The 2024 edition of the Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures Light Rail Conference will take place this November 13-14 in San Diego, where modern LRT in the United States emerged more than 40 years ago. As always, three main themes anchor this premier rail industry event: Planning, Engineering and Operations.
Rail industry icon Alfred E. Fazio, P.E., from BRT Rail Services, will lead a panel titled Engineering for Operations & Service Delivery: FRA Waivers, San Diego & Beyond, which will discuss how engineering activities affect LRT operating efficiency, safety and security, schedule speed, express service, reliability and delay recovery, capacity, and operations and maintenance costs.
The session’s expert panelists include John Mardente, Civil Engineer, Passenger Rail Division, Federal Railroad Administration; Brian Riley, COO – Rail, San Diego MTS; Wayne Terry, Retired COO – Rail, San Diego MTS; and Ray Biggs II, Senior Project Director – Purple Line, Transit Development & Delivery, Maryland Transit Administration.
Riley and Terry will set the stage with a presentation on San Diego’s unique ETS (Extended Temporal Separation) operating scheme, which allows light rail to safely co-exist with freight. ETS requires an FRA agreement and waiver. The two will describe what’s involved. Mardente will expand on ETS in a dialogue with Fazio examining the agency’s options menu and decision factors for granting a waiver. Biggs will delve into the DBO (Design-Build-Operate) greenfield (new line) procurement model. He’ll explore the differences and similarities for when DBO is simply a form of contract and when it is a true turnkey. What is the proper degree of latitude? How much design is needed? What choices do builders have?
This session is one of many in this year’s program, which offers a comprehensive review of the specialized technical, operational, environmental and socio-economic issues associated with LRT in urban and suburban environment. The conference will conclude with a special, behind-the-scenes tour of the San Diego Trolley, led by San Diego MTS and sponsored by Benesch.
Light Rail 2024 is specifically geared for all levels of transportation professionals in planning, operations, civil engineering, signaling and vehicle engineering and government. LRT is North America’s fastest-growing passenger rail mode. It employs a wide range of constantly evolving technologies and operating practices. This conference is specifically geared for all levels of transportation professionals in planning, operations, civil engineering, signaling and vehicle engineering and government. Professional Engineers can obtain Professional Development Hour credits. Learn more and register here.
