Agenda - 10-11-1995 - Items 1 and 2 - Appendix 1

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Pedestrian /Bikeway Light Rail Transit A trail could be developed that would facilitate Light rail transit requires the construction of pedestrian movement. In addition, a bikeway overhead power wires, although the vehicles can could be developed that would have the operate on both streets and on existing railroad opportunity to access Chapel Hill High School, tracks. Vehicles are electrically powered, and Seawell School, the Horace Williams tract, and each vehicle can carry approximately twice as the downtown area. In particular, a bikeway many people as a bus. Light rail vehicles can following the rail line to the University's Power operate in trains of two to five cars. Transit stops Plant on Cameron Avenue could be connected to can be as close as one-half mile apart. Operations the existing Carrboro bikeway that ends at the rail are more complicated and more expensive for line on Cameron Avenue. light rail transit than for bus systems, however. Busway A self-propelled rail vehicle is a hybrid between light rail vehicles and buses, although it can not A busway could be constructed by putting down travel on roadways. The vehicle uses a diesel a strip of pavement beside the existing rail engine to drive steel wheels on standard rail line. corridor. This new structure would be reserved Unlike light rail vehicles, diesel vehicles do not for buses only. Ordinary Chapel Hill Transit need overhead wires for power, thus eliminating buses could use this system. This system is significant expenses. flexible because the buses can run on regular streets on either end of the busway. The primary Each vehicle can carry up to one and one-half cost would be the construction of the paved times as many people as a bus, and can operate in "busway." trains of up to three vehicles. To support acceptable travel times however, transit stops are Guided Busway usually at least three miles apart. A guided busway is similar to a regular busway; Summary however, the modified buses can either use existing railroad tracks or adedicated right-of-way. The "transportation corridor" concept would Guided buses travel under mechanical or revolve around using one or more of these four electrical guidance, and therefore operate more alternatives in coordination with the existing rail safely and comfortably at higher speeds than line right-of-way. conventional busways. The implementation of any of these transportation The vehicles for a guided busway are standard corridor alternatives would require the buses that have been modified to incorporate a development of an agreement with Norfolk- guidance system. These buses can still operate as Southern Railroad regarding the use of the rail regular buses at either end of the busway. line. Presently, the rail line has a right-of-way of approximately 100 feet. Page 34 Northwest Small Area Plan