WHEN AND WHERE DOES LRT WORK

This paper determines that LRT can and does work in a variety of situations and analyzes the conditions necessary to support its successful implementation. To be effective, light rail service must meet the requirements of a substantial number of the tripmakers along its route. Travel time must be shortened to attract riders who have the option of traveling by private auto. Alternatively, travel volume must be so high that a low transit modal split will still yield high ridership in absolute numbers. Exclusive or preferential rights-of-way help minimize LRT's trip time and relieve highway congestion. Shared or converted railroad alignments, center boulevards, exclusive lanes, and short aerial or underground structures are the usual means of accelerating LRT to improve trip time. Simple, traditional street operation is effective only when travel volume is sufficient to justify LRT on its productive efficiency rather than its speed. For maximum efficiency, LRT must often closely integrate its service with that of a local bus network, but on long, fast radial lines serving a central business district, integration, although desirable, may not be a necessity. Conditions under which LRT works best range from long, fast, low-density suburban lines to short, slow, high-density inner-city lines. Some LRT installations are high-capital, high-efficiency operations; others require less capital to achieve superior results. LRT can only be used where it is the best transit mode for the specific application.