Looking ahead: Light rail, streetcar projects on tap for 2020 NEWSWIRE

Second of a two-part look at rail transit projects. Part one is available here.

A number of light rail and streetcar projects will continue or complete construction projects in 2020. An overview:

Light Rail

America’s first fully automated, driverless light rail system could become operational by December when Honolulu Area Rapid Transit (HART) expects to begin service on the first 10 miles of a planned 20-mile route from West Oahu to downtown Honolulu, via the Pearl Harbor Naval Base and the city’s airport.

HART reports that nine stations on the west side are 72% to 95% complete and that seven of the 12 four-car Hitachi Rail Italy trainsets, assembled in California, have been delivered. Trains are being tested on a portion of the route.

The 12-track Rail Operations Center yard is now fully operational. Trains are moving autonomously in the yard, testing route configurations. The projected cost for the full rail line has risen to $9.1 billion and completion of the east side segment to the airport is targeted for the end of 2025.

Trains have begun test runs on LA Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX line as the last bits of construction should be done shortly. Officially the opening is listed only as 2020, but midsummer is known to be the likely target.

Construction on Maryland’s 16-mile Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrolton is underway, with the first section of track laid in September 2019. CAF USA is supplying 26 five-car trainsets from its factory in Elmira, New York. The first train is expected to be delivered to the Maryland Department of Transportation in late 2020 for testing, with the line scheduled to open in 2022.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) began pre-construction in November on its planned 26-mile Silver Line along the Cotton Belt Corridor, with initial work including the removal of old rail and utility relocation. Construction is to finish in 2022.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority launched higher frequency service on its three light rail lines at the beginning of 2020, with weekday 15-minute headways.

Portland, Oregon’s TriMet says that its MAX light rail system, which comprises five lines across 60 miles, will be 100% powered by wind energy as of February 2020.

Numerous construction delays have pushed back the planned opening of San Francisco’s Central Subway from 2019 to 2021.

Streetcar

Charlotte’s Gold Line has been out of service since June 3, 2019, with bus substitution, while existing platforms are being raised for a new fleet of Siemens S70 streetcars. Construction on phase 2 continues. The $150 million project extends the current 1.5-mile line to 4 miles and adds 11 stops. Major construction is due to be completed this spring, with the full line open by the end of the year.

The Phoenix area’s Valley Metro expects to complete track and station platform installation on its three-mile Tempe Streetcar project this year, with opening set for 2021.

Tucson and South Tucson applied for a federal grant to plan for a 15-mile high-capacity transit line, which could build on the existing 3.9-mile Sun Link streetcar route.