea for our system, because I suspect it is far from cost-effective, but it can be good in some places. I understand the Crosstown LRT in Toronto will be elevated at the west end of the current project for a short stretch.