Trackseventeen wrote:PARailWiz wrote:Trackseventeen wrote:I still say the Blvd. line should have been on the top of the list for the Obama stimulus..... it is shovel ready (studied a million times)..... but nothing came of it.
It's been studied a million times but, but are there detailed design plans sitting around suitable for constructions? Typically the studies only determine the estimated cost and feasibility of a project but don't actually design more than a proposed alignment.
Well..... in phillyroads.com there are some pretty detailed plans there..... Shows middle lane expressway, with outboard local lanes with BSS subway.....
JeffK, and others, thanks for the background on the El. I think we're finally settling on the real reason for the seemingly illogical 3rd rail placement is - lost to history. (my vote is still on cost).
Trackseventeen - Just to give you an idea of what's required for infrastructure work. I'm a mechanical engineer, currently employed in the business of movable bridges (draw, swing, lift). Today, I happen to be doing a review on machinery for a new bridge in Florida (Type '353 Ocean Ave. Lantana, FL' into google maps to see the existing bridge. The new one will not look much different.)
This one is up to 276 engineering drawings for the whole bridge. The machinery is only 27 drawings, so if it were a fixed bridge, it would still be around 250 drawings. Each one backed up by engineering calculations, and peer reviewed by other engineers. Note that these are just the BID drawings - whatever contractor wins the bid, will still have to fill in many of the routine details, and will likely triple the drawing count. Overall project time line, from spec development to ribbon cutting 4-5 years. This is considered a very routine bridge, it looks like thousands of others already in service.
All the bridges required for a mass transit line running the length of the Boulevard would be comparatively monumental. Its very easy to conceptualize, or sketch an elevated line running the median, but once someone has to put dimensions and details, and calculate beam and column sizing, the real work begins.
Peruse the 2003 proposals when you get a minute.
http://www.svmetro.com/projects/roosevelt-blvd.php
That said - I've sketched some ideas for connecting the proposed DRPA Delaware Ave. trolley with the existing subway-surface lines and possibly the MFL at 30th st by running through South Philly. I'll post them when I get a minute in the evening. I'm sure we can stir up a few opinions.
Additional citations always available.