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Freighton BART

TALKING FREIGHT

SEMINARNovember 15, 2006

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COALITION FOR A NEW CALIFORNIA INFRASTRUCTURE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEYUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS

LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORYLAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY

ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTECALSTART/WESTSTART

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICTLOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

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Where Are We Now

Seeking Funding for Preliminary Feasibility Study

Holding Discussions with Fed Ex

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WHY?

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Government Interest: Movement of Goods

Congestion Management / Economic Viability Metropolitan Transportation Commission California Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Alameda Co. Congestion Management Agency

Environmental Sustainability Bay Area Air Quality Management District

Shared Track (Reducing Cost of Capital Projects) Federal Transit Administration and Federal Railroad Administration

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BART’s Rationale for ConsideringFreight on BART

• BART system has excess capacity– Peripheral lines have excess capacity because of how

multiple lines merge into one– Reverse commute direction

• If excess capacity can be put to good use, then existing infrastructure can produce new revenue

• Additional revenues can help to offset the cost to the rider

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WHAT TRANSIT OFFERS

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What Might BART Have To Offer

• Excess Capacity On Some Lines and Directions

• Reliable Transportation To/From Strategic Sites

• Long Service Hours

• Rolling Stock

• Access Points

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RICHMOND

PITTSBURG

DUBLIN/PLEASANTON

MILLBRAE

8 trains/hour (4 to SF)7.5 min average

8 trains/hour to SF7.5 min average

4 trains/hour to SF15 min average

8 trains/hour (4 to SF)7.5 min average

12 trains/hour (8 to SF)5 min average

20 trains/hour3 min average

FREMONT

TRAFFIC DENSITY

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= BART Yard

OKS

57 min ODY

51 min OHY

1:14 MB

28 OKS

35 min CL

ORY

58 min OHY

35 Min OKS

ODY

58 min ODYOHY

59 min ODY

51 min OHY

1:16 MB

28 min OKS

35 min CL

OCY

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= BART Yard

57 min ODY

47 min OHY

1:08 MB

35 min CL

59 min ODY

43 min OHY

1:20 MB

31 min CL

46 min ODY

46 min OHY

= FedEx Stations

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Passenger Revenue Service Hours

• 365 days a year

• 4am – Midnight (Weekdays)

• 6am – Midnight (Saturdays)

• 8am – Midnight (Sundays and Holidays)

• 7 to 15 Minute Frequencies from 4am – 7pm

• 20 Minute Frequencies from 7pm - Midnight

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Rail Vehicle Specifications

• Approximately 70’ Long x 10’6’’ Wide x 7’ High (~ 5100 cu. ft.)

• Volume Without Vehicle Mods:– ~ 70’ x 2.5’ x 7’ = 1,225 cubic feet

• Door Cutouts: 4’6” Wide x 6’6” High• Carrying Capacity: 30,000 lb.• Propulsion: 600 hp/car• Acceleration/Deceleration: +/- 2 mph/sec• Max Speed: 80 mph

14Coliseum BART Station Platform

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Oakland Shops/Annex

A-15 Spur Track

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BART Maintenance Platform at Richmond Yard

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Seats Removed in a BART Car

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FEDERAL EXPRESS

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Some Possible Scenarios

• Scenario 1 (low volume):– Unmodified Car(s) added to current consists– Packages loaded/unloaded at passenger

platforms

• Scenario 2 (high volume):– Train consist with multiple (3 – 10 cars if

available) modified cars made in the yard– Packages loaded/unloaded at yards

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ISSUES

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Integration of Cargo and BART

New Design and/or Modifications

• Container Modifications

• Vehicle Modifications

Existing Container Dimensions are either too wide are too tall to fit through the doorways

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Container Modifications

2) Creating a New, Smaller Form-Factor that can Fit

Inside Existing Containers

1) Modifying an Existing Container

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Vehicle-side Modifications

1) Modifying an Existing BART Vehicle

2) Specific-Use Vehicle(e.g. Flat-car)

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Consist Configurations

1) Modified BART Cars

3) Flatcar without Control Elements

2) Flatcar used as a Control Car

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Infrastructure Issues

• Availability of Facilities and Rolling Stock

• Capital Assets must be able to accommodate retro-fitting

• Costs for retro-fitting is coverable without using traditional District resources

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Logistical Issues

• Freight rail vehicles must be able to travel through the BART System without interfering with scheduled passenger service

• Cargo service cannot interfere with non-revenue hour track maintenance

• Qualified Personnel for Planning and Operation of Cargo Service would need to be employed

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Security Issue

• A “Closed System” must be maintained:– Screening and/or Pre-screening– Yard Security– Vehicle Security

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Kirsen smart container modules

– Customized MEMS and solid-state sensor suite that can monitor or determine:

• Basic features:– GPS positioning (accurate to 25 meters)– Geo-fencing– GPRS communication– Door sensors– Movement inside container (IR)

• Optional: – 6-side intrusion detection– Full/empty control– Movement of container– RFID reader– Light/Humidity sensor– Smoke sensor– Tilt detection– Shock detection– Temperature– Etc.

– Small form factor and lightweight– Worldwide coverage for wireless communication and tracking

• Features

• Modular Open Architecture – allowing for cost-effective customization to satisfy each clients’ requirement

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Use Case: Immediate detection of security breach (e.g. intrusion) from all six sides of the container

Intrusion attempt in sea/air container

or truck

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Silent alarm even prior to the actual

intrusion

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Appropriate notification of law

enforcement

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Prevention of theft or easy recovery of stolen

cargo through embedded GPS

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• CONCEPTUAL

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Planned Next Steps

• Identify and Apply for Grants and Incentives to help study the Cargo Scenario

• Perform Preliminary Feasibility Assessment based on key requirements and needs

• Determine if Business Case Exists

• Work with sponsors to demonstrate the concept assuming feasibility is confirmed