Construction: Who likes to play in the dirt?

[Dexman PE PMP]

Started my career in the heavy highway construction industry, then went to the "darkside" as a land development consultant for a few years, but now constructing miles upon miles of light rail train corridors.

 

[Jdsmith PE]

Started my career in Bridge rehab, then 5 years constructing communication towers, then 10 years on the consulting side of Land Development, now back on the construction side building restaurants.

 

[John QPE]

I do my fair share of capital work in my new job as a municipal engineer. I spent the past 15 years in LD

 

[Lomarandil]

Started my career in the heavy highway construction industry, then went to the "darkside" as a land development consultant for a few years, but now constructing miles upon miles of light rail train corridors.

Dex, are you on Eagle P3?

My company does temporary structural engineering for construction, so a little of both worlds. Keeps things interesting, to say the least

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

^^^ No, but I am on the 225 project just to the south that shares a station with it.

 

[Lomarandil]

Oh, we actually do some work on the I-225 line. Maybe we'll run into each other.

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

Just keep an eye out for the car in my avatar...

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Dex, I've always wondered this, what are the cost differences and reasons why for a mile of light rail vs heavy? Absent ROW costs, since that is local...

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

Weight & propulsion of the vehicles.

Light rail vehicles weigh in the ballpark of 70,000 lbs, whereas the heavy rail system is designed to handle 315,000lbs (gross weight). Because of the weight difference, a lightrail vehicle can maneuver significanly faster (0-60mph and 60-0) which allows it to get up to speed with stations spaced at ~1/2 mile apart.

Also, lightrail is typically entirely electric with either an overhead cantenary system (OCS) or an electrified 3rd rail system. We use the OCS. Heavy rail is also mostly electric, but their engines are powered with diesel generators. Our vehicles have back-up generators in case of a power outage so we can safely return passengers to the next station so they're not stranded (most LRT stations double as a bus station).

A few of our lines are actually going to be a "commuter" rail system (like the P3 lines mentioned above), which utilizes larger vehicles (medium rail), fewer stations (because they can't accelerate/decelerate as quickly), but is also entirely electric.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I get that, but what are the costs difference for the infrastructure? Ballast, rails, ties, etc...in costs per mile.

Also, are the LRT folks generally responsible for generating their own power?

 

[Dexman PE PMP]

I'm not really sure what the cost/mile is for heavy, but the civil construction cost is ~$25-$30M per mile for lightrail. Add another $10-$15M per mile for the electrical/communication system installation, configuration, and testing. I should also qualify this cost that it is a "turn-key" cost which includes stations, any roadway relocations, property acquisition, parking lots, everything. I have no idea what the cost/mile is for only the rail.

Because of the weight difference, the rail/ballast specs are significantly cheaper. Rails are smaller, ballast section is thinner, but the subgrade prep is about the same. Because we have to maintain a smooth ride, the rail can't deflect the same as a heavy rail can, plus lightrail is welded in place as one continuous piece to eliminate the clink-clink commonly associated with heavy (plus the rail serves as the "ground" for the electric propulsion).

 

[Capt Worley PE]

Holy cow, that's expensive!

Thanks for the info!

 

[NJmike PE]

Started my career in the heavy highway construction industry, then went to the "darkside" as a land development consultant for a few years...

I've been working for 15 years now in the land development field in Northern New Jersey.

 

[Weavs33]

started out on the inspection side on highway projects in Jersey.

 

[hylton]

I started career as a civil engineer later more responsibility of repairs and alteration is also supervised by me. Sometimes i think the profession is hectic but at the end when you get your full payment it feels good.

 

[iwire]

I started my first job as an Outside Plant Engineering specialist...dealt with all sort of telecommunication, from directional boring, direct buried to conduit bank to aerial overhead design to center office and to remote site for power etc...

OSP baby..lol.

 

[bigray76]

Entire career in commercial construction - primarily in preconstruction - mostly estimating and some procurement. I do long term precon for clients as well as the down and dirty public project hard money lump sum bidding. Funny, when I started 17 years ago, pharma was booming in NJ and we had nice fat fees... now we hustle for a 1% fee, if we are lucky... should've been a fireman instead!

 

[NJmike PE]

Entire career in commercial construction - primarily in preconstruction - mostly estimating and some procurement. I do long term precon for clients as well as the down and dirty public project hard money lump sum bidding. Funny, when I started 17 years ago, pharma was booming in NJ and we had nice fat fees... now we hustle for a 1% fee, if we are lucky... should've been a fireman instead!

Still time to join up again

 

[WolfHead]

Dex, are you on Eagle P3?

My company does temporary structural engineering for construction, so a little of both worlds. Keeps things interesting, to say the least

Wow! I'm working on the Eagle P3 project. I'm working on the WiMax system that is used to carry the PTC/CCTV/PA information between the train and trackside! In fact, I will be flying back to Denver tomorrow morning to work in the CRMF building.

I was at the Smart Rail conference from October 27th to 29th (Charlotte). Were any of you transportation guys there? I flew back into Baltimore around midnight of the 29th. Stayed in a hotel in Baltimore because my PE exam was in Baltimore on Oct 30th. Finished the exam and flew to Denver next morning and was in Denver for almost 26 days straight working on this project. Small world!

 

[Lomarandil]

Ha! Small world indeed. (Although I have to admit, you've lost me with most of the acronyms there).