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.
A P3 (Public-Private Partnership) project, the Maryland Transit Administration’s Purple Line is perhaps one of the most complex light rail new-builds ever attempted. At this year’s Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures Light Rail Conference, Ray Biggs II, Senior Project Director – Purple Line, Transit Development & Delivery, Maryland DOT/Maryland Transit Administration, will take conference attendees through an in-depth exploration. Following an introduction on the MTA’s growing light rail system, which was built partially on existing former railroad right-of-way on its north and south ends, he’ll provide a general layout of the Purple Line, including route and major stations, and connectivity with other transit modes.
Biggs will explain the primary motivation for the route eventually selected, ridership forecasts, deployment and operating strategies including contracts awarded and LRV selection, and current construction status. He’ll also forecast the Purple Line’s commissioning date and process, and revenue service opening strategy and target date.
Biggs returns for the “Engineering for Operations & Service Delivery: FRA Waivers, San Diego & Beyond” session, where he’ll discuss how to keep a DBOM (Design-Build-Operate-Maintain or equivalent PPP from being merely a form of contracting, where the design-build entity leaves the project at or shortly after the in-service date. He’ll share his knowledge on how to protect a true “turnkey” investment, considering private investment for purposes of ensuring a high level of operation and exploring contract terms, continuity of corporations and key staff. The discussion will center on what latitude and—more important—standard mandatory design documents to allow a first-class operation. These are engineering-based issues, vs. service delivery metrics related to incentive payments.
These sessions are 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.
LRT is North America’s fastest-growing passenger rail mode. It employs a wide range of constantly evolving technologies and operating practices. Light Rail 2024 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.
