71 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

 

 

Streetcars make comebacks and connections in states along the border

EL PASO, TEXAS — Peter Svarzbein, city councilman for this Texas border community, makes a left turn at a parking garage near the university campus. The street ahead — to many just flat black asphalt and bright yellow lines — is one that, to Svarzbein, holds the city’s future.

Text and video here:

 

https://cronkitenews...ong-the-border/

[Sloan]

 

 

City explores possibility of expanding streetcar project into Juarez

Text and video here:

http://kfoxtv.com/ne...ect-into-juarez

 

Note the inclusion of photos of Gomaco replica Birney cars for Charlotte, NC.  Those pix have nothing to do with the news item.  

 

Sloan

[Sloan]

Now that the El Paso streetcar project is well underway, I am starting a new thread which identifies the operating agency [Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority] rather than El Paso PCCs.  Sloan

 

 

 

El Pasoans will have another opportunity to meet the team of engineers and experts building the El Paso Streetcar Projecton Tuesday evening.

http://elpasoheraldp...uesday-evening/

[Sloan]

 

EL PASO - 

Steel rail for the El Paso Streetcar project recently arrived in town, though crews won't begin laying it along the route until June.

http://www.kvia.com/...n-town/39147534

 

It's appalling that the rails are imports from Austria.  C'mon, people, the steelworkers at Arcelor Mittal just produced  rails for Kansas City.  Why is it necessary to buy tracks overseas?  Sheesh!  

 

Sloan

[CNJRoss]

 

.  .  .   Arcelor Mittal just produced  rails for Kansas City.  Why is it necessary to buy tracks overseas? 

Sloan

 

 

I was curious about one agency sourcing in the U.S. and another sourcing off-shore so I did some cursory checking on the ArcelorMittal product.

 

ArcelorMittal rolls “block rail,” called TRAM112.  Block rail is similar to but different from the traditional “girder rail” having a more compact “squat” cross section than girder rail.  ArcelorMittal highlights some advantages of their product here:

Rails for Trams: Grooved/Girder vs. Block Rail

 

ArcelorMittal uses technology imported from the “sister” mill in Poland at the Pennsylvania mill.  As far as I can tell, Block rail is a “sole source” product, available only from ArcelorMittal.  Looking at the profile, I believe other track components, such as switch points and frogs, would have to “match” this rail profile.  These components are also likely available only from limited sources.  This could cause an agency to shy away from using the product, regardless of any advantages.

 

Several other US transit agencies have used block rail:

“The Waterfront Moody Avenue Improvement Project in Portland, Oregon, the South-eastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), New York City Transit and Washington Metro are all examples of prior usage of the TRAM112.”

 

The photos indicate El Paso is using traditional “girder rail.”  AFAIK, no US mill rolls this product. 

 

It would be interesting to know what factors were considered in selecting the rail profile for these projects.

 

Ross

 

Related:  Kansas City gets a new tram system, thanks to ArcelorMittal steel

[Sloan]

From O Scale Trolley Modelers:

 

 

Rail will soon begin its return to the streets of the Sun City, as work on the track phase of the El Paso Streetcar Project starts next week.
 
“Since late last year, crews have mainly focused on underground utility work related to the project,” said Raymond Telles, Executive Director of the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority. “However, El Pasoans will soon see crews undertaking the highly-complex, highly-technical work of laying the first massive sections of specialized steel rail which will make up the 4.8 mile route.”
 
Track work will be primarily focused in zones which are several blocks long. Work in each zone will take several months to complete and typically progresses in the following fashion:
 

Remove all existing pavement where necessary

Precisely level the exposed ground by removing existing dirt and rock
and replacing it with new material and in some locations installing new curb and sidewalks.
This step will require three to six weeks to complete

Lay and weld rail segments which average 540 feet in length

Pour 12-inch thick concrete slab around rail,
requiring two to three weeks to fully set

Finalize roadway repairs including final striping

 
Businesses and residents will maintain access to their property at all times.

 

The first track work will take place on Oregon Street between Glory Road and University Avenue, where streetcars will run in the southbound transit lane.
 
To accommodate work, Oregon Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Glory Road and University Avenue beginning on Monday, May 16, 2016. University Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction at Oregon Street. Robinson Avenue and Cincinnati Avenue will be closed to east-west traffic at Oregon Street. These closures will last through mid-August.
 
An additional two- to three-week complete closure of Oregon Street near the Glory Road Transfer Center will be required over the summer to allow crews to replace additional concrete paving there.

[Sloan]

 

 

Downtown El Paso set to ride streetcar revival

Text and very slow buffering video here:

 

http://borderzine.co...eetcar-revival/

[KevinKorell]

KVIA-TV, ABC-7 in El Paso, TX, 6/23/16:

First rails installed for Downtown Streetcars

Work is underway to install the railway tracks for the Downtown Streetcar project.

Wednesday morning, crews started laying the tracks on the southbound lane of Oregon Street between Glory Road and Cincinnati Avenue, near the University of Texas at El Paso.

More

[Sloan]

 

 

Streetcar work remains on time, budget

 

A handful of change orders needed to address some underground issues in the El Paso streetcar project have cost nearly $4 million, but haven’t yet impacted the trolley’s allocated budget or completion schedule, officials said this week.

http://www.elpasotim...udget/90869508/

[KevinKorell]

KFOX-TV, Fox-14 in El Paso, TX, 11/22/16:

Father Rahm streetcar construction to end before Thanksgiving

 

Because of the lack of traffic during the streetcar project construction, some businesses on Father Rahm in downtown El Paso have had to put up “for rent” or “for sale” signs in a front window.

Story here.