Assessing the Sustainability of Light Rail Transit in Australian Cities

The Australian city has partially resolved its transportation issues with the implementation of an advanced Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. The LRT has numerous benefits, including noise-free motor operation and eco-friendly transportation that is free from pollution. However, the high cost of development is causing financial challenges for the project committee.

Running head: LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
System Design: Light Rail Transit project in Canberra
Name of the student:
Name of the university:

1LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
3. Detailed design and development................................................................................................4
3.1 The Light Rail Transit structure specifications.....................................................................5
3.2 Total estimated cost for the Light Rail Transit project..............................................................8
4. System test, evaluation and optimization..................................................................................11
4.1 System test...........................................................................................................................11
4.2 Evaluation............................................................................................................................11
4.3 Validation and optimization................................................................................................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
References......................................................................................................................................14

2LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
Introduction
In order to solidify the structure of the Canberra city, the Light Rail Transit project is
referred to as one of the most important transport system that helps to offer huge number of
opportunities to the passengers. The objective of the Light Rail Transit Project is to develop or
extend the existing network for minimizing the traffic pressure from the traffic network. In tight
and busy traffic schedule it is very much important to structure the traffic in such a manner so
that the road could not be blocked (Capital Metro Agency 2014). The purpose of the project is to
develop the preliminary design with conceptual design, detailed design and development criteria,
system testing, evaluation, validation and optimization as well of Light rail transit project.
It has been found that the existing LRT project network is not at all significant thus, in
order to implement this particular transport in the significant places of Canberra city, it is
necessary to develop the conceptual design details including its network and route as well. With
the implementation of a smoother Light Rail transit project, the ordinary roadway of Canberra
will be able to minimize the commotion and the obstruction as well. After analyzing the project
details it is determined that, the transportation development committee of Canberra city is willing
to cover a length of 12 Kim around the Canberra city. For connecting different commercial
district, the Light Rail have is required to be developed.
2. Preliminary design of the Light Rail Transit project
Due to heavy traffic congestion in the large city of Canberra, Australia the development
of Light Rail Transit (LRT), has become important to the network developers. From the private
investment sector the project developers are willing to develop the Light Rails Project for
Canberra city. In order to ensure that the project is successful certain components those have

3LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
been considered include rapid prototyping, mind mapping and addition of advanced technologies
(Catthoor et al. 2013). A life cycle cost of the project is also estimated for implementing the
project. The additional components those have been considered for this project include
maintenance cost, experiences, collected historical data, and project details for the construction.
However, the Canberra project lacks to collect historical information those are helpful for the
development of the system and its related decision making approaches. In order to support the
feasibility study life cycle costing system is required to be developed by the project manager and
the development committee (Chandler 2015). Based on the structure, scale, factors and
construction methods the economic evaluations of the systems are also done.
Figure 1: Proposed Route of the Light Rail Network

4LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
(Source: Hensher 2016, pp-290)
The other factors that influence the entire project structure include bridges, tunnels.
Additionally, an algorithm for analyzing the LCC, are also found to be enough efficient from the
project improvement approach. This particular project has been undertaken by a private business
authority thus a private company had analyzed the economic details of the project (Hensher
2016). The business success is completely dependent on proper cost estimation and the derived
life cycle cost. The preliminary design details associated to the project are bridge LCC, Highway
management and development and bridge life cycle cost analysis.
3. Detailed design and development
In order to utilize the data for developing the new network of the Light Rail, it is
necessary for the project developers to analyze proper programming details of the project. The
National Institute of Science and Technology has undertaken the responsibility of developing the
building and fire research laboratory office for the applied economics (Mulley, Tsai and Ma
2015). For this particular project the Bridge Life cycle cost analysis, is done considering the
traditional process and method developed by the transportation research centre.
Not only this but also, for evaluating the system a simulation software rather simulation
software named as PLM simulation tool. With the help of this particular tool the developers will
be able to test the direction and route details of the light rail project. For the highway
development and management a financial support has been gained from the private external
resources (Ho, Hensher and Mulley 2015). This particular program is referred to as a tool which
could analyze the details of the project investment and all other economic perspectives as well.
Both the pre design and post design construction details are demonstrated in this paper.

5LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
The different factors those have been used to calculate the life cycle cost for the pre
design stage include roadbed, civil work, bridge, tunnel and station. The civil workers are
responsible for the developing the general ground and soft ground. On the other hand, the bridge
development factors include over bridge, genera ground, soft ground (Martin 2014). In order to
extend the light rail network from the exiting connectors mountainous tunnel and metropolitan
tunnel are also developed. In many rural locations also the stations for stoppages are also
considered.
Before the final implementation of the project in the primary phase the steps those have
been considered for project include the real discount rate, expected period for the construction
and the expected period for the maintenance of the new route for the Light Rail Transit (Burke
and Currie 2013). For this particular project the identified two different phases are pre design
phase and post design phase.
3.1 The Light Rail Transit structure specifications
Bridge Types
Substructure
 Steel box Girder
Bridge
 Steel plate girder
bridge
 IPC Girder bridge
 RC Slab Bridge
 WS PSC beam
Bridge

6LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
Light Rail Transit
Specification
 Wall type pier
 T type pier
 Torchlight type
pier
 Length of the
bridge
 Width of the
bridge
 The construction
cost at the project
initiation phase
Tunnel Type
Specification
 ASSM
 NATM
 The expansion of
the tunnel
 The diameter of
the tunnel
 Project initial
cost
Civil structure Specification  The general
ground

7LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
 Primary
construction cost
 Soft ground
Building Specification  The general
ground
 Primary
construction cost
 Soft ground
 General and
metropolitan
From the specification of the system the general requirement those have been undertaken
include the following:
System components Requirements
Computer and processors Processor (500MHz or may be faster than that)
Memory 256MB RAM (or more than that)
Hard disk 10 MB while the total framework 2.0 is not
installed, proper capacity of the disk (300 MB
or 620 MB)
Display The monitor resolution must have a monitor
resolution of 1024X768 (better can be
accepted)
An operating system Microsoft XP, Windows server 2003,

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Other components .Net framework 2.0 is needed to be installed
for the development and implementation in the
real world application.
3.2 Total estimated cost for the Light Rail Transit project
Components Estimated cost ($)
Light Rail Portion 145.90 Million
Widening the freeway 79.60 Million
Total cost 225.50 Million
Finance Estimation ($)
Transfer of funding based on interest 182.3 Million
Urban mass transportation 8.9 Million
For developing signaling 5.0 Million
Tunnel and bridge 11.8 Million
For the construction of line 17.5 Million
Total value 225.5 Million
Allocated dollar for the different segments Estimation ($)
Other technical requirements 5.7 Million
For the steel bridge construction 4.7 Million
For street improvement and maintenance 3.0 Million
Development of the freeway 23.2 Million

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The construction details associated to the LRT project are as follows:
Types Application (length) The condition applied
PSC BEAM 22.00 m-25.6 m  On standard section
LPC GIRDER 30.00m – 35.7 m  On standard section
 On the section needed
under bridge height and
double span
PPC GIRDER 20.00 m – 36.00m  On standard section
 On the section needed
under bridge height and
double span
U-GIRDER 31.00m – 37.00m  Standards section
PF BEAM 30.00m- 35.00 m  Under the height of the
bridge and a double span
RPF BEAM 30.00m 35.00m  Under the height of the
bridge and a double span
In order to implement the LRT project successfully it is necessary for the system
developers to consider each aspect professionally. The two different phases considered for the
project development are pre design phase and the post design phase (Mysydney.nsw.gov.au
2016). The deck is consists of both general and urban areas. The parameters associated to the
project implementation are construction estimation, line route selection.

10LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT IN CANBERRA
The post design approach of the construction project includes both the construction as
well as maintenance cost. In case of the bridge development, the detail design of the bridge is
needed to be entered to the database system so that on the time of implementation the
information could be deployed successfully.
Figure 2: Information about the upper part of the bridge developed for the light Rail project
(Source: Mulley, Tsai and Ma 2015)
The factors used in the LRT pre design phase are as follows:
1. Deck
2. Orbit
3. Building
4. Electric power supply

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5. Signaling
6. Communication
7. Streetcar lining
4. System test, evaluation and optimization
4.1 System test
 Before the implementation of the Light Rail Transit project in Canberra City,
Australia the existing design of the project should be developed ensuring the
efficiency and safe movement of the cyclists and that must be completely
accommodated as well (Burke and Currie 2013).
 In order to find out the way for the passengers, through determining the type and
optimum direction level placements direction signage and maps are developed.
 Before the real world implementation of the project it is necessary for the project
developer to use PLM simulation software (Mulley, Tsaiand Ma 2015). With the
help of this particular software the newly extended direction of the light rail could
be tested properly and even if any addition changes required then those could also
be brought into the system.
4.2 Evaluation
 Comfortable ride should be offered to the consumers of the Light rail passengers
 A minimum level of noise with proper control over the vibration is required
 The motor used in the light rail helps to minimize the noise and vibration (Burke
and Currie 2013)

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 PLM simulation software is used by the project managers and project sponsors to
manage the dynamic energy and the speed of the Light Rail Transit project
4.3 Validation and optimization
For the validation and optimization of the system the parameters those have been
considered are as follows:
 Professional participation of the community group from Canberra city is required for
those who will take part in the operational purposes without any kind of dedicated
parking facility (Mysydney.nsw.gov.au 2016).
 Each testing domain associated to the project are required to be tested properly by the
volunteers
 In the highly demanding parking areas this project extension is required to be done
 The metropolitan parking infrastructure development
 Additionally, quality raw materials are required for the development and implementation
of the project (Capital Metro Agency 2014)
 Before the selection of the newly extended network or channel it is necessary for the
project developers to consider the pilot programming and street network management
framework
 For avoiding the rate of road accidents signal on proper locations are also developed.
 For the development of the project in the real world in certain location tunnels and
bridges of proper diameter and width are needed to be developed by the project manager
(Chandler 2015)
 The cost estimation should be done by the project sponsors and project managers to
validate the project details with economic support and financial stability as well.

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Conclusion
From the overall discussion it can be concluded that in order to complete the project
successfully with appropriate launch plan, resource plan and long term plan as well it is
necessary for the project developers to consider a detail conceptual design of the Light Rail
Transit (LRT) project including system testing, evaluation and development as well. Not only
this but also the project demonstrated the validation and optimization of the project. The
conceptual network designed for the Canberra Light Rail Transit project has successfully
integrated the transport of Australia. The busy traffic issues facing by the Australian city has
been partly resolved with the implementation of the advanced Light Rail Transit project. It has
been defined that many operation level profits are also associated to this system such as the
motor used for the system is free of noise and as the rail runs through electricity thus, the
transport is eco-friendly and pollution free. The speeds of the Light Rails are around 70 to 80
km/Hour. Though, the communication channel is very much beneficial but still due to higher
cost the development committee is facing different financial issues.

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References
Burke, M. and Currie, G., 2013. Light rail in Australia-Performance and prospects.
Capital Metro Agency. 2014. 1st ed. [pdf] Canberra: Capital Metro Full Business Case, pp.12-
35. Available at: http://www.tccs.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/887680/Light-rail-
Capital-Metro-Business-Case-In-Full.pdf [Accessed 21 Aug. 2016].
Catthoor, F., Wuytack, S., de Greef, G.E., Banica, F., Nachtergaele, L. and Vandecappelle, A.,
2013. Custom memory management methodology: Exploration of memory organisation for
embedded multimedia system design. Springer Science and Business Media.
Chandler, B., 2015. Australia award for urban design presentations in Melbourne. Planning
News, 41(9), p.6.
Currie, G. and Burke, M., 2013, October. Light rail in Australia–performance and prospects.
In Australasian Transport Research Forum, Brisbane, Australia.
Dobes, L. and Leung, J., 2015. Wider economic impacts in transport infrastructure cost-benefit
analysis-A bridge too far?. Agenda: A Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform, 22(1), p.75.
Douglas, N. and O'Keeffe, B., 2016, November. Wider Economic Benefits–When and if they
should be used in evaluation of transport projects. In Australasian Transport Research Forum
(ATRF), 38th, 2016, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Downs, C., Cassels, B. and Ericksen, J., 2014. Case study of rail design on Gold Coast Light
Rail. CORE 2014: Rail Transport For A Vital Economy, p.76.