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June 3, 2018
By Bob Diamond
This document can be downloaded here -
Cover Photo: BHRA's PCC Streetcars at the Beard Street Pier, June, 1998
 F or w ar d
N ot e: I n 2 0 0 3, B H R A st aff w as "s e co n d e d" i nt o ot h er d uti es. A c c or di n gl y, a " pl a c e h ol d er
gr o u p" c all e d " B C S C" w as i nst all e d. T h e y w er e n' t t o o eff e cti v e. B y t h e ti m e B H R A's st aff
r et ur n e d fr o m ot h er s er vi c e, w e l e ar n e d t h e str e et c ar pr oj e ct h a d b e e n c o m pl et el y
dis b a n d e d, a n d t h at all e q ui p m e nt a n d m at eri al s h a d b e e n s ol d off. I n 2 0 1 0, a m aj or eff ort
w as m a d e b y B H R A, Br o o kl y n C o m m u nit y B o ar d 6, a n d t h e C o b bl e Hill Ass n., t o r e vi v e t h e
str e et c ar pr oj e ct. T his eff ort w as n't w ell r e c ei v e d b y t h e Cit y D O T, w hi c h pr e vi o usl y i n 2 0 0 0,
h a d q ui etl y c o m mitt e d its elf t o C N G f u el e d b us es, a n d n o el e ctri c all y p o w er e d tr a nsit
v e hi cl es w h ats o e v er. At t h at ti m e, l ar g el y d u e t o t h e pr o di gi o us l o b b yi n g eff orts of t h e n
C N G b us f u el m o g ul T. B o o n e Pi c k e ns, Cit y D O T f e lt t h at el e ctri c tr a nsit v e hi cl es w o ul d b e
" disr u pti v e" t o c ert ai n C N G b us f uel v e hi cl e f u n di n g m e c h a nis ms...

A s e p ar at e fil e of hi g h- r es ol uti o n m a ps , n e ws p a p er cli p pi n gs, a n d ot h er gr a p hi cs,

c o nt ai n e d i n t his d o c u m e nt m a y b e d o w nl o a d e d fr o m h er e:
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As a n hist ori c al asi d e, it is b eli e v e d t h at m u c h of t h e ori gi n al st o n e str u ct ur al w or k of t h e

1 9 t h c e nt ur y " P e n n y Bri d g e I nt er m o d al C o m pl e x" still e xists, c o n c e al e d b y t h e pr es e nt d a y
s urf a c e of w est er n M o nt a g u e Str e et, a n d t h e B Q E. P ot e nti all y, a v er y i nt er esti n g
ar c h a e ol o gi c al pr oj e ct. Pl e as e r ef er t o:

htt ps: / / w w w.s cri b d. c o m / d o c u m e nt / 3 7 2 8 9 3 9 7 8 / M o nt a g u e- Str e et- C a bl e- C ar- Br o o kl y n-

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Pr oj e ct Str e a mi n g Vi d e o s:
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T h e B H R A i s a n o n - pr ofit or g a ni z ati o n, e x e m pt fr o m t a x e s u n d er s e cti o n 5 0 1 - c - 3 of t h e I nt er n al R e v e n u e C o d e

Solar Power Streetcar System?

HOME PROJECTS THE TUNNEL RAIL FLEET MAPS GEN. INFO WHAT's NEW ABOUT US LINKS

Solar Power Streetcar System?

Creating a streetcar system that is predominantly solar powered is a technically feasible. By combining old and new
technology, the new Brooklyn Streetcar can be entirely powered by pollution free, renewable, solar energy.

Streetcars receive power (typically 600v DC) through an overhead wire. Rather than exclusively utilizing conventionally
generated power (from a power plant or line power), solar panels can be used. Solar panels, ("photo-voltaic arrays"), that
converts sunlight directly into electricity, can be utilized to power a streetcar system.

24hr power can be derived from the solar power system by utilizing a battery array. Such an array could be built at convenient
remote locations. The need for any "static power converters" changing "AC" power to "DC" power for the streetcars, would be
completely eliminated. (see end section of this webpage for another power storage solution).

The best place to start, is at the beginning...

About 100 years ago, the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company devised a move-able storage battery array, to supply extra
streetcar power "on demand" to certain key areas, at certain times when streetcar traffic would peak. When streetcar power
demand was low, the battery array collected a "trickle charge" from the overhead trolley wire. When rail car power demand
was high, the battery array could supply 600 volt power to the rail cars at the following rates: 1,000 amps for one hour, 500
amps for three hours, or 250 amps for seven hours.
(Source: Street Railway Journal, June 1, 1901, pp 665- 666)

Circa 1890's, the Atlantic Avenue RR streetcar company built a power station for its new electric streetcars. This power station
produced 4,400 kW (4.4 MW). This was enough electric power to simultaneously operate 100 streetcars of 60 HP each.
However, those streetcars were probably only 2 axle vehicles. (Sources: The Power Stations and Distribution System of the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, Street Railway Journal, October 5, 1901, pp 471-480, and the The Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
November 11, 1892, pg 3.)

Let's now assume a 4- axle streetcar, with a 30 HP motor on each axle. This gives us 120 HP, or by using the conversion
factor of 1 HP= 0.76 kW, gives us 91.2kW for maximum motoring power. Let's now add an additional 30 kW for Heating,
Ventilation and Air Conditioning, as well as interior lighting. This brings us to an estimated maximum power demand of 141.2
kW per streetcar, or 235.3 amps at 600 volts DC, on level track. Let's round this off to 150 kW per streetcar, or 250 amps at
600 volts DC, maximum power demand. Since streetcars are largely "free coasting" once set into motion, this peak power
demand will only occur when the streetcar is starting from a dead stop. Because the proposed streetcar line is relatively short
in length, we can probably assume that only one streetcar at a time will be starting from a dead stop, and thereby requiring the
full 250 amps at 600 volts, or 150 kW.

Taking streetcar "coasting" into account, this 150 kW power demand, represents the major portion of the Red Hook streetcar
line's total estimated power demand, which I put at 250 kW (416.6 amps at 600 volts DC). Its assumed that at any given time,
2 of the 3 streetcars will be drawing about 30 kW each while "coasting", the power being used by HVAC, lighting, etc., while
the 3rd streetcar will be simultaneously using 150kW, for starting from a dead stop.

Since streetcars spend most of their time "free coasting" on their rails, rather than wastefully, continuously, drawing motor
power when in motion, 250 kW should be enough to supply ALL of the power demand for all 3 streetcars (but NOT light rail
vehicles) simultaneously.

Now, lets consider where the 250 kW is coming from... This power source is Solar, using photo voltaic cells to convert sunlight
directly into electricity. Since photo voltaic cells are not very efficient (about 15%), a fairly large surface area directly exposed
to sunlight is required, together with a storage battery array, to produce usable quantities of electric power 24 hours a day, on
demand. Typically, the photo voltaic array is located on large surface area roof tops. Good examples, are Brooklyn's Nassau
Brewery on Bergen Street, and IKEA on Beard Street. Photo voltaic arrays have also been successfully located above parking
fields.

http://brooklynrail.net/solarpoweredrailtransit.html[2/9/2016 10:54:54 PM]

Solar Power Streetcar System?

As a working example, the expansive flat roof of Red Hook's Beard Street Pier, could easily provide enough surface area for
a photo voltaic array producing 250kW- or rather much, much more...

If the rooftop of the Beard Street Pier were utilized, there is more than enough surface area to make the streetcar line 100%
Solar Powered. Together with "regenerative brakes" used on each streetcar (converts the streetcar's braking force to electric
power, which is sent back into the overhead power wire), ALL of the streetcar line's electrical power demand could be met with
"clean, renewable, solar energy".

The roof of the Beard Street Pier, is roughly 700 feet x 150 ft = 11,666.66 Square Yards. The quantity of "insolation" received
at the Earth's surface is typically 1 kW/ Square Meter. Since a Square Yard is 83.3% of a Square Meter, and photovoltaic cells
are roughly 15% efficient, we can use the conversion formula of 0.833 kW/SY x 0.15 = 0.12495 kW/ SY x 11,666.66 SY =
1,457.749 kW, or 1.457 MW. This is enough electric power to simultaneously start over 6 streetcars from a dead stop- this
translates to a medium sized streetcar system.
(Source: http://www.americanenergyindependence.com/solarenergy.aspx)

Let's now look at the energy requirements for the Red Hook streetcar. Assuming our "standard constant" power demand of
250 kW (3 streetcars: 1 car starting from a dead stop, and 2 cars coasting simultaneously), then 250 kW/ 0.12495 kW/SY =
2,001 Square Yards, or 18,009 ft ², or roughly 120 ft x 150 ft of photovoltaic array, converting sunlight directly into electricity.

The 250 kW Lithium- Ion Storage Battery Arrays could be easily located at convenient places along the streetcar route.

End notes and other thoughts:

An alternative to utilizing batteries (remote power storage) is to use the power grid for power storage. You
could feed the suplus generated power (during times of most intense sun) into the municipal power grid.
Power could be converted to Ac and fed into the power grid. Feeding power into the grid would spin the meter
backwards. During hours of darkness, power would be drawn from the grid instead of added. As you use that
power that was previously fed into the grid, the supply meter spins forward (eventually back to where it was
before power was deposited into the system). Essentially you could use the power grid as your battery.
Moreover, I believe that in NY, if you produce "clean" power (from renewable energy), the power company is
required to purchase it from you.

©2002-2011 Brooklyn Historic Railway Association, Brooklyn, NY.

All rights reserved.
Web design by Brian Kassel

http://brooklynrail.net/solarpoweredrailtransit.html[2/9/2016 10:54:54 PM]

Essentially, AC Induction Motors are Unsuitable
for Subway Cars or Streetcars  Here’s Why…
 Instead of Using Weak and Inefficient AC
Induction Motors, Subway Cars and
Streetcars Should Use "Brushless DC" Motors
Please watch these videos for an
in-depth explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=fxSdZWWx3e8
-AND-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=bCEiOnuODac

NOTE THE NEW BRUSHLESS DC MOTORS

PRODUCE THE SAME ENERGY OUTPUT
(SPEED AND TORQUE) AS THE OLD "BRUSH
STYLE" DC MOTORS

The DC-AC power inverter then functions as both

an "electronic commutator" ("full wave rectifier")
for the "Brushless DC" motors, and as a speed
controller
 T o p of F o r m

B ott o m of F o r m

Tr ai n b uff’ s dr e a m s str e et c ar
d e sir e will b e c o m e r e alit y
B Y N A T A LI E M U S U M E CI
T h e Br o o kl y n P a p er

P h ot o b y Eli z a b et h Gr a h a m

N e w p u s h: R a y H o w ell of t h e G o w a n u s C a n al C o m m u nit y D e v el o p m e n t C or p or a ti o n h a s t e a m e d u p wit h tr oll e y-

b a c ki n g l e g e n d B o b Di a m o n d t o r e vi v e Di a m o n d ’ s l o n g - e n vi si o n e d pl a n t o bri n g str e e t c ar s t o Br o o kl y n.

Si mil ar st ori es
C O L U M BI A ST W A T E R F R O N T : T u n n el vi si o n! R ail w a y l e g e n d, B o b Di a m o n d, s u e s cit y o v er tr o ll e y s
C O B BL E H I L L: Di a m o n d w o n ’t cr a c k! R ail w a y e x pl or er fi g h t s e vi c ti o n fr o m t u n n el h e di s c o v er e d
A tr a nsit b uff’s q ui x oti c t w o- d e c a d e-l o n g q u est t o c o n n e ct tr a n sit-str a p p e d R e d H o o k t o
D o w nt o w n b y tr oll e y is r e all y g oi n g t o h a p p e n t his ti m e, t h e r ail w a y-l o vi n g l e g e n d cl ai m e d this
w e e k.

B o b Di a m o n d, t h e fr ustr at e d str e et c ar a d v o c at e, w h o h as f ail e d t o bri n g tr oll e ys t o t h e tr a nsit

d es ert m or e ti m e t h e n w e w o ul d li k e t o r e m e m b er, s ai d his l o n gti m e dr e a m of a Br o o kl y n b ustli n g
wit h tr oll e ys will fi n all y c o m e tr u e b e c a us e t his ti m e h e’s p ar t n er e d wit h c o n cr et e tit a n J o h n
Q u a dr o z zi Jr. of G o w a n us B a y T er mi n al, a n d t h e G o w a n us C a n al C o m m u nit y D e v el o p m e nt C or p.

“I r e ali z e d n o w t h at n o m a n is a n isl a n d u nt o hi ms elf a n d t h at t h er e h as t o b e a n u m b er of

or g a ni z ati o ns t o m a k e t his h a p p e n, ” s ai d Di a m o n d, pr esi d e nt of t h e Br o o kl y n Hist ori c R ail w a y
Ass o ci ati o n. “I nst e a d of B o b Di a m o n d tr yi n g t o d o it al o n e, n o w I’ m b uil di n g a gr assr o ots
c o ns orti u m of ot h er or g a ni z ati o ns w h os e n ei g h b or h o o ds w o ul d b e n efit fr o m t h e i m pl e m e nt ati o n
of t h e str e et c ar pr oj e ct. ”

T h e G o w a n us C a n al C o m m u nit y D e v el o p m e nt C or p., will n o w t a k e o n t h e r ol e of p oliti c al a n d

p u bli c o utr e a c h f or Di a m o n d, w hil e Q u a dr o z zi h as h el p e d t h e r e d esi g n a n d e nl ar g e his tr a c k
r o ut e li n ki n g D o w nt o w n a n d t h e p e ni ns ul a.

Di a m o n d esti m at es t h at t h e i m pl e m e nt ati o n of t h e t w o-tr a c k str e et c ar pr oj e ct al o n g wit h t h e

e x c a v ati o n of t h e ol d r ail t u n n el u n d er Atl a nti c A v e n u e h e f a m o usl y dis c o v er e d i n t h e 1 9 8 0s
w o ul d c ost $ 5 0 milli o n, a n d h e will b e s e e ki n g t h at m o n e y t hr o u g h f e d er al gr a nts.

A n d Q u a dr o z zi c a n’t w ait t o g et it d o n e.

“It’s a bs ol ut el y n e c ess ar y a n d d esir a bl e, ” s ai d Q u a dr o z zi, w h o h as f oll o w e d Di a m o n d’s eff orts

d uri n g t h e p ast d e c a d e.

T h e c o n cr et e tit a n s ai d t h e pl a n m a k es a l ot of s e ns e c o nsi d eri n g Br o o kl y n’s hist or y wit h tr oll e y’s

ar o u n d t h e t ur n of t h e 2 0t h c e nt ur y, a n d wit h t h e li mit e d a c c ess t o R e d H o o k.

“ T hi s w o ul d b e t h e b est w a y t o d o it, ” h e s ai d.

R a y H o w ell, a m e m b er of t h e G o w a n us C a n al C o m m u nit y D e v el o p m e nt C or p., s ai d it j u m p e d o n

b o ar d aft er c o nsi d eri n g t h e e c o n o mi c b e n efit Br o o kl y n’s o nl y tr oll e y w o ul d bri n g t o t h e H o o k.

“ M ostl y e v er y b o d y b eli e v es t h at R e d H o o k n e e ds tr a ns p ort ati o n i m pr o v e m e nts i n or d er t o

d e v el o p i n a h e alt h y w a y, ” s ai d H o w ell.

Di a m o n d h as tri e d t o cr e at e a tr oll e y s er vi c e n u m er o us ti m es si n c e 1 9 8 9, b ut e a c h ti m e h e cl ai ms
h e w as h a m p er e d b y t h e cit y, a n d b y a c c us ati o ns t h at h e is diffi c ult t o w or k wit h. H e s u c c essf ull y
l ai d tr a c ks i n 1 9 9 9 f or a li n e i n R e d H o o k t h e n, o nl y t o s e e his dr e a ms cr u m bl e aft er t h e cit y c ut off
f u n di n g f or a l ar g er n et w or k of r ails. T h e n, i n 2 0 1 1, t h e D e p art m e nt of Tr a ns p ort ati o n s ai d t h at
bri n gi n g b a c k t h e ol d str e et c ars w o ul d b e t o o e x p e nsi v e .

Di a m o n d s a ys t h e r o ut e f or t h e pr o p os e d str e et c ar li n e w o ul d b e 1. 6 mil es st arti n g n e ar F ult o n

a n d Li vi n gst o n str e ets b y t h e B or o u g h H all s u b w a y h u b. It w o ul d tr e k d o w n B o er u m Pl a c e a n d t ur n
o nt o Atl a nti c A v e n u e. At t h at p oi nt, Di a m o n d w a nts t h e li n e t o m o v e u n d er gr o u n d t o w ar ds
C ol u m bi a Str e et t hr o u g h t h e L o n g Isl a n d R ail R o a d t u n n el t h at r u ns fr o m C o urt Str e et t o Hi c ks
Str e et.

T h e tr oll e y w o ul d e xit t h e Atl a nti c A v e n u e t u n n el w h e n it r e a c h es t h e B att er y T u n n el o n C ol u m bi a

Str e et. At t h at p oi nt, it w o ul d t ur n d o w n Ri c h ar ds Str e et, tr a v el al o n g B e ar d Str e et p assi n g I K E A,
t ur n b a c k o nt o C ol u m bi a Str e et, r u n al o n g B a y Str e et, a n d t ur n o nt o Cli nt o n Str e et u ntil hitti n g
H a milt o n A v e n u e w h er e it w o ul d tr a v el al o n g W. Ni nt h Str e et ri g ht u p u ntil its e n di n g p oi nt at t h e
S mit h- Ni nt h s u b w a y h u b.

Ar m e d wit h his n e w c o aliti o n, Di a m o n d t hi n gs h e’ll b e r e a d y t o s e e k cit y s u p p ort aft er a n e w

m a y or is el e ct e d.

“ W e h a v e a gr e at c h a n c e of m a ki n g t his h a p p e n wit h a n e w a d mi nistr ati o n, ” h e s ai d. “I t hi n k

R e d H o o k will fi n all y g et t h e p u bli c tr a ns p ort ati o n it d es er v es . ”

R e a c h r e p ort er N at ali e M us u m e ci at n m us u m e ci @ c n gl o c al. c o m or b y c alli n g ( 7 1 8) 2 6 0- 4 5 0 5.

F oll o w h er at t witt er. c o m /s o ul e d d o ut.
M a y or bl asts D ail y N e ws r e p ort o n str e etc ar
pl a n's bl urr y o utl o o k
B Y JI L LI A N J O R G E N S E N
N E W Y O R K D AI L Y N E W S U p d at e d: S at u r d a y, A p ril 7, 2 0 1 8, 1 2: 0 4 A M

A m o c k- u p d e si g n of t h e n e w st r e et c a r pl a n n e d t o s p a n f r o m B r o o kl y n t o Q u e e n s. ( T O D D M AI S E L/ N E W Y O R K D AI L Y N E W S)

M a y or d e Bl a si o h a d a Tr u m p - w ort h y t a ntr u m o v er “f a k e n e w s ” o n Fri d a y.

Hi z z o n er bl e w hi s st a c k d uri n g hi s w e e kl y r a di o a p p e ar a n c e — l a s hi n g o ut at t h e D a il y N e w s f or it s r e p orti n g o n t h e s h a k y
f u n di n g f or hi s pri c e y w at erfr o nt str e et c ar.
It w a s str ai g ht o ut of t h e pl a y b o o k of Pr e si d e nt Tr u m p — w h o al s o d eri d e s m e di a o utl et s w h e n t h e y pri nt f a ct s h e d o e s n’t
li k e.
T h e N e w s r e p ort e d T u e s d a y o n r e m ar k s fr o m D e p ut y M a y or A li ci a Gl e n, w h o s ai d t h e pr o p o s ed Br o o kl y n - Q u e e n s str e et c ar,
d u b b e d t h e B Q X, c o ul d b e s h el v e d if st u di e s s h o w it w o n’t b e a bl e t o p a y f or it s elf b y s p urri n g n e w d e v el o p m e nt s a n d
pr o p ert y t a x r e v e n u e.  
“ A s s u mi n g t h at it d o e s n ot p a y f or it s elf ... t h e n w e h a v e t o d e ci d e w h et h er or n ot t hi s i s t h e ri g ht u s e of c a pit al m o n e y f or a
tr a n s p ort ati o n pr oj e ct, ” Gl e n s ai d aft er h er t al k at N Y U R u di n C e nt er f or Tr a n s p ort ati o n P oli c y a n d M a n a g e m e nt.
B ut d e Bl a si o o n Fri d a y ri p p e d T h e N e w s f or r e p orti n g Gl e n’ s c o m m e nt s.
“ T hi s i s a n i n st a n c e w h er e a r e al di s s er vi c e h a s b e e n d o n e b y t h e m e di a, s p e cifi c all y t h e D ail y N e w s, i n t a ki n g c o m m e nt s t h at
pr e s e nt e d n o c h a n g e i n o ur p o siti o n w h at s o e v er a n d tr yi n g t o r efl e ct s o m et hi n g t h at’ s e ntir el y diff er e nt, ” h e f u m e d.
“I d o n’t u n d er st a n d h o w a j o ur n ali st d o e s t h at. I d o n’t u n d er st a n d h o w a j o ur n ali st g o e s o ut of t h eir w a y t o mi sr e pr e s e nt t h e
f a ct s, a n d I’ v e s e e n it w a y t o o oft e n l at el y at t h e D ail y N e w s. ”
T h e hi s s y fit w a s j u st t h e m a y or’ s l at e st a s s a ult o n N e w Y or k ’ s h o m et o w n n e w s p a p er f or a c c ur at el y r e p orti n g st ori e s h e
d o e s n’t li k e — s u c h a s T h e N e w s’ e x p o s é of a l a w s uit a g ai n st hi s n e w S c h o ol s C h a n c ell or Ri c h ar d C arr a n z a.
D e Bl a si o i n si st e d t h at C arr a n z a w a s n’t i n v ol v e d i n a s e x u al di s cri mi n ati o n l a w s uit fil e d b y a C alif or ni a t e a c h er — d e s pit e
e x pli cit all e g ati o n s i n t h e s uit t h at C arr a n z a cr e at e d a h o stil e e n vir o n m e nt i n t h e s c h o ol di stri ct w h er e h e w a s
s u p eri nt e n d e nt.

“I d o n’t u n d e r st a n d h o w a j o u r n ali st d o e s t h at," M a y o r d e Bl a si o t ol d B ri a n L e h re r. "I d o n’t u n d e r st a n d h o w a j o u r n ali st

g o e s o ut of t h ei r w a y t o mi s r e p r e s e nt t h e f a ct s, a n d I’ v e s e e n it w a y t o o oft e n l at el y at t h e D ail y N e w s.” ( B A R R Y
WI L LI A M S/ F O R N E W Y O R K D AI L Y N E W S)
D e s pit e t h e m a y or’ s irrit ati o n wit h T h e N e w s’ r e p orti n g, d e Bl a si o di d n’t p oi nt t o a n yt hi n g s p e cifi c i n t h e B Q X st or y t h at w a s
i n a c c ur at e.
A n d Cit y H all h a s b e e n w ar y of t h e s elf -fi n a n ci n g pl a n f or t h e B Q X f or at l e a st a y e ar. T h e N e w s r e p ort e d o n a n i nt er n al
m e m o i n 2 0 1 7 t h at o utli n e d t h e a str o n o mi c al c o st s of m o vi n g  u n d er gr o u n d utiliti e s a n d t h e p o s si bilit y t h at t a x d oll ar s fr o m
hi g h er r e al e st at e v al u e s m a y n ot pr o vi d e “ s uffi ci e nt r e v e n u e t o f u n d t h e e ntir e pr oj e ct a s ori gi n all y st at e d. ”
K P M G w a s hir e d b y t h e cit y t o fi g ur e o ut t h e fi n a n ci n g. It s a u di t w a s s u p p o s e d t o b e d o n e l a st y e ar — b ut still i s n’t fi ni s h e d.
D e Bl a si o c o nti n u e d t o d ef e n d t h e B Q X Fri d a y, s a yi n g Gl e n w a s j u st di s c u s si n g “t h e c o m pl e xiti e s of a m aj or u n d ert a ki n g li k e
t hi s o n e ” b ut i n si sti n g it w o ul d b e “ v er y, v er y v al u a bl e ” f or t h e cit y.
T h e m a y or di d n’t r e v e al w h at t h e cit y w o ul d d o if t h e s elf -f u n d i n g t a x r e v e n u e di d n’t p a n o ut. B ut h e di d s a y t h e pr oj e ct will
r e q uir e f e d er al f u n di n g n o m att er w h at.
“It’ s a bi g c o m pli c at e d e n d e a v or, a n d it’ s c ert ai nl y g oi n g t o r e q uir e s o m e f e d er al s u p p ort a s w e ll, w hi c h i s s o m et hi n g I’ m v er y
h o p ef ul a b o ut p arti c ul arl y b e c a u s e of t h e pr e s e n c e of S e n. ( C h u c k) S c h u m er i n t h e S e n at e a n d t h e r ol e h e pl a y s, ” d e Bl a si o
s ai d.
S c h u m er’ s d a u g ht er, J e s si c a S c h u m er, i s e x e c uti v e dir e ct or of t h e Fri e n d s of t h e B Q X. T h e or g a ni z ati o n d e cli n e d t o c o m m e nt.
T h e m a y or r oll e d o ut hi s pl a n s f or t h e str e et c ar i n F e br u ar y 2 0 1 6. T h e cit y h a s y et t o e v e n d e ci d e o n a n e x a ct r o ut e.
I n r e s p o n s e t o a s eri e s of q u e sti o n s a b o ut t h e l o n g - d el a y e d pr oj e ct, t h e m a y or’ s o ffi c e s e nt a t w o - s e nte n c e st at e m e nt t h at
s u g g e st e d f e d er al f u n di n g mi g ht n ot b e r e q uir e d aft er all.

T h e m a y o r r oll e d o ut hi s pl a n s f o r t h e st r e et c a r i n F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6. T h e cit y h a s y et t o e v e n d e ci d e o n a n e x a ct r o ut e. ( A P)

“ T h e m a y or c all s it a s h e s e e s it, a n d w h at h e s e e s i s t h at t h e B Q X c a n bri n g j o b s a n d a br a n d n e w, gr e e n tr a n s p ort ati o n

s y st e m t o gr o wi n g a n d tr a n sit - h u n gr y Br o o kl y n a n d Q u e e n s n ei g h b or h o o d s, ” s p o k e s w o m a n M eli s s a Gr a c e s ai d. “ Wit h a
bl o c k - b y - bl o c k st u d y, w e’ll d et er mi n e t h e b e st w a y f or w ar d — i n cl u d i n g if f e d er al or ot h er p u bli c f u n d s ar e n e e d e d. ”
J o n Or c utt of t h e Tr a n sit C e nt er s ai d t h at a pr oj e ct t h e si z e a n d s c o p e of t h e B Q X r e q uir e s t h e cit y t o b e o ut a cti v el y
di s c u s si n g t h e pr oj e ct wit h a d v o c at e s a n d c o m m u niti e s — s o m et hi n g h e s ai d h e si m pl y h a s n’t s e e n.
“It’ s r e all y bi z arr e, ” Or c utt s a i d of t h e m a y or’ s r e s p o n s e t o t h e B Q X st or y. “ W e h a v e n’t h e ar d a t hi n g a b o ut t h e pr oj e ct f or a
y e ar, a n d t h e l a st t hi n g w e h e ar d w a s a n i nt er n al m e m o t h at c a m e o ut, t h at y o u g u y s r e p ort e d, t h at s ai d t h e t hi n g w a s
b a si c all y u n b uil d a bl e a n d w o ul d n ot p a y f or it s elf. ”
If it c a n’t p a y f or it s elf, Or c utt s ai d, u si n g f e d er al or cit y m o n e y w o ul d b e a t o u gh s ell — b e c a u s e t h o s e billi o n s of d oll ar s
c o ul d b e b ett er s p e nt b ol st eri n g s u b w a y s or b u s s er vi c e, w h i c h h e n ot e d dr o p p e d b y 6 % i n 2 0 1 7. T h e pr o p o s e d c orri d or f or
t h e B Q X h a s l o w b u s ri d er s hi p a s it i s — a n M T A b u s al o n g t h e Willi a m s b ur g w at erfr o nt l a u n c h e d i n 2 0 1 0 g et s f e w er t h a n
1, 0 0 0 ri d er s a d a y, h e s ai d.
“ P e o pl e w a nt t o g o t o M a n h att a n. T h e y’r e n ot g oi n g u p a n d d o w n t h e w at erfr o nt, ” Or c utt e x pl ai n e d.
A s T h e N e w s h a s pr e vi o u sl y r e p ort e d, t h e B Q X s er v e d a s a “ m o n e y tr ai n ” f or d e Bl a si o — d e v el o p er s wit h pr oj e ct s al o n g t h e
r o ut e fl o o d e d hi s f a v orit e c a u s e s wit h c a s h.
D e Bl a si o h a s l o n g i n si st e d t h e pr oj e ct w o ul d n’t j u st b e a n a m e nit y f or l u x ur y hi g h ri s e s al o n g t h e w at er, b ut a vi a bl e o pti o n
f or 4 0, 0 0 0 N Y C H A r e si d e nt s i n t h e are a. B ut a ri d e o n t h e B Q X w o n’t c o m e wit h a fr e e tr a n sf er t o t h e M T A’ s s u b w a y s or b u s e s
t o g et p e o pl e b e y o n d t h e w at erfr o nt a n d criti c s h a v e ar g u e d t h at l o w -i n c o m e w o n’t b e a bl e t o aff or d t w o f ar e s.
T o m A g n otti, a pr of e s s or of ur b a n p oli c y a n d pl a n ni n g at H u nt er C oll e g e a n d B Q X criti c, h a s ar g u e d i n t h e p a st t h at t h e
tr oll e y will h a st e n g e ntrifi c ati o n, si n c e it s e ntir e pr e mi s e i s b a s e d o n r ai si n g t h e v al u e of pr o p ert y al o n g it s r o ut e.
A s k e d Fri d a y if h e h a d a m o m e nt t o di s c u s s t h e B Q X, A g n o tti cr a c k e d: “ D o e s a n y b o d y b eli e v e i n t h at a n y m or e ? ”  

Si g n u p f or B R E A KI N G N E W S E m ails
E nt e r y o u r e m ail Si g n U p
p ri v a c y p oli c y

© 2 0 1 6 N e w Y or k D ail y N e w s
 T o R e c ei v e Pr e s. Tr u m p' s
Di s cr eti o n ar y
f e d er al " S e e d M o n e y"
( 2 0 % - 2 5 % of pr oj e ct c o st) t h e B Q X M u st b e

" Pri v ati z e d" - a Cit y I s s u e d D e si g n / B uil d / O p er at e

Fr a n c hi s e t o a Pri v at e E ntit y, wit h t h e Pr oj e ct

O v er s e e n b y t h e Cit y
 R o b ert: T h e y all c o nti n u e t o
mi s s t h e p oi nt...
N o tr a n sit li n e, e x c e pt p o s si bl y t h e S a n Di e g o -
Tij u a n a li g ht r ail, c o v er s it s o p er ati n g c o st.

Li k e t h e e xt e n si o n of t h e # 7, t h e a d diti o n al r e al
e st at e t a x e s (t a k e n o v er 3 0 y e ar s) fr o m t h e
c urr e ntl y - u n u s e d all o w a bl e fl o or ar e a ( wit h o ut
r e z o ni n g) if b uilt i n t h e t errit or y s er v e d b y t h e B Q X
will m or e t h a n p a y f or d e bt s er vi c e o n t h e b o n d s
i s s u e d t o c o v er t h e c a pit al c o st of t h e li n e.

AL E X
Source:
The Story of New York's Subways Reprinted from the Boston News Bureau, 1914, pg 6.
This particular article was originally published in the Boston News Bureau on
January 14, 1914.
N Y C T B us S pee ds
W e e k d a y s 4 p. m. - 6 p. m.

S p e e d ( m p h)
0 - 2. 0 0
2. 0 1 - 4. 0 0
4. 0 1 - 6. 0 0
6. 0 1 - 8. 0 0
8. 0 1 - 1 0. 0 0
1 0. 0 1 +

11 77
T R A N SI T L A N E S & T R A N SI T W A Y S

C e n t e r Tr a n si t L a n e

2
1
4

C e n t e r t r a n si t l a n e s m a y b e wi d e r t o r e d u c e f ri c ti o n a n d ri s k o f si d e s wi p e c r a s h e s

C e n t e r t r a n si t l a n e s a r e t y pi c all y
u s e d o n m aj o r r o u t e s wi t h f r e q u e n t
h e a d w a y s, a n d w h e r e t r a ffi c
c o n g e s ti o n m a y si g ni fi c a n tl y a ff e c t
r eli a bili t y. T h e y al s o r e d u c e t h e
c h a n c e o f c o n fli c t s wi t h p a r k e d
v e hi cl e s. C e n t e r t r a n si t l a n e s c a n
pl a y a k e y r ol e i n c r e a ti n g hi g h - q u ali t y
t r a n si t s e r vi c e. W hil e t r a di ti o n all y
f o u n d o n s t r e e t c a r s t r e e t s, c e n t e r
t r a n si t l a n e s c a n b e u s e d wi t h b u s e s
a s w ell.
Wi t h l e f t t u r n r e s t ri c ti o n s a n d mi ni m al
s e p a r a ti o n, c e n t e r t r a n si t l a n e s c a n b e
e ff e c ti v el y c o n v e r t e d t o t r a n si t w a y s.
A P P LI C A TI O N
D e di c at e d c e n t er tr a n si t l a n e s ar e hi g hl y
a p pli c a bl e t o c e n t er -r u n ni n g s tr e e t c ar s
a n d li g h t r ail li n e s, i n cl u di n g b o t h n e w
a n d e xi s ti n g r ail li n e s.
C e n t er tr a n si t l a n e s c a n b e a p pli e d a s
p ar t of t h e i m pl e m e n t ati o n of a B R T li n e
or o t h er b u s i m pr o v e m e n t s, o n a n y b u s
r o u t e s wi t h s ui t a bl e s t ati o n s.
C e n t er tr a n si t l a n e s c a n b e a p pli e d t o
b o t h b u s a n d r ail li n e s w h er e tr af fi c
c o n g e s ti o n af f e c t s r eli a bili t y, a n d ar e
of t e n m or e ef f e c ti v e t h a n ri g h t - si d e
l a n e s.
B E N E FI T S
C e n t er -r u n ni n g l a n e s s er v e b u s e s
a n d s tr e e t c ar s at p o t e n ti all y v er y hi g h
c a p a ci t y a n d v ol u m e, w hil e i m pr o vi n g
t h e p e d e s tri a n a n d p a s s e n g er
e x p eri e n c e of t h e s tr e e t.
C e n t er tr a n si t l a n e s eli mi n at e c o n fli c t s
wi t h dr o p - of f s, d eli v eri e s, or ill e g al
p ar ki n g al o n g t h e r o a d w a y e d g e, a s
w ell a s wi t h bi c y cli s t s a n d s o m e t ur ni n g
m o v e m e n t s. C o m bi n e d wi t h l ef t t ur n
r e s tri c ti o n s or l e a di n g tr a n si t i n t er v al s,
a n d all - d o or b o ar di n g, c e n t er tr a n si t
l a n e s a d dr e s s a wi d e v ari e t y of s o ur c e s
of tr a n si t d el a y.

C e n t er tr a n si t l a n e s c a n h a v e a n i m p a c t
si mil ar t o t h at of a tr a n si t w a y, b u t d o e s
n o t r e q uir e a s m u c h i n v e s t m e n t, ti m e, or
s p a c e t o i m pl e m e n t.

E xi s ti n g c e n t er -r u n ni n g s tr e e t c ar r o u t e s
c a n a c hi e v e s af e t y a n d tr a v el ti m e
b e n e fi t s fr o m d e di c at e d i nfr a s tr u c t ur e.

C o m pl e m e n t ar y tr e at m e n t s i n cl u d e
s t o p c o n s oli d ati o n, all - d o or b o ar di n g,
a n d tr a n si t si g n al pri ori t y.

11 8

C O N SI D E R A TI O N S
I n t er s e c ti o n s r e q uir e t ur ni n g pr o vi si o n s
t o a v oi d c o n fli c t s wi t h t h e t hr o u g h
m o v e m e n t s of tr a n si t v e hi cl e s. A
c o m bi n ati o n of s elf - e nf or ci n g d e si g n
a n d e nf or c e m e n t, i d e all y a u t o m at e d, i s
n e c e s s ar y t o e n s ur e t h e ef f e c ti v e n e s s of
d e di c at e d c e n t er b u s l a n e s.
St o p s f or c e n t er l a n e s m a y n e e d m or e
s tr e e t s p a c e t h a n c ur b si d e l a n e s, si n c e
b o ar di n g i sl a n d s m u s t b e pl a c e d i n t h e
s tr e e t. G e n er all y a mi ni m u m wi d t h of
2 8 f e e t i s n e e d e d f or tr a n si t l a n e s a n d
s t ati o n s at s t o p l o c ati o n s, a n d 2 2 – 2 4
f e e t i n o t h er s e c ti o n s.
Pl at f or m c o n fi g ur ati o n m u s t b e
c o m p ati bl e wi t h tr a n si t v e hi cl e
c h ar a c t eri s ti c s —l ef t - si d e b o ar di n g
b u s e s m a y b e m or e e x p e n si v e t o
pr o c ur e.
C e n t er pl at f or m s m a y r e d u c e o v er all
s p a c e o c c u pi e d b y s t ati o n s, t h o u g h
si d e - b o ar di n g i sl a n d s c a n h a v e s p a c e
b e n e fi t s w h e n s t ati o n s ar e s pli t a cr o s s
a n i n t er s e c ti o n.
Ri g h t - b o ar di n g B R T s t ati o n s all o w t h e
u s e of t y pi c al r olli n g s t o c k, w hi c h of t e n
r u n o n s tr e e t s wi t h o u t d e di c at e d l a n e s
at t h e b e gi n ni n g or e n d s of t h eir r o u t e s.
C RI TI C A L
S oli d w hi t e li n e s or d o u bl e w hi t e
1
li n e s m u s t b e s tri p e d al o n g t h e
ri g h t si d e of t h e tr a n si t l a n e, al o n g wi t h
B U S O N L Y or L R T O N L Y p a v e m e n t
m ar ki n g s ( M U T C D 3 D - 01 ).
B o ar di n g i sl a n d s m u s t b e u s e d f or m o s t
tr a n si t v e hi cl e t y p e s t o cr e at e a c c e s si bl e
b o ar di n g c o n di ti o n s.
T R A N SI T L A N E S
If a d di ti o n al s p a c e i s a v ail a bl e, a
RE C O M ME N DE D
b uf f er s h o ul d b e m ar k e d or v er ti c al
d eli n e ati o n pl a c e d b e t w e e n t h e b u s
C e n t er -r u n ni n g l a n e s s h o ul d b e
2 l a n e a n d t h e a dj a c e n t mi x e d -tr af fi c l a n e
d e si g n at e d u si n g r e d / t err a c o t t a
t o pr o vi d e a d di ti o n al cl e ar a n c e a n d
c ol or t o e m p h a si z e t h e l a n e a n d d e t er
p er mi t e v e n t u al c o n s tr u c ti o n of v er ti c al
dri v er s fr o m e n t eri n g i t.
el e m e n t s.
A c e n t er b u s or s tr e e t c ar l a n e s h o ul d b e
11 –1 2 f e e t wi d e w h e n pl a c e d a dj a c e n t t o O P TI O N A L
a n o p p o si n g tr a n si t l a n e.
S e p ar ati o n wi t h s of t ( e. g. r u m bl e s tri p s )
T o a v oi d c o n fli c t s wi t h c e n t er - or h ar d ( e. g. c o n cr e t e c ur b s ) b arri er s m a y
3
r u n ni n g tr a n si t v e hi cl e s, l ef t t ur n s b e u s e d t o r e d u c e e n cr o a c h m e n t fr o m
s h o ul d b e pr o hi bi t e d, or a c c o m m o d at e d g e n er al tr af fi c. I n s t all r e fl e c ti v e v er ti c al
u si n g l ef t -t ur n l a n e s a n d d e di c at e d el e m e n t s t o e n h a n c e vi si bili t y at ni g h t.
si g n al p h a s e s. L ef t t ur n s fr o m t h e c e n t er
b u s l a n e a d d si g ni fi c a n t s af e t y a n d T h e mi x e d -tr af fi c l a n e m a y tr a n si ti o n
o p er ati o n al i s s u e s f or hi g h -fr e q u e n c y t o t h e ri g h t b ef or e a s t o p a n d t o t h e l ef t
b u s s er vi c e, b u t l ef t t ur n s m a y b e af t er a s t o p, cr e ati n g r o o m f or p ar ki n g
p er mi t t e d at ti m e s of d a y wi t h l o n g er a n d a t ur n l a n e.
h e a d w a y s.
C o m pl e m e n t c e n t er tr a n si t l a n e s wi t h
D e si g n s s h o ul d a n ti ci p at e tr a n si t all - d o or b o ar di n g a n d r el at e d f ar e
v e hi cl e s o p er ati n g at 2 5 m p h, wi t h c oll e c ti o n s tr at e gi e s, a s w ell a s tr a n si t
hi g h er d e si g n s p e e d s o nl y if l o c al si g n al s tr at e gi e s.
s p e e d li mi t s p er mi t t h e m. C ur v e s m a y
b e r e g ul at e d f or m u c h l o w er s p e e d s,
t y pi c all y 1 0 –1 5 m p h, p er mi t ti n g v e hi cl e s
t o pr o c e e d s af el y wi t hi n t h e s a m e l a n e
wi d t h a s pr o vi d e d o n s tr ai g h t s e c ti o n s of
t h e b u s l a n e. H o w e v er, i t i s d e sir a bl e f or
h ori z o n t al tr a n si ti o n s of t h e tr a n si t l a n e
t o b e d e si g n e d wi t h gr a d u al tr a n si ti o n s,
c o n si s t e n t wi t h g e n er al o p er ati n g
s p e e d s o n t h e c orri d or.
C h u r c h S t., S A N F R A N C I S C O, C A
11 9

C RI TI C A L
Pl at f or m m u s t b e ali g n e d t o s tr e e t c ar
tr a c k s wi t h a p pr o pri at e l at er al cl e ar a n c e
f or l e v el b o ar di n g. St o p s f or r ail v e hi cl e s
m a y r e q uir e a 9 -f o o t m o vi n g l a n e n e x t
t o t h e i sl a n d, or o t h er tr a c k or l a n e
r e ali g n m e n t t o bri n g v e hi cl e s cl o s e t o
t h e pl at f or m.
C e n t er i sl a n d pl at f or m s m u s t b e ei t h er
l e v el or n e ar -l e v el b o ar di n g. 2 4 -i n c h
wi d e d e t e c t a bl e w ar ni n g s tri p s s h o ul d
b e pl a c e d al o n g t h e e n tir e b o ar di n g
e d g e of t h e pl at f or m t o i n di c at e v e hi cl e
p o si ti o n.
D e t e c t a bl e w ar ni n g s tri p s m u s t b e
pl a c e d o n b o t h si d e s of e v er y fl u s h
p e d e s tri a n cr o s si n g.
Pl at f or m a c c e s s r a m p m a y h a v e a
1 l o c ati o n s i n t h e r o a d w a y, e s p e ci all y
m a xi m u m sl o p e of 1:1 2 at a
cr o s s w al k or o t h er cr o s si n g p oi n t, at t h e
si d e w al k a n d o n t o t h e pl at f or m ( A D A
St d. 4 0 5. 2, 81 0. 2. 2 ).
S T O P C O N FI G U R A TI O N S
A n a c c e s si bl e b o ar di n g ar e a, t y pi c all y
RE C O M ME N DE D
8 f e e t wi d e b y 5 f e e t l o n g, m u s t b e
pr o vi d e d t o p er mi t b o ar di n g m a n e u v er s
R aili n g s s h all b e i n s t all e d al o n g t h e
b y a p er s o n u si n g a w h e el c h air ( A D A
t hr o u g h l a n e t o t h e ri g h t of t h e i sl a n d
St d. 81 0. 2. 2 ) ( s e e p a g e 6 7 ), g e n er all y
t o c o n tr ol p e d e s tri a n a c c e s s a n d
r e q uiri n g i sl a n d s t o b e at mi ni m u m 8
di s c o ur a g e d a n g er o u s cr o s si n g s.
f e e t wi d e. I sl a n d s wi t h r aili n g s al o n g
C h a n n eli z e p e d e s tri a n m o v e m e n t s
t h e r e ar si d e will r e q uir e a n e x tr a f o o t of
t o pl atf or m e n tr a n c e s wi t h e n h a n c e d
s p a c e, m a ki n g t h e t o t al wi d t h 9 f e e t.
cr o s si n g tr e at m e n t s. R aili n g s m u s t
n o t i m p e d e a c c e s si bl e wi d t h, u s u all y
R e fl e c ti v e si g n a g e or o t h er vi si bl e
2 e x t e n di n g t h e i sl a n d wi d t h t o at l e a s t 9
r ai s e d el e m e n t o n t h e l e a din g
f e e t.
c or n er ( b a c k l ef t c or n er ) of t h e i sl a n d.
K E E P L E F T or K E E P RI G H T ( M U T C D
F or c e n t er - b o ar di n g i sl a n d s s er vi n g b o t h
R 4 - 8 ) or o bj e c t m ar k er ( O M - 3 ) si g n s
b u s a n d r ail, n e ar -l e v el h ei g h t ( 8 –1 2
m a y b e u s e d.
i n c h e s ) i s pr ef err e d, a s b u s e s ar e n o t
t y pi c all y a bl e t o a c c e s s 1 4 -i n c h l e v el
E n s ur e t h at p e d e s tri a n r ef u g e i sl a n d s
b o ar di n g h ei g h t s.
cr o s si n g tr a n si t w a y s ar e wi d e e n o u g h
t o all o w gr o u p s of p e o pl e t o w ai t,
At i n t er s e c ti o n s, i n s t all r ef u g e
p ar ti c ul arl y n e ar s t ati o n s. Di s c o ur a g e 3
i sl a n d ti p s at l e a s t 6 f e e t wid e t o
p e d e s tri a n s fr o m w ai ti n g i n u n s af e
pr o vi d e p e d e s tri a n s pr o t e c ti o n i n t h e
cr o s s w al k.
n e ar r ail w a y s. W h er e s p a ci n g b e t w e e n
p ar all el tr a c k s pr o vi d e s n o cl e ar z o n e
b e t w e e n p a s si n g L R V s, cl e arl y i n di c at e
O P TI O N A L
t h e d a n g er ar e a a n d di s c o ur a g e
p e d e s tri a n s fr o m w ai ti n g i n t hi s ar e a.
4 B o ar di n g i sl a n d e x t e n si o n s c a n b e
u s e d f or gr e e n i nfr a s tr u c t ur e,
i n cl u di n g r ai n g ar d e n s a n d o t h er
s t or m w at er r e t e n ti o n f a cili ti e s.
83

DI S C U S SI O N
O n b u s y ur b a n s tr e e t s, tr a n si t l a n e s ar e
t h e b uil di n g bl o c k s t o pr o vi d e r eli a bl e
a n d r o b u s t tr a n si t s er vi c e. C o n ti n u o u s
r u n ni n g w a y s yi el d t h e gr e at e s t b e n e fi t
t o tr a n si t o p er ati o n s, a n d c a n of t e n b e
i m pl e m e n t e d wi t h li t tl e i m p a c t, or e v e n
p o si ti v e i m p a c t, o n g e n er al tr af fi c fl o w.
Tr a n si t l a n e s ar e i m pl e m e n t e d b y
r e p ur p o si n g g e n er al tr af fi c l a n e s
or p ar ki n g l a n e s a n d ar e u s u all y
i m pl e m e n t e d o n s tr e e t s t h at al s o
a c c o m m o d at e pri v at e m o t or v e hi cl e s i n
at l e a s t o n e dir e c ti o n.
Tr a n si t l a n e s ar e fl e xi bl e. T h e y c a n b e
d e di c at e d at all ti m e s, or o nl y d uri n g
p e a k ti m e s or d a yli g h t h o ur s. F ull -ti m e
l a n e s b e t t er s er v e tr a n si t p er f or m a n c e
a n d vi si bili t y, b u t p e a k - p eri o d l a n e s m a y
b e a p pr o pri at e i n s p e ci fi c c o n t e x t s.
A P P LI C A TI O N
Tr a n si t l a n e s ar e br o a dl y a p pli c a bl e o n
d o w n t o w n a n d c orri d or s tr e e t s w h er e
tr a n si t i s d el a y e d b y c o n g e s ti o n a n d
c ur b si d e a c ti vi ti e s.
E x a m pl e o f s t r e e t wi t h c e n t e r t r a n si t l a n e s a n d i n - s t r e e t i sl a n d s t o p
Str e e t s wi t h hi g h m o t or v e hi cl e tr af fi c
v ol u m e a n d c o n g e s ti o n ar e g o o d
c a n di d at e s f or d e di c at e d l a n e s, w hi c h
or g a ni z e tr af fi c fl o w a n d i m pr o v e
o n -ti m e p er f or m a n c e a n d tr a n si t
ef fi ci e n c y.
S m all er s tr e e t s m a y b e c o n v er t e d t o
tr a n si t - pri ori t y or o t h er s h ar e d tr a n si t
s tr e e t s.
C O N SI D E R A TI O N S
T h e d e ci si o n t o d e di c at e a l a n e t o
tr a n si t o n a m ultil a n e s tr e e t s h o ul d b e
b a s e d o n a c o m bi n ati o n of f a c t or s, wi t h
s p e ci al e m p h a si s o n tr a n si t v ol u m e a n d
d e m a n d, i n cl u di n g f u t ur e d e m a n d, a n d
t h e p o t e n ti al t o r e d u c e t o t al p er s o n
d el a y or t o li mi t i n cr e a s e s t o a v er a g e
tr a v el ti m e o v er b o t h s h or t a n d l o n g
t er m a n al y si s p eri o d s.
W hil e m o t or v e hi cl e tr af fi c c a p a ci t y or
tr a v el ti m e i s o n e of m a n y s u p p or ti n g
c o n si d er ati o n s, d e di c ati n g l a n e s t o
tr a n si t s h o ul d n o t b e r ul e d o u t o n t h e
b a si s of a n y si n gl e f a c t or. V e hi cl e l e v el
of s er vi c e i s n o t a n a c c e p t a bl e pl a n ni n g
f a c t or w h e n vi e w e d i n i s ol ati o n, a n d i t s
u s e s h o ul d b e li mi t e d t o u n d er s t a n di n g
q u e u e l e n g t h s a n d o t h er c h a n g e s wi t h
p o t e n ti al n e t w or k i m p a c t s.
T R A N SI T L A N E S
Tr a n si t L a n e s
I t i s e s s e n ti al t o m a n a g e t ur n s
a cr o s s tr a n si t f a cili ti e s, s o m e ti m e s
a c c o m m o d ati n g t ur n s i n w a y s t h at
r e d u c e tr a n si t d el a y s, a n d s o m e ti m e s
pr o hi bi ti n g t h e m or o t h er wi s e m a n a gi n g
t h eir i m p a c t s. A s o n o t h er m ulti -l a n e
ur b a n s tr e e t s, t ur ni n g m o v e m e n t s
t y pi c all y i n v ol v e c o n fli c t s wi t h p e o pl e
w al ki n g a n d bi ki n g a n d wi t h o t h er tr af fi c
fl o w s, a n d r e q uir e s p e ci al c o n si d er ati o n.
Tr a n si t tr a v el ti m e v ari a bili t y a n d
r eli a bili t y o v er t h e d a y ar e a g o o d
i n di c at or of t h e p o t e n ti al b e n e fi t s of
tr a n si t l a n e s, e s p e ci all y if b o ar di n g s ar e
c o n si s t e n t t hr o u g h o u t.
M ar ki n g s, si g n a g e, a n d e nf or c e m e n t
m ai n t ai n t h e i n t e gri t y of tr a n si t l a n e s.
A u t o m at e d el e c tr o ni c e nf or c e m e n t,
i n cl u di n g li c e n s e - pl at e r e a d er s or vi d e o,
i s pr ef er a bl e t o l a b or -i n t e n si v e p atr ol s.
111
 " Sil e n c e d" Str e et c ar Tr a c k

S o ur c e:
F a m o u s Fir st F a ct s, b y J o s e p h N at h a n K a n e, 1 9 6 4, p 5 7 8
"T h e r a pi dl y gr o wi n g m e g a cit y of
S h e n z h e n, C hi n a [ p o p. 1 2. 5 milli o n], w a s
c h o k e d wit h di e s el p oll uti o n i n t h e e arl y
2 0 1 0 s.

T h o u g h b us es w er e j u st 0. 5
p er c e nt of t h e cit y’ s v e hi cl e s,
t h e y w er e r e s p o n si bl e f or 2 0
p er c e nt of t h e air p oll uti o n."
S o ur c e: w w w. V o x. c o m / e n er g y - a n d - e n vir o n m e nt /,
A pril 1 7, 2 0 1 8
J ul y 6, 2 0 1 7 [ C o m m u nit y I n p ut R e c ei v e d at Br o o kl y n C B 8 X n C mt e, J u n e 2 7 2 0 1 7 ]
h el ps s
" P C C" Str e et c ar, U. S. M a n uf a ct ur e d, Cir c a 1 9 3 6 - 1 9 5 1
"1 0 0 %" L o w Fl o or M o d er n Str e et c ar
 N O T E: R ail V e hi cl e M U S T b e A bl e t o
N e g oti at e 3 6 F o ot ( 1 1 m) R a di u s C ur v e s
St u N o b o d y C ar e s A b o ut
A n ot s o r a n d o m c oll e cti o n of o b s e r v ati o n s a b o ut t hi n g s y o u s h o ul d c a r e a b o ut

W h e n T h e N e w Y o r k Cit y S u b w a y O p e n e d O n
O ct o b e r 2 7, 1 9 0 4
2 0 C o ol F a c t s A b o u t T h e N e w Y o r k Ci t y S u b w a y W h e n I t W a s B r a n d N e w

1 0 9 y e a r s a g o o n O ct o b e r 2 7, 1 9 0 4, t h e N e w Y o r k Cit y
S u b w a y w a s o p e n e d t o a n e nt h u si a sti c p u bli c wit h g r e at
f a nf a r e a n d a c c ol a d e s.

N e w Y o r k e r’ s w e r e p r o u d of t hi s e n gi n e e ri n g s e n s ati o n
a n d it s f e at u r e s w e r e hi g hli g ht e d i n n e w s p a p e r s a n d
m a g a zi n e s a r o u n d t h e w o rl d.

O n t h e o c c a si o n of t h e o p e ni n g, t h e N e w Y or k E v e ni n g
“ W h at T h e S u b w a y M e a n s T o N e w Y or k” N e w Y or k E v e ni n g
W orl d p u bli s h e d a “ S u b w a y S o u v e ni r S p e ci al” t o
W orl d O ct o b er 2 7, 1 9 0 4 ( cli c k t o e nl ar g e)
c o m m e m o r at e t h e e v e nt. Wit h a rti cl e s d e s c ri bi n g m a n y
a s p e ct s of t h e s u b w a y, t h e s p e ci al i s s u e c o m pil e d a li st
of 1 0 0 f a ct s a b o ut t h e s u b w a y. H e r e a r e s o m e of t h e
b ett e r o n e s:

1. I n 1 8 9 4 t h e p e o pl e of N e w Y o r k v ot e d t o c r e at e a t u n n el f o r a s u b w a y w hi c h w a s t o b e o w n e d b y t h e
cit y. Aft e r si x y e a r s of p r eli mi n a r y w o r k b y t h e R a pi d T r a n sit C o m mi s si o n, bi d s w e r e a c c e pt e d t o b uil d a n d
o p e r at e t h e s u b w a y o n N o v e m b e r 1 5, 1 8 9 9.

2. O nl y t w o c o m p a ni e s bi d f o r t h e j o b. J o h n B. M c D o n al d a n d t h e O n d e r d o n k C o n st r u cti o n C o m p a n y.
M c D o n al d’ s bi d w a s a c c e pt e d J a n u a r y 1 5, 1 9 0 0.

3. M c D o n al d p r o p o s e d t o c o n st r u ct t h e t u n n el s f o r $ 3 5 milli o n wit h a n a d diti o n al $ 2, 7 5 0, 0 0 0 f o r st ati o n

sit e s, t e r mi n al s a n d ot h e r i n ci d e nt al s.

4. T h e m o n e y f o r t h e c o n st r u cti o n w a s l o a n e d b y t h e cit y. It w a s t o b e p ai d b a c k wit h i nt e r e st i n ft y y e a r s.

5. M c D o n al d o r g a ni z e d a c o n st r u cti o n c o m p a n y wit h A u g u st B el m o nt a s it s p r e si d e nt. A n ot h e r c o m p a n y

wit hi n t hi s c o m p a n y, t h e I nt e r b o r o u g h R a pi d T r a n sit C o m p a n y (I R T) w a s o r g a ni z e d t o o p e r at e t h e s u b w a y.
 6. T h e I R T h a d t h e p ri vil e g e of o p e r ati n g t h e s y st e m f o r 5 0 y e a r s, wit h a n o pti o n f o r a 2 5 y e a r r e n e w al.
W h e n t h e s u b w a y p a s s e d i nt o t h e h a n d s of t h e p e o pl e, t h e e q ui p m e nt w a s t o b e p u r c h a s e d b y t h e cit y at
a v al u ati o n t o b e d et e r mi n e d b y a r bit r ati o n.

7. M c D o n al d s u bl et t h e c o n st r u cti o n t o t hi rt e e n s u b- c o nt r a ct o r s. G r o u n d w a s b r o k e n M a r c h 2 5, 1 9 0 0 i n
f r o nt of Cit y H all.

8. M c D o n al d pl e d g e d t o h a v e t h e s u b w a y r e a d y i n f o u r a n d a h alf y e a r s. T h e a ct u al ti m e s p e nt o n
c o n st r u cti o n w a s o nl y 1 2 7 5 d a y s.

9. T h e n al a m o u nt s p e nt w a s j u st $ 4 0 milli o n.

1 0. T h e r e w e r e 1 2 0 li v e s l o st d u ri n g t h e c o n st r u cti o n.

1 1. T h e a v e r a g e n u m b e r of m e n e m pl o y e d p e r d a y w a s
4, 6 6 1.

1 2. T h e g r e at e st n u m b e r of w o r k e r s d u ri n g t h e
c o n st r u cti o n i n a si n gl e d a y n u m b e r e d 1 2, 0 0 0.

1 3. M e a s u r e d b y m e n e m pl o y e d, t h e n u m b e r of
U ni o n S q u ar e J u n e 8, 1 9 0 1 S u b w a y C o n str u cti o n
w o r ki n g d a y s w a s 5, 9 4 3, 9 1 7.

1 4. T h e s u b w a y i niti all y w a s l ai d o ut f r o m Cit y H all t o

Ki n g s b ri d g e, o n t h e W e st Si d e li n e, a t ot al of 1 3. 5 0 mil e s. T h e E a st Si d e li n e w o ul d g o f r o m B r o a d w a y a n d
1 0 3 r d St r e et t o B r o n x P a r k a t ot al of 6. 9 7 mil e s, m a ki n g t h e t ot al s y st e m j u st 2 0. 4 7 mil e s l o n g.

1 5. T h e r e w e r e 4 8 st ati o n s o n t h e e nti r e s y st e m, 3 3 u n d e r g r o u n d, 1 1 o n vi a d u ct s, t h r e e p a rtl y o n t h e

s u rf a c e a n d p a rtl y u n d e r g r o u n d a n d o n e p a rtl y o n t h e s u rf a c e a n d p a rtl y o n a vi a d u ct.

1 6. W h e n t h e s u b w a y i niti all y o p e n e d, 2 8 st ati o n s w e r e o p e r ati o n al.

1 7. T h e st a rti n g g ait s p e e d of t h e t r ai n s w o ul d b e t w e nt y- v e mil e s a n h o u r f o r e x p r e s s t r ai n s a n d ft e e n

mil e s a n h o u r f o r l o c al t r ai n s. T h e m a xi m u m s p e e d of t h e e x p r e s s t r ai n s w o ul d b e f o rt y- v e mil e s a n h o u r.

1 8. I n t h e r u s h h o u r s, b et w e e n 7 a n d 1 0 a. m. a n d 4 t o 7 p. m., e x p r e s s t r ai n s w o ul d r u n f o u r mi n ut e s a p a rt
a n d l o c al t r ai n s t h r e e mi n ut e s a p a rt.

1 9. 4 0 0 s u b w a y c a r s i niti all y s e r v e d t h e e nti r e s y st e m. 5 0 0 c a r s w e r e o r d e r e d b ut t h e y w e r e n ot all r e a d y

w h e n t h e s u b w a y o p e n e d.

2 0. M c D o n al d e sti m at e d t h at w h e n t h e s u b w a y w a s f ull y f u n cti o n al it c o ul d c a r r y 2 0 0 milli o n p e o pl e p e r

y e a r.
O t h e r S t o ri e s Y o u M a y B e I n t e r e s t e d I n:

T h e 1 9 0 4 G e n e r al Sl o c u m
W h e n R e nt C o st $ 1 0 P e r W e e k Di s a st e r H a d S u r vi v o r s T h at N e w Y o r k’ s P r o bl e m s A n d W h y
I n N e w Y o r k Cit y Li v e d I nt o T h e 2 1 st C e nt u r y It F o r c e d O n e E dit o r T o L e a v e

T hi s e nt r y w a s p o st e d i n Hi st o r y, N e w Y o r k a n d t a g g e d 1 9 0 0 s, C o n st r u cti o n, I R T, N e w Y o r k Hi st o r y, N e w Y o r k
W o rl d, S u b w a y, U ni o n S q u a r e o n O ct o b e r 2 7, 2 0 1 3 [ htt p:// st u n o b o d y c a r e s a b o ut. c o m/ 2 0 1 3/ 1 0/ 2 7/ w h e n-t h e-
n e w- y o r k- cit y- s u b w a y- o p e n e d-i n- 1 9 0 4/] b y M a x.
4 /1 /2 0 1 5 T h e U n iq u e G e n iu s o f H o n g K o n g 's P u b lic T ra n s p o rta tio n S y s te m — C h in a — T h e A tla n tic

S U B S C RI B E
RE NE W
GI V E A GI F T
DI GI T A L E DI TI O N

Pri nt | Cl o s e

P a s s e n g er s w al k o ut of M T R r ail w a y c arri a g e f e at uri n g Di s n e y c h ar a ct er s i n t h e S u n n y B a y st ati o n i n H o n g K o n g. ( P a ul

Y e u n g/ R e ut er s)

h tttp ://
//w w w .th e a tla n tic .c o m /c h in a /p rin t/
t 2 0 1 3 /0 9 /th e -u n iq u e -g e n iu s -oo f- h o n g -k o n g s -p u b lic -tra n s p o rta tio n -s y s te m /2 7 9 5 2 8 / 1 /3
4 /1 /2 0 1 5 T h e U n iq u e G e n iu s o f H o n g K o n g 's P u b lic T ra n s p o rta tio n S y s te m — C h in a — T h e A tla n tic

h tttp ://
//w w w .th e a tla n tic .c o m /c h in a /p rin t/
t 2 0 1 3 /0 9 /th e -u n iq u e -g e n iu s -oo f- h o n g -k o n g s -p u b lic -tra n s p o rta tio n -s y s te m /2 7 9 5 2 8 / 2 /3
4 /1 /2 0 1 5 T h e U n iq u e G e n iu s o f H o n g K o n g 's P u b lic T ra n s p o rta tio n S y s te m — C h in a — T h e A tla n tic

h tttp ://
//w w w .th e a tla n tic .c o m /c h in a /p rin t/
t 2 0 1 3 /0 9 /th e -u n iq u e -g e n iu s -oo f- h o n g -k o n g s -p u b lic -tra n s p o rta tio n -s y s te m /2 7 9 5 2 8 / 3 /3
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20071026105837/http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/pdf/development.pdf

PORTLAND STREETCAR
DEVELOPMENT ORIENTED TRANSIT

PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION

AND
PORTLAND STREETCAR, INC.

PORTLAND, OREGON

Sam Adams, City Commissioner

John Carroll, Board Chair

January 2006
 Portland Streetcar
Development Oriented Transit
January 2006
On July 20, 2001, the Portland Streetcar opened and became the first modern streetcar system
in North America. It is part of a unique public/private strategy to link investment in high quality
transit service with major redevelopment.

Like many other cities, Portland is growing in population and is proactively looking for ways to
promote economic development while managing growth. Keeping Downtown Portland healthy
is critical to the region's economic stability. The Portland Streetcar is at the heart of a new
approach to shaping cities that promotes investment at the City's core, provides homes for
people of diverse income groups and supports the urban amenities that make great cities great.
Since 1997 when the original streetcar alignment was identified, properties along its length have
experienced significant changes:
• Over $2.28 billion has been invested within two blocks of the streetcar
alignment
• 7,248 new housing units and 4.6 million square feet of office, institutional,
retail and hotel construction have been constructed within two blocks of
the alignment
• 55% of all CBD development since 1997 has occurred within 1-block of
the streetcar and properties located closest to the streetcar line more
closely approach the zoned density potential than properties situated
farther away
• Developers are building new residential buildings with significantly lower
parking ratios than anywhere else in the region

Development Oriented Transit

The Portland Streetcar was initiated by the City of Portland to connect two major redevelopment
areas: 70 aces of abandoned rail yards and a contaminated brownfield site just north of
Downtown (the River District) with another 128 acres of largely underused or vacant industrial
land requiring environmental remediation at the opposite end of Downtown (the South
Waterfront).

Over the 15-year evolution of the Portland Streetcar, the goals have remained consistent:
• Use a commitment to a high quality transit service as an incentive for high
density mixed-use development within the Central City. Link
neighborhoods with a convenient and attractive transportation alternative
and attract new transit ridership.
• Connect major attractions in the Central City with high quality transit.
• Build and operate in mixed traffic and on existing right-of-way at lower
cost than other fixed rail options. Fit the scale and traffic patterns of
existing neighborhoods.
• Reduce short inner-city auto trips, parking demand, traffic congestion and
air pollution.

Portland Streetcar Development Oriented Transit Report, January 2006 Page 1

Development Density and Concentration

The Streetcar investment has become the centerpiece of a significant shift in the density and
location of new development within Portland's Central Business District. In a 2005 study, E.D.
Hovee & Company found that the "properties located closest to the streetcar line have
experienced the largest share of development - and at Floor Area Ratios (FARs) that more
closely approach the properties' zoned density potential - than properties situated further from
the streetcar alignment."

o/o FAR Realized Based Upon Prior to 1997, new projects were
Distance from Streetcar built to less than half of the
allowable density allowed on a
site in the CBD.
90

80 Since the streetcar alignment was

70 chosen in 1997, new
eo development achieved an
50
average of 90% of the FAR
40
potential within one block of the
streetcar line. This percentage
steadily drops to 43% at three or
more blocks from the alignment.

Source: ED Hovee & Company, Portland

1 block Streetcar Development Impacts, October
2005

o/o of CBD Development Based Upon
Distance from Streetcar
Prior to 1997, land located within
one block of the streetcar alignment
captured 19% of all development.
Since the streetcar alignment was
identified, 55% of all new
development within the CBD has
occurred within one block of the
streetcar.

Source: ED Hovee & Company, Portland

Streetcar Development Impacts, October
2005

Portland Streetcar Development Oriented Transit Report, January 2006 Page 2

Development Impacts

The River District/Pearl District. Where once there was a contaminated railyard, a new
neighborhood has emerged. A new grocery store, restaurants, galleries, shops and banks now
line the streets. Portland Streetcar goes through the heart of this area, stopping every two or
three blocks and providing high quality transit access for business and residents.

New Urban Neighborhoods. The streetcar, limited

parking and excellent pedestrian amenities have
combined to create a new urban living option in
Portland. It serves not only those living and working
along the alignment, it brings new people into parts of
the central city they may not have experienced before.
It has served as an economic boost to businesses
along the alignment while preserving much-needed
auto access. It provides direct access to employment,
educational facilities and health care for residents with
a mix of incomes. The Streetcar has been seamlessly
integrated into TriMet's regional transit system, further
enhancing its effectiveness.

South Waterfront. At full build-out by 2015, South

Waterfront development will bring a minimum of 3000
housing units and 10,000 jobs into the Central City
along with a major river greenway, educational facilities
and supporting retail goods and services.

The Brewery Blocks. One of Portland's most

significant building renovations has been the
redevelopment of the historic and abandoned Blitz
Weinhard Brewery. This five-block project on the
Streetcar line is Portland's largest single development
involving commercial, residential and retail uses.

Portland Streetcar Development Oriented Transit Report, January 2006 Page 3

Development Lessons Learned

Public and Private Responsibilities. The enormous

success of linking transportation investments with
development can be replicated in municipalities that
have one or more large development sites with owners
who are willing to work together to advance a common
vision. The City's obligation has been to provide a
stable source of funding to build public improvements.
The developers' obligation has been to contribute to
the infrastructure costs and commit to build high­
density, mixed-income housing meeting the City's
housing targets. From a political standpoint, the ability
to point to an agreement with joint obligations of the
respective public and private partners carries
substantial clout and provides dependability and
flexibility that both parties can rely upon.

Development Agreements. The Portland Development Commission (PDC) negotiated a

Master Development Agreement with Hoyt Street Properties, owners of a 40-acre brownfield in
the heart of the River District. The Agreement tied development densities to public
improvements with the minimum required housing density increased incrementally from 15 to 87
units per acre when the Lovejoy Viaduct was deconstructed, to 109 units/acre when the
streetcar construction commenced and 131 units/acre when the first neighborhood park was
built. The developer has stated that without the Streetcar and the accessibility it provides, these
densities would not have been possible. The agreement was a unique and essential piece of
the public/private partnership that catalyzed development of the River District and serves as a
model for the agreement established for in South Waterfront.

Local Improvement District. The innovative $14.6 million Streetcar Local Improvement
District (LID) has been a useful tool and includes those property owners that stand to receive
the greatest financial benefit from their proximity to the Streetcar. This, coupled with other
public and private resources, helped fund both the Streetcar and the critical investments in the
urban environment that complement the higher density vision for the area.

Stakeholder Involvement. Involving stakeholders in the Streetcar project design has been
absolutely critical to its success and expansion. Without public support, projects of this
magnitude can get bogged down to the degree that the public investment cannot move in
tandem with development. The individuals and agencies that make up Portland Streetcar, Inc.
are nimble and astute individuals that make the Streetcar a development investment that you
can count on. In addition, a whole new interest group is emerging composed of those devoted
to high-density urban living-a perspective that didn't exist before.

Reduced Parking. The success of early projects in the River District demonstrated a market
demand for a new type of higher density community-one that supports living with or without a
car. Due in part to the high quality transit service provided by Streetcar, developers are able to
construct mixed use projects with parking ratios lower than found elsewhere in the city.
Reducing the amount of parking that a developer must build makes a building more financially
feasible. Now, with a full understanding of the role that Streetcar can play in affecting the urban
environment and market confidence in urban living, developers have begun construction on
larger, higher-risk projects in South Waterfront. The first River District projects were six
stories-South Waterfront has started with 23 to 31-story condominium towers.

Portland Streetcar Development Oriented Transit Report, January 2006 Page 4

Underlying Values

Improving Livability. Development oriented

transit supports improved livability for high density
environments that support public goals for urban
containment, sustainable living and reduced
dependence on an automobile. But higher density
development does not always mean a more
"livable" community. In the case of development
near Streetcar; however, the package includes
parallel public and private efforts to ensure that
affordable housing, public open spaces, brownfield
redevelopment, high quality urban design and
public art occur in unison.

Fit Within the Urban Environment. Design tradeoffs were made to better fit the Portland
Streetcar into the scale and traffic patterns of the neighborhoods through which it travels.
Streetcar vehicles, manufactured in the Czech Republic, are 8 feet wide and 66 feet long. They
run in mixed traffic and, except at stops, accommodate existing curbside parking and loading.
Streetcar stops occur every few blocks and shelters are smaller to fit within the neighborhood's
architecture.

Economical Construction and Operation. The Streetcar technology is less expensive than
other forms of fixed-rail transportation. The project is designed so that the system is economical
to build and operate. There were four critical design principles: 1) use available rights-of-way;
2) limit the investment in facilities to essentials, 3) to the extent possible, use off-the-shelf
equipment, 4) operate the system on a safe, no-frills basis, and 5) use construction methods
that minimize costs. The project was also designed to avoid costly expenses associated with
relocating utilities and the stations were developed similar to bus stops to reduce system costs.

Partnerships Matter. The City of Portland owns the

Streetcar while Portland Streetcar Inc (PSI), a nonprofit
corporation, is responsible for designing, managing
construction and operating the system. The PSI Board
is made up of individuals representing the perspectives
of citizens, city agencies and property owners along
the Streetcar alignment. The trade-offs made in this
type of decision-making body have continued to make
the Portland streetcar a better project by serving the
needs of a diverse community.

Minimize Disruption to Businesses and Residents.

Project design and construction methods were
designed to build the Streetcar quickly and efficiently to
minimize construction impacts on adjacent businesses
and residents. In addition, design decisions were
made with implications for the ultimate Streetcar
operations by preserving on-street parking, keeping
construction within the existing right-of-way and
sharing the streetcar lane with autos. The project also
placed a very high priority on responsiveness to
inquiries received from adjacent property owners
throughout the construction process.

Portland Streetcar Development Oriented Transit Report, January 2006 Page 5

System Description

Key Milestones: In 1990, the City of Portland initiated a feasibility study for the Streetcar, hired
a project manager, established a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) and began hosting a series
of public meetings with a plan emerging at the end of that year. Key project milestones include:

1992 City of Portland secures $900,000 federal HUD grant and matches with local funds
1995 May, City issues RFP to design, build, operate and maintain Streetcar. The nonprofit
corporation, Portland Streetcar Inc is selected
1999 September, Construction begins from Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital to Portland State
University
2001 January, Project Substantial Completion
2001 July, Begin passenger service
2005 March, Streetcar service to RiverPlace begins
2006 Service to South Waterfront begins
2006 Eastside Extension alignment selected

Financing. Locally funding the $56.9 million, 2.4 mile first phase made the Streetcar a unique
transportation project. The total Phase 1 project cost was under $25 million per alignment mile
and included purchase of seven vehicles. Total capital construction costs for the .6 mile
extension to RiverPlace was $16 million or $13 million per track mile and included a new
roadway on a retained structure to provide access to properties along the riverfront in
preparation for an extension to South Waterfront. The estimated capital budget for the .6 mile
single-track extension from RiverPlace to Gibbs Street is $15.8 million, or $13 million per track
mile, and includes purchase of three vehicles.

Funding sources for these phases of the project (in millions) include:

- $28.6 Bonds backed by revenues from a $.20/hour short-term parking rate increase in City-
owned parking garages
- $19.7 Tax increment financing from the City's urban renewal agency (PDC)
- $14.6 Property owner contribution through an LID on non-owner occupied residences
- $10.0 Regional transportation funds
- $ 6. 1 City funds
- $ 5.0 Reallocated transit funds from TriMet
- $ 3.1 Transportation land sale
- 1-.L.§ Other sources
- $88. 7 million total construction costs

Ridership. When Streetcar initially opened in 2001, the projected ridership target was 3,500
weekday rides. Not only was that target immediately exceeded, ridership by the fall of 2005
grew to over 9,000 riders each week day. Saturday ridership has demonstrated the greatest
percentage growth from 3,200 to 6,650 in the past four years.

Management. The City of Portland has contracted with Portland Streetcar, Inc (PSI) for
professional services related to the design, construction and operation of the streetcar system.
PSI is a private non-profit corporation formed for the single purpose of implementing the
Portland Streetcar as a project that will benefit the livability and economic vitality of Portland and
its central city. It is governed by a Board of Directors, the members of which come from both
the public and private sectors and who represent institutions, businesses and other constituents
along the alignment.

For more information, visit the Portland Streetcar website at www.portlandstreetcar.org.

Portland Streetcar Development Oriented Transit Report, January 2006 Page 6

 Development Activity within the
Portland Streetcar Local Improvement Districts
January 2006

PETTYGROVE

JOHNSON
IAVING

GLISAN
FLANOEFIS

t.
\
\

ROSS ,sLAJII) 9AG

Legend

A
-+-+- MAX Routes N
- Portland Streetcar
0 Development Projects
LOWELL Q 0.25

Miles
 PROJECTS LIST
1997 - PRESENT

All projects shown are located within the Streetcar Local Improvement District.
Construction costs shown are based upon hard costs. Information sources include
published project information and developer interviews.
Portland Streetcar Development Summary
January 2006

Project Name Construction Year Residential Non-resid Comments

Cost Com�lete Units SQFT

10th at Hoyt $20,300,000 2004 178 15,000 Apar1ments & ground floor retail. parking
911 NW Hoyt

1963 NW Overton $3,500,000 2004 12 0 RowhOuses. 25.000 SF

8 NW 8th (Danmore) $13,500,000 2004 180 12.000 Low-income apar1ments (30% MFI). 120 unns
NE corner E.Burnside/8th transnional hous"1g. two-floor clmic Portland
AhematJVe Heahh Chnoc. LEED cenrfied
12th/13th/Washington/Star!\ $130,000,000 2007 264 224,000 Five noo,s pkg (400 spaces). 65ksl ZGF office. 17
floors apanments, 170-room hotel. West End

Art Museum Renovation $17,300,000 2000 0 50,000 Proiea for the Millennium. renovation and remodel

Atwater Place $95,000,000 2007 212 10,300 319 parking spaces, LEED silver, S Wa1erfront
SW Ga ines/River Parkway

Avenue Lofts $25,000,000 2004 166 0 Loft condominiums, 186 par1\ing spaces
1001 NW 14th Avenue

Balfour Guthrie Building $1,200,000 2002 0 18,000 1913 building renovation for architeciural office
731 SW Oak

Benson Tower $30,000,000 2007 143 0 27-story, 150 underground parking spaces. 13 KSF
1500 SW 11th s,te

Bridgeport Condominiums $35,000,000 2003 123 8,000 Condominiums & ground floor retail
1130 NW 12th

Burlington Tower Apts $27,000,000 2005 155 11,000 10 story mixed use apar1ment wrth ground floor
900 NW Lovejoy retail 126 u/g parking spaces. 36 surface pkg
spaces
The Casey Condos $42,000,000 2007 56 4,200 16 stones. ground floor retail, LEED platinum:
311 NW 12th Ave 194.225 GSF above and below grade. River Dist

Clyde Hotel $1,000,000 2006 0 NIA Boutique hotel. River Dist

Cornerstone Condominiums $3,400,000 2000 50 3,000 Condominiums wnh ground floor retail, 10.000
1130 SW Jefferson square loot sne. 6-story building

Crane Building $10,524,000 2006 32 37,000 Basement converer1ed to 46 pkg spaces. 3 noo,s
710 NW 14th residential. Guardian Management office, River Dis1

Cronin Block $50,000,000 2007 250 NIA 335 pkg spaces, townhomes and condos. River Dist
NW 12I13/Marshall/Northrup

ED Distributing/Moe's Pianos NIA 2003 0 40,000 Retail office. light Industrial wrth ulg par1\ing
140 NW 14th

Edge $27,000.000 2003 125 35,000 Condominiums & ground floor retail. 3 parking lots.
805 NW 14th one underground

Eliot $60,000.000 2006 223 9,000 Condominiums and ground floor retail
SW 10th/11th/Jefferson

Elizabeth Lofts $38,000,000 2005 182 14,500 Condominiums & ground floor retail, 16 stories
333 NW 9th

First Presbyterian Church $11,000,000 0 0 40,000 170-space underground parlung garage and plaza.
Future srte ror church lacilrties West End

Fox Tower $65,000,000 2000 0 438,000 28· story office w/ approx. 400 spaces or
805 SW Broadway underground parking and bu1h-Ml c,nema. two noo,s
wrth 63,000 It of retail, 375 ksl office

Streetcar Development Summary, January 2006

Prepared by Shiels Obletz Johnsen
Project Name Construction Year Residential Non-resid Comments
Cost Com�lete Units SQ FT

Galleria $9,000,000 2003 0 60,000 Building renovat,on for Westem Culinary lnstrtute
921 SW Morrison

Gregory $29,500,000 2002 133 47,000 12 story condo proJeci wl 145 res unrts, 29,000 of
420 SW 10th Avenue office. 210 parking stalls. 18 kSf retail

Hamilton West $7,900,000 1999 152 2,500 Apartments • Housing Authorrty of Portland. ground
1212 SW Clay Street floor retarl

Inn at Northrup Station $3,000,000 2002 0 31,000 Bou1ique hotel

2025 NW Northrup

The John Ross $118,000,000 2007 314 19,000 Ground lloor retail wrth 4-slory podium and 31-story
SW River Parkway 1>u11d1ng 404 parkong spaces. LEED srlver. S
Waterfront
Johnson Street Townhomes $7,000,000 2000 13 0 Townhouses
1116-1142 NW Johnson

Kafoury Commons $7,100,000 2000 129 0 10.slory 129 unrt complex, 29 affordable
1230 SW Columbia

Kearney Plaza Apartments $18,000,000 2000 139 7,500 Apartments & ground noor retail
930 NW 11th, 97209

Lexis on the Park $23,000,000 2004 139 9,000 Market rate apartments converted to condos in
1125 NW 9th 2005, ground floor retail

Lovejoy Building Office $2,000,000 2004 0 20,000 14 ksf office, 6ksf retail
1624 NW Lovejoy

Lovejoy Square $3,200,000 2004 0 38,000 13 ksf office, 25 ksf retail

NW Kearney/Lovejoy/13/14th

Lovejoy Station $18,630,000 2001 181 6,500 5 story mixed use project with 4 floors. 181 untts
1040 NW 10th Avenue affordable apt over 86 parking spaces, 124 apt.
units, ground floor retail
Manzana Rotisserie Grill $1,950,000 2002 0 20,000 Building renovation for 10 ksf ground floor
1203 NW Glisan restaurant and 1O ksf 2nd floor offices

Marshall Wells Lofts $34,000,000 2002 164 0 Condom,nlums renovation

1001 NW 14th Ave

Maverick Sports Club $400,000 2002 0 18,000 Commercial renovation

2025 NW Overton

McKenzie Lofts $15,500,000 1997 68 13,500 Condominiums & ground floor retail
408 NW 12th Avenue

The Meriwether $82,500,000 2006 245 11,800 347 parking spaces. LEED silver rating, S
SW River Pkwy/SW Curry Waterfront

The Metropolitan (Block 9) $63,000,000 2007 136 18,000 230 pkgs spaces. 19 stones. concierge service.
NW 10/11/Lovejoy/Marshall common rooms and guest surtes. Rover Drst

Mosaic $5,700,0,00 2003 40 0 CondommKJms

1400 SW 11th Ave

Museum of Contemporary & $32,000,000 2005 0 146,000 Burldong conversron

Modern Art, North Building

Museum Place $29,000,000 2003 140 48,000 Mrxed income apartments, Safeway
1030 SW Jefferson

North Park Lofts $8,000,000 1999 66 3,000 Condornrnrums, redeveloped 1908 burldrng, ground
300 NW 8th Avenue floor retail

Northrup Commons Condos $3,600,000 1999 20 0 4-story residential. 65.500 SF. two levels of parkmg
2327 NW Northrup

Streetcar Development Summary, January 2006

Prepared by Shiels Obletz Johnsen 2
Project Name Construction Year Residential Non-resid Comments
Cost Comelete Units SQFT

OHSU Center for Health & Healing $103,500,000 2006 0 294,400 Physical practices, outpatient surgery, wellness
at South Waterfront center. research labs. classrooms, 650 pkg sp, 3.
SW Moody Ave story underground garage. LEED platinum. South
Oregon History Center $2,750,000 2003 0 4,000 Visitor faclhlies and exhibit area renovation. addition
1200 SW Park and outdoor plaza

Outside In $3,500,000 2001 0 30,000 Youth center, 4-story building, supervised housing
1132 SW 13th

Overton Park Apartments $4,000,000 2002 18 0 Apartments with ground floor retail
2315 NW. Overton

Paramount Hotel $14,000,000 1999 0 140,000 14-story 154-room hotel with street level retail
808 SW Taylor

Park NW Condos NIA 2000 18 3,000 Cond<>m,noums

327 NW Park Avenue

Park Place Condominiums $47,000,000 2004 124 15,000 91 flats. 25 lofts, 8 penthouses. 7 townhomes. 4 of 7
922 NW 11th hvelWon<

Pearl Court Apartments $10,000.000 1997 199 0 Apartments - Hous,ng Auth0<�y of Portland,
920 NW Kearney Street aff0<dable housing

Pearl Townhomes $4,000,000 1997 10 0 Townhouses

602-636 NW 11th Avenue

Pearl Townhouses, Ph 2 NIA 2000 10 0 Townhouses

NW 11th btwn HoyVlrving

Pinnacle $37,000,000 2005 176 7,000 Condominiums, ground floor retaol

1255 NW 9th

Pacific NW College of Art $1,000,000 1998 0 40,000 Full block renovalion including new Classrooms,
1241 NW Johnson library, meetong & performance space- art college

Powell's Books $5,000,000 1999 0 50,000 Building expansion and renovation--2 s�es
24-34 NW 11th

Reed/Harris/Block 90 NIA 2007 12 0 2 t pkg spaces, River Dist

NW 13I14/Flanders,
322 NW 14th
Residence Inn by Marriott $24,500,000 2001 0 275,000 258-su�e extended stay hotel. inciudes 58.000 SF
2115 SW River Pkwy pkg

Riverstone Condominiums $25,000,000 1998 121 10,000 Condom,n,ums & ground floor retail
821 NW 11th

RiverTec $10,000,000 2000 0 75,000 Office renovat,on

1220 NW Lovejoy

Safeway Blocks $40,000,000 200819 235 60,000 Rental, two buold,ngs, 15% atf0<dabte, ground floor
NW 12/13ILovejoy/Marshall re1a11. 145-160 pkg f0< 40 ksf Safeway, 145 pkg for
Rovertec. River Dost
St. Francis Apartments $10,800,000 2003 132 6,000 Affordable apartments, ground floor retail
1024 SW Main

The Sitka $32,000,000 2005 210 7,150 Rentals, 130 pkg spaces. 6 stories, 50-60&% MFI.
1115 NW Northrup ground floor retaol

Station Place $18,000,000 2005 176 1,600 Senior affordable apartments, 150,000.
1020 NW 9th Lovejoy/Marshall, 26,000 SF of retail on Marshall,
east of tower 6th Avenue frontage is 5-story garage
Station Place Parking Garage $8,800,000 2004 0 100,000 425-car parking garage

Station Place Retail $2,400,000 2006 0 26,000 Two-story retail

Streetcar Development Summary. January 2006

Prepared by Shiels Obletz Johnsen 3
Project Name Construction Year Residential Non-resid Comments
Cost Comelete Units SQFT

The Strand $95,000,000 2006,2007 216 9,700 Three towers, 10().space underground public
pal1C1ng garage. 160 spaces resident pkg, 2.7-acte
s�e. dest,nat,on restaurant. retail and lrve/Won<
Streetcar Lofts $28,000,000 2002 139 9,000 Condom1111ums & ground lloor re1aII
1030 NW 12th Ave, 97209

Tanner Place $31,000,000 2000 120 12.000 Condom1111ums & ground lloor retail
1030 NW Johnson

Telegram Building $5,600,000 2004 0 44,000 Renovat,on fo, lWO lloor health club. 20 ksf of olfice.
1101 SW Washington restaurant

Vollum Natural Cap. Ctr. $8,000,000 2001 0 50,000 Renovation fo, 40 ksf olfice/10 ksf retail. LEED gold
721 NW 9th Avenue cerilfocalion

Westin Hotel $20,000,000 1999 0 135,500 20-st()()' 200-room hotel

750 SW Alder

Wieden and Kennedy $20,000,000 1999 0 200,000 Full bloci< renovahon • 175 ksf office, 25 ksf retail
1227 NW Davis and adjoining parking. PICA ground floor

Workspace Lofts $1,100,000 2001 N/A 0 Workspace Lofts

1720 NW Lovejoy

YWCA Renovation $6,000.000 2003 25 63,000 Renovation

1111 NW 10th Avenue

Portland State University

Epler Hall $8,000,000 2003 130 0 6-story: 4 floors student housing. 1 floor
1809SW 11th classroom/office. ground floor retail

PSU Urban Center $24,000,000 2002 0 130,000 Class space. office and public meeting space.
506 SWMIII 25,000 sf ground floor retail

Helen Gordon Child Development $2,600.000 2003 0 15,000

Center Expansion. Phase 1
1609 SW 12th
Helen Go,don Child Development $2,700,000 2004 0 13,000 Historic structure renovation
Cenler Expansion. Phase 2
1609 SW 12th
Native American Student Center $2,800,000 2003 0 10.000 Academic support space
SW Jackson and Broadway
SW comer
Simon Benson House $1,400,000 2000 0 3,000 Academic support space, relocated hlslo,,c
1803 SW Park s1ructure.

ParkNlg ExpanslOf'I and RenovatlOf'I $7,500,000 2002 0 100,000 349 new parkNlg spaces. renovat,on of 810 spaces
South of Smrth Center

Smrth Memo,,al Un,on Renovat,on $8,000,000 2006 0 220,000 Seismic upgrades and office. entry, ballroom and
1802 SW Broadway food couri renovat,ons

NW Center fo, Science. $30,000,000 2006 0 136,000 Academic classrooms. offices and labs: LEED SIii/er
Eng111eer111g and Technology
Between 3rd and 4th at College
The Broadway $47,500,000 2004 384 35,000 10-s1ory 220.000 SF. 8 noor student housing. 1 noo,
621 SW Jackson SI academic. 15 ksf ground floor retail

The Ond1ne Renovation $7,700,000 2005 0 100,000 Ground lloor renoval,on and upgrade of existing
residential units in the 15-Sl()()' building housing 500
restdents
Brewery Blocks $300,000,000
Block 1 2002 0 158,000 40 ksf Whole Foods and 3 floors olfooe space,
NW 121h/131h/Bumslde/Coueh renovation

Block 2 2004 0 225,000 40 ksf ground floor retail with office above.
NW 111h/12th/Bumslde/Coueh renovation

Streetcar Developmenl Summary, January 2006

Prepared by Shiels Obletz Johnsen 4
Project Name Construction Year Residential Non-resid Comments
Cost Complete Units SOFT

8oD and Diana Gerding Theater 2006 0 40,000 Performing arts space, goal of LEED platinum, $20
million

The Henry 2003 123 14,000 Luxury condominiums. 3 noors parking, ground floor
132 NW 12th retail

810ck 4 2004 0 270,000 Spec office. 20 ksf ground floor retail

NW 111h/t2lh/Cooch/Oav1s

Sooth Pearl 2004 240 0 16-floor Apartments

NW Couch/Oav,s/121h/131h

Total $2,287,854.000 7,248 4,624,150

Total Non-residential SF 4 1524,150

Ground Floor Retail 886.350
Art 280,000
Education 782,000
Other lnstrtutional 145,000
Health 290,300
Office 1,432.000
Hotel 708,500
New Construction (non-res) 3,208,150
Renovation/expansion (non-res) 1,316,000

Streetcar Development Summary, January 2006

Prepared by Shiels Obletz Johnsen 5
 Study
Addendum
May 30, 2018
 ,

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F 25 220 841 4074 06014 2 5, 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 B R O O K L Y N C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E LI G H T R AI L

F 25 220 841 4208 06014 1, 2 1 3, 0 8 4 0 0 0 0 S A F E S T R E E T S F O R S E NI O R S

F 25 220 841 4251 06014 1 0, 1 2 6, 4 0 9 6 6 6, 6 6 6 0 0 0 C M A Q C O N G E S TI O N MI TI G A TI O N AI R Q L T Y

F 25 220 841 4268 06014 1 1 9, 2 7 2 0 0 0 0 S A F E S T R E E T S KI N G S C O U N T Y

F 25 220 841 4272 06014 1 8 3, 3 2 6 0 0 0 0 S A F E S T R E E T S F O R S E NI O R S

F 25 220 841 4278 06014 1 0 9, 4 5 1 0 0 0 0 S A F E S T R E E T S G E R RI T S E N

F 25 220 841 4282 06014 9 1 6, 3 8 0 0 0 0 0 N EI G H B O R H O O D W A L K A BI LI T Y

F 25 220 841 4284 06014 2 8 0, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T R A F FI C S T U D Y F O R E A S T RI V E R B RI D G E S

F 25 220 841 4292 06014 6 7, 8 6 2 0 0 0 0 SAFE ST REETS BA RT O W & BAY C HESTE R

F 25 220 841 4294 06014 3 2, 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 F A R R O C K A W A Y B U SI N E S S DI S T T R A N S S T U D Y

F 25 220 841 4518 06014 9 6 0, 7 1 3 0 0 0 0 R E T AI L C O R RI D O R S ( C M A Q)

F 25 220 841 4582 06014 1 2 2, 9 5 1 0 0 0 0 B R KL Y N W AT E RF R O NT G R E E N W A Y N A V Y Y A R D

F 25 220 841 4586 06014 9 1 7, 8 5 4 0 0 0 0 C M A Q - CI T Y WI D E C O N G E S T E D C O R RI D O R S

F 25 220 841 4593 06014 4 2 5, 1 8 9 0 0 0 0 I N T E R S E C TI O N I M P R O V E M E N T

F 25 220 841 4598 06014 2 8 0, 8 5 1 0 0 0 0 B R O O KL Y N W AT E RF R O NT G R E E N W A Y

F 25 220 841 7132 06014 4, 0 3 1, 3 5 4 0 0 0 0 P R E V M AI N T M O V A B L E B RI D G E S

F 25 220 841 3202 06016 4 4 1, 8 5 6 0 0 0 0 J E WI S H C O M M U NI T Y C O U N CI L - B O R O P A R K

F 25 220 841 3306 06016 9 7, 1 7 6 0 0 0 0 P A R A T R A N SI T B U S P U R C H A S E

F 25 220 841 3351 06016 1 4 6, 3 8 7 0 0 0 0 T RA NSP O RT S UPP O RT HEB RE W H O ME

F 25 220 841 3352 06016 7 8 4, 0 7 6 0 0 0 0 B O T A NI C A L G A R D E N I N T E R M O D A L P R

F 25 220 841 3356 06016 3 4 7, 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 B R K L Y N C HI L D R N M U S E U M S T R E E T S C

F 25 220 841 3357 06016 7 9 4, 0 7 6 0 0 0 0 S U N Y D O W N S T A T E- LI G H T/ S E C U RI T Y

F 25 220 841 3394 06016 4 4 1, 8 5 6 0 0 0 0 J A C O BI T R A N S P O R T A TI O N F A CI LI T Y

F 25 220 841 4032 06016 4 1, 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 D NT O W N B R KL Y NI NT E R M O D AL ST U D Y

F 25 220 841 4036 06016 6 0 0, 7 1 3 0 0 0 0 B R O A D W A Y J U N C TI O N P R O J E C T

F 25 220 841 4088 06016 2 0, 0 0 0 1 3, 8 5 2, 2 5 8 0 0 0 B U S LI V A BI LI T Y - W A Y FI N DI N G

O M B

P a g e 1 1 2 of 1 6 9
 I N CI D E fi I N F O R M A T fr N S LI P
P O fa 1 · 1 6 fi ( R e v. 3· 9 8l· P e n t( fi M U)

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W e h o p e t h at y o ur b u si n e s s wit h y w a s h a n dl e d s ati sf a ct oril y . Y o ur p a fii c ul ar m a fi er h a s b e e n a s si g n e d th e f oll o wi ng n u m b er (s ) .

Com pl ai nt Re ·' A c ci d e nt R e port N o., -. ·. .. .. R- rt N o., ·- - " - .

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t hi s r ep o rt s h o ul d y o u h a v e t o r ef er t o t hi s m a tt er i n t h e f ut ur e. If y o u n e e d a n y f u rt h er a s si st a n c e f e el fr e e t o

c o nt a ct u s at t el ep h o n e n u m b er . Pl e a s e l et u s k n o w if y o u h a v e a n y s u g g e sti o n s o n h o w w e c a n

b ett er s e rv e y o u. A s y o u m a y alr e a d y k n o w, w e wilt pr o vi d e y o u wit h a cri m e p r e v e nti o n s u rv e y of y o ur r e si d e n c e or b u si n e s s.

Pl e a s e a s k f or m or e i nf or m ati o no n t hi s a n d ot h er cri m e p r e v e nti o n i niti ati v e s. O ur g o al i s t o m a k e y o u a n a y o ur p r op e rt y s af e.

C O U RT E SY - P R O F E S SI O N A LI S M - R E S P E CT

R E M E M B E R: C A L L " 9 1 1 " F O R E M E R G E N CI E S O N L YIII !

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" R efr e s h e d" N Y P D I nt er n al Aff air s B ur e a u C a s e N u m b er - F all, 2 0 1 7
611/2018 Brooklyn Councilman Is Charged in an Extortion Scheme - Tne New York Times

N.Y. / REGION

Brooklyn Councilman Is Charged in an

Extortion Scheme
By WILLIAM K. RASH BAUM MARCH 29, 2002
A Brooklyn councilman who was :recently a contender for City C-ouncil speaker was
charged yesterday with demanding a $1.5 million break on a real estate deal from a
developer in exchange for supporting the multimillion-dollar renovation of a
waterfront warehouse in his district.

The councilman, Angel Rodriguez, a Democrat, :represents the Red Hook

neighborhood where a Civil War-era warehouse is to be converted into a Fairway
supermarket. He and a childhood friend who prosecutors said aided Mr. Rodriguez
in the scheme were charged in a 15-count federal indictment with extortion
conspiracy, attempted extortion, fraud and other crimes.

The indictment, which was unsealed yesterday, charges that Mr. Rodriguez
publicly changed his position to support the development plan at a hearing of the
C-ouncil's Land Use C-ommittee on Jan. 29. The turnaround, the indictment said,
came a day after Mr. Rodriguez and his friend, Jonathan Morales, through a front
company, signed a contract with the developer to buy three Cobble Hill properties
worth $2.5 million for $1 million, which the indictment said was "a secret benefit of
$1.5 million." On Jan. 30, Mr. Rodriguez voted in favor of the plan, which he had
earlier opposed, and it was approved by the entire Council.

Prosecutors said Mr. Rodriguez, 45, a second-term councilman, and MT.

Morales, 43, a New Jersey furniture
y salesman, also demanded $50,000 in cash
from the developer, Gregor O'Connell. Mr. O'Connell, a retired detective left
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N. Y. / R E GI O N

A b o u t N e w Y o r k; T h e T r oll e y G u y' s L a s t
Ri d e ( All 1 2 F e e t of I t )
By D A N B A R R Y J A N. 1 0, 2 0 0 4

I N a d a r k e n e d b a y at R e d H o o k' s w at e r y e d g e, t h e t r oll e y g u y of B r o o kl y n
st e p s o v e r t h e bit s a n d pi e c e s of hi s g r a n d vi si o n t o b o a r d hi s m a g nifi c e nt
v e s s el. C o m e o n, h e s a y s, i n t h at w e a r y- w hi n y v oi c e of hi s. ''I'll t a k e y o u o n
t h e w o rl d' s s h o rt e st t r oll e y ri d e.''

H e t u r n s o n t h e li g ht s, ri n g s t h e b ell -- di n g, di n g -- a n d a n 1 8 9 7 t r oll e y of
m a h o g a n y a n d o a k l u r c h e s si x f e et a n d st o p s. H e w al k s t o t h e r e a r, ri n g s t h e
b ell -- di n g, di n g -- a n d t h e t r oll e y l u r c h e s si x f e et b a c k. T h at' s it; 1 2 f e et.
Ri d e o v e r.

T h e l a st st o p r et u r n s B o b Di a m o n d, t h e t r oll e y g u y, t o hi s cl utt e r e d w o rl d. I n
t hi s c ol d a n d c a v e r n o u s b a y, f r o m w hi c h h e i s a b o ut t o b e e vi ct e d, y o u will
fi n d ol d t r oll e y f a r e b o x e s; b o o k s a b o ut el e ct r o m e c h a ni c al d e vi c e s of t h e
1 9 3 0' s; p n e u m ati c all y p o w e r e d d o o r e n gi n e s; a B B g u n t o s c a r e a w a y
pi g e o n s a n d r at s; h e a v y- d ut y m a c hi n e t o ol s; a n d e v e r- a c c u m ul ati n g pil e s of
s p a r e t r oll e y p a rt s.

Ri si n g f r o m t hi s m e s s a r e t w o m eti c ul o u sl y r e st o r e d, b ut st r a n d e d, t r oll e y s:
t h e b r o w n 1 8 9 7 m o d el, o n c e u s e d b y t h e ki n g of N o r w a y, a n d a g r e e n- a n d-
sil v e r 1 9 5 1 P ull m a n t h at o n c e c r ui s e d al o n g B o st o n' s g r e e n li n e. A n d b e si d e
t h e m al w a y s, M r. Di a m o n d: a r u m pl e d s h r u g of a m a n w h o w a s m a r ri e d
o n c e f o r t w o d a y s; w h o s e di n n e r m o st ni g ht s i s t h r e e h ot d o g s, c h e e s e f ri e s
a n d a n i c e d t e a at N at h a n' s; a n d w h o i s n o w t h e o nl y p e r s o n i n N e w Y o r k
wit h 1 6 t r oll e y s a n d n o w h e r e t o p ut t h e m.

M r. Di a m o n d, 4 4, w h e e z e s o ut t h e a p p r o xi m ati o n of a l a u g h. ''I' m l a u g hi n g
b ut I s h o ul d b e c r yi n g,'' h e s a y s. ''It m u st b e p o st-t r a u m ati c st r e s s.''

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A b o ut N e w Y or k; T h e Tr oll e y G u y's L ast Ri d e ( All 1 2 F e et of It) - T h e N e w Y or k Ti m es

A D V E R TI S E M E N T
S a v e 5 0 % f o r o n e y e a r. O n e d a y o nl y. S u b s cri b e N o w

T hi s m a n w a s o n c e t h e a d o pt e d d a rli n g of cit y offi ci al s, p r o p o n e nt s of R e d

H o o k r e vit ali z ati o n, a n d a n y o n e el s e w h o n u r s e d a n a c h e f o r t h e w a y t hi n g s
u s e d t o b e i n B r o o kl y n. M o r e t h a n j u st a n el e ct ri c al e n gi n e e r, h e w a s a
Fl at b u s h vi si o n a r y -- a n a s s et of t h e cit y.

H e e a r n e d hi s pl a c e a s a b o n a fi d e B r o o kl y n c h a r a ct e r m o r e t h a n t w o
d e c a d e s a g o b y di s c o v e ri n g a f o r g ott e n r ail r o a d t u n n el b e n e at h Atl a nti c
A v e n u e. H e c r e at e d t h e B r o o kl y n Hi st o ri c R ail w a y A s s o ci ati o n a n d e nli st e d
a b a n d of v ol u nt e e r s t o r e st o r e t h e t u n n el a n d l e a d t o u r s. S o o n t h e y w e r e
l a u n c h e d o n t h e o d d b ut h o n o r a bl e mi s si o n of r et u r ni n g t r oll e y s t o B r o o kl y n
f o r t h e fi r st ti m e si n c e t h e mi d- 5 0' s.

Pi e c e b y pi e c e, t h e y b uilt t h ei r fl e et. T h e N o r w e gi a n t r oll e y, o n p e r m a n e nt

l o a n f r o m a St at e n I sl a n d m a n. T h r e e P ull m a n c a r s f r o m B o st o n t h at M r.
Di a m o n d m a n a g e d t o b u y f o r $ 9 -- pl u s $ 1 0, 0 0 0 s hi p pi n g. A s wit c hi n g
l o c o m oti v e t h at h e r e c o v e r e d f r o m a N e w J e r s e y s o y b e a n fi el d f o r $ 8, 0 0 0. A
d o z e n m o r e t r oll e y c a r s f r o m O hi o t h at c o st $ 1 0, 0 0 0 t o b u y a n d $ 5 0, 0 0 0 t o
s hi p f r o m B uff al o.

I n 1 9 9 4, M r. Di a m o n d a n d hi s g r o u p m o v e d t h ei r o p e r ati o n t o t hi s b a y i n a
1 9t h c e nt u r y w a r e h o u s e at t h e e n d of V a n B r u nt St r e et. T h ei r eff o rt s
att r a ct e d t h e att e nti o n of l o c al a n d f e d e r al offi ci al s w h o s a w t h e c h a r m a n d
t h e n e e d f o r li g ht- r ail s e r vi c e t h at w o ul d li n k i s ol at e d R e d H o o k t o t h e r e st
of t h e b o r o u g h.

Wit h t h e h el p of t h e cit y' s D e p a rt m e nt of T r a n s p o rt ati o n, M r. Di a m o n d' s

g r o u p r e c ei v e d $ 2 8 6, 0 0 0 i n f e d e r al m o n e y t o l a y a f e w h u n d r e d f e et of
t r oll e y li n e i n R e d H o o k. W h o k n e w ? M a y b e it w o ul d s o m e d a y l e a d t o t h e
d e v el o p m e nt of li g ht- r ail s e r vi c e all t h e w a y t o d o w nt o w n B r o o kl y n.

T h e v ol u nt e e r s l o vi n gl y l ai d t h e t r a c k, p oli s h e d t h e t r oll e y s a n d w o r k e d o ut
t h e i nt ri c at e el e ct ri c al s y st e m n e e d e d t o a cti v at e s e r vi c e. M r. Di a m o n d
e sti m at e s t h at h e s p e nt m o r e t h a n $ 1 0 0, 0 0 0 of hi s o w n m o n e y -- e a r n e d i n
p a rt b y m a n a gi n g a N e w J e r s e y a p a rt m e nt c o m pl e x -- o n s u n d r y it e m s,
i n cl u di n g s e v e r al t h o u s a n d d oll a r s f o r j a c k h a m m e r r e nt al s. ''It' s still o n m y
c r e dit c a r d,'' h e s a y s.

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A b o ut N e w Y or k; T h e Tr oll e y G u y's L ast Ri d e ( All 1 2 F e et of It) - T h e N e w Y or k Ti m es

E v e r yt hi n g s e e m e d t o b e o n t r a c k. I n 1 9 9 9, t h at gl o ri o u s N o r w e gi a n t r oll e y
gli d e d o ut of it s d a r k e n e d b a y, l o o p e d a r o u n d t h e w a r e h o u s e, a n d w e nt a f e w
h u n d r e d f e et d o w n a t r a c k; s o o n, t o u ri st s w e r e p a yi n g t o t a k e t h e s h o rt
w at e rf r o nt ri d e. T h e n cit y t r a n s p o rt ati o n offi ci al s g a v e p e r mi s si o n t o M r.
Di a m o n d' s g r o u p t o l a y t r a c k o n C o n o v e r St r e et, t h e h o p e b ei n g t h at a
t r oll e y w o ul d o n e d a y l e a d t o a b u s st o p a h alf- mil e a w a y.

M r. Di a m o n d m a y h a v e b e e n a vi si o n a r y, b ut hi s si n gl e- mi n d e d n e s s c a u s e d
p r o bl e m s. Cit y offi ci al s g r u m bl e t h at h e w a s n't d oi n g a n y f u n d- r ai si n g; h e
c o u nt e r s t h at hi s c o nt ri b uti o n c a m e i n s w e at e q uit y. A s f o r all e g ati o n s t h at
h e di d n ot w a nt t o s h a r e r e s p o n si bilit y f o r t h e t r oll e y s, M r. Di a m o n d s a y s
t h at h e w a s w o r ri e d a b o ut a ''t a k e o v e r g r o u p'' wit hi n hi s c o r e of v ol u nt e e r s.

'' W h e n I di d n't li k e t h e m t r yi n g t o t a k e it o v e r, t h e y s ai d I di d n't w a nt t o

s h a r e r e s p o n si bilit y,'' h e s a y s. ''I w a s n't g oi n g t o t u r n it o v e r, e s p e ci all y aft e r
I s u n k i n 2 0 y e a r s of m y o w n ti m e a n d m o n e y.''

N e w Y or k T o d a y
E a c h m or ni n g, g et t h e l at e st o n N e w Y or k
b u si n e s s e s, art s, s p ort s, di ni n g, st yl e a n d m or e.

E nt er y o ur e m ail a d dr e s s Si Sig gnn U Up p

Y o u a gr e e t o r e c ei v e o c c a si o n al u p d at e s a n d s p e ci al
off er s f or T h e N e w Y or k Ti m e s' s pr o d u ct s a n d s er vi c e s.

I' m n ot a r o b ot
re C A PT C H A
Pri v a c y - T er m s

S E E S A M PL E P RI V A C Y P O LI C Y
OPT O UT O R C O NTA CT US A N Y TI M E

I n A u g u st 2 0 0 1, t h e b ul k h e a d al o n g t h e pi e r o ut si d e hi s t r oll e y b a y g a v e
w a y, d a m a gi n g t h e t r a c k a n d a u g u ri n g a l a r g e r c oll a p s e.

T h e t w o t r oll e y s i n si d e h a d n o w h e r e t o g o. V ol u nt e e r s l eft t o c r e at e t h ei r
o w n t r oll e y g r o u p. A n d t h e di s a g r e e m e nt s wit h cit y offi ci al s b e c a m e s o
c o nt e nti o u s t h at i n e a rl y 2 0 0 2 t h e y a n n o u n c e d t h at t h e y w o ul d n o l o n g e r
s u p p o rt t h e s p e n di n g of f e d e r al m o n e y o n M r. Di a m o n d' s d r e a m p r oj e ct.

M r. Di a m o n d n o w h a d fi v e st r a n d e d t r oll e y s i n R e d H o o k, i n cl u di n g t h e t w o
i n t h e b a y; 1 1 st r a n d e d t r oll e y s a n d a l o c o m oti v e at t h e B r o o kl y n N a v y Y a r d;
a h alf- b uilt t r a c k o n a cit y st r e et -- a n d a n e v e r- di mi ni s hi n g n u m b e r of

htt ps:// w w w. n yti m es. c o m/ 2 0 0 4/ 0 1/ 1 0/ n yr e gi o n/ a b o ut- n e w- y or k-t h e-tr oll e y- g u y-s-l ast-ri d e- all- 1 2-f e et- of-it. ht ml[ 5/ 9/ 2 0 1 8 1 0: 0 4: 1 5 A M]
A b o ut N e w Y or k; T h e Tr oll e y G u y's L ast Ri d e ( All 1 2 F e et of It) - T h e N e w Y or k Ti m es

s u p p o rt e r s.

H e a c c u s e d a f o r m e r v ol u nt e e r of b r e a ki n g i nt o t h e b a y o n e ni g ht a n d
d o w nl o a di n g hi s pl a n s f r o m a c o m p ut e r; n o n s e n s e, t h e f o r m e r v ol u nt e e r
s a y s. H e c h a r g e d t h at a cit y t r a n s p o rt ati o n offi ci al w a s r el at e d t o o n e of hi s
c o m p etit o r s; n ot t r u e, a s p o k e s m a n f o r t h e cit y a g e n c y s a y s. H e al s o a c c u s e d
t h e D e p a rt m e nt of T r a n s p o rt ati o n of h a vi n g hi m t ail e d a n d e v e n a r r e st e d;
ri di c ul o u s, t h e s p o k e s m a n s a y s.

A f e w w e e k s a g o, G r e g O' C o n n ell -- t h e o w n e r of t h e w a r e h o u s e w h o
d e s c ri b e s hi m s elf a s a b eli e v e r i n M r. Di a m o n d' s vi si o n -- s e nt a n e vi cti o n
n oti c e t o M r. Di a m o n d a n d hi s o r g a ni z ati o n. T h e g r o u p h a d b e e n u si n g t h e
w a r e h o u s e s p a c e, r e nt-f r e e, f o r n e a rl y a d e c a d e.

'' W e' v e b e e n l eft wit h n o ot h e r c h oi c e,'' M r. O' C o n n ell s a y s. '' T h e r e a r e ot h e r

n o n p r ofit s. W e g et m a n y c all s t o u s e t h at s p a c e f r o m p e o pl e w h o c o ul d m a k e
a r e al c o nt ri b uti o n t o t h e n ei g h b o r h o o d.''

'' B o b' s diffi c ult s o m eti m e s t o w o r k wit h,'' M r. O' C o n n ell a d d s. '' H e' s u ni q u e.''

T h e n, a c o u pl e of w e e k s a g o, a s M r. Di a m o n d w at c h e d, t h e cit y ri p p e d u p
t h e t r a c k s t h at h a d b e e n l ai d b y v ol u nt e e r s al o n g C o n o v e r St r e et; hi s d r e a m
h a d b e c o m e a h a z a r d. T o m C o c ol a, a s p o k e s m a n f o r t h e D e p a rt m e nt of
T r a n s p o rt ati o n, s a y s t h at M r. Di a m o n d h a d b e e n n otifi e d s e v e r al ti m e s t h at
t h e t r a c k s h a d t o b e r e m o v e d.

'' W e w e r e e x cit e d t o j u m p st a rt t h e t r oll e y i niti ati v e,'' M r. C o c ol a s ai d i n a n e-

m ail m e s s a g e. '' B ut p r o mi s e s m a d e b y M r. Di a m o n d w e r e n ot m et, s o w e
d e ci d e d t h at -- i n a ti m e w h e r e t h e cit y h a s e x p e ri e n c e d b u d g et diffi c ulti e s --
it w o ul d n ot b e p r u d e nt t o w a st e a n y m o r e t a x p a y e r s' m o n e y o n t hi s p r oj e ct,
n o m att e r h o w n o bl e it a p p e a r e d o n p a p e r.''

M r. Di a m o n d s a y s t h at h e h a s n o i d e a w h at t o d o, a n d n o m o r e m o n e y t o
s p e n d o n hi s vi si o n. H e c o nti n u e s t o l e v el c h a r g e s t h at all hi s f o r m e r
s u p p o rt e r s h a v e b et r a y e d hi m a n d m a y b e c o n s pi ri n g t o t a k e hi s t r oll e y s
f r o m hi m.

'' W h at a h u g e w a st e of ti m e a n d m o n e y,'' h e s a y s. ''It' s s o rt of li k e b ei n g

d r e s s e d u p wit h n o pl a c e t o g o.''

F o r n o w, t h e r e i s j u st hi m, a n d a y o u n g v ol u nt e e r n a m e d D o n al d. T h e y sit i n
t h e b a c k of t hi s R e d H o o k b a y, h u n c h e d a r o u n d a p o rt a bl e h e at e r, w at c hi n g
a bl a c k- a n d- w hit e t el e vi si o n, w hil e all a b o ut t h e m l a y pi e c e s of t r oll e y.

Aft e r t a ki n g t h e 1 8 9 7 t r oll e y f o r it s 1 2-f o ot ri d e, M r. Di a m o n d cli m b s a b o a r d

htt ps:// w w w. n yti m es. c o m/ 2 0 0 4/ 0 1/ 1 0/ n yr e gi o n/ a b o ut- n e w- y or k-t h e-tr oll e y- g u y-s-l ast-ri d e- all- 1 2-f e et- of-it. ht ml[ 5/ 9/ 2 0 1 8 1 0: 0 4: 1 5 A M]
A b o ut N e w Y or k; T h e Tr oll e y G u y's L ast Ri d e ( All 1 2 F e et of It) - T h e N e w Y or k Ti m es

t h e sl e e k P ull m a n t o p oi nt o ut t h e att e nti o n gi v e n t o it s r e st o r ati o n, d o w n t o

t h e r o w of i n c a n d e s c e nt b ull' s- e y e li g ht s. H e t u r n s o n t h e ai r c o m p r e s s o r s,
a n d b e gi n s t o o p e n a n d cl o s e t h e d o o r. F o r a littl e w hil e, at l e a st, t hi s
st r a n d e d t r oll e y s o u n d s a s t h o u g h it i s b r e at hi n g.

M o r e i n N. Y. / R e gi o n »

N E W Y O R K T O D A Y E ri c S c h n ei d e r m a n S et
N e w Y o r k T o d a y: T h e Hi m s elf U p a s T r u m p’ s
L at e st o n E ri c F oil. W h at H a p p e n s
S c h n ei d e r m a n N o w?

N E W S

W orl d

U. S.

P oliti c s

N. Y.

B u si n e s s

Tech

S ci e n c e

H e alt h

S p ort s

E d u c ati o n

O bit u ari e s

T o d a y' s P a p er

C orr e cti o n s

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T H E FI G H T T O FI N D J O H N WI L K E S
B O O T H’ S DI A R Y I N A F O R G O T T E N
S U B W AY T U N N EL
B Y J O E K L O C O N 6/ 1 0/ 1 4 A T 1 0: 1 2 A M

0 6/ 2 0/ 1 4

I N T H E M A G A ZI N E

Di a m o n d o n t o p of b a c kfill e d ar e a i n vi ci nit y of t u n n el e ntr a n c e, 1 9 8 0.

Q. S a k a m a ki f or N e w s w e e k
U . S.

N E W Y O R K CI T Y

O n a q ui et e v e ni n g i n D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 0, R o b e rt Di a m o n d w a s w at c hi n g t el e vi si o n i n hi s
a p a rt m e nt, t u c ki n g i nt o a b o wl of f r a n k s a n d b e a n s, w h e n t h e t el e p h o n e r a n g. T h e r e w a s
a n a n g r y v oi c e o n t h e ot h e r e n d of t h e li n e: “ Y o u’ r e t r yi n g t o di g u p t h at d a m n
l o c o m oti v e a g ai n! ” It w a s a n offi ci al at N e w Y o r k Cit y’ s D e p a rt m e nt of T r a n s p o rt ati o n.
Di a m o n d h a d w o r k e d cl o s el y wit h t h e D O T f o r m u c h of t h e t h r e e d e c a d e s si n c e h e h a d
m a d e hi s e xt r a o r di n a r y di s c o v e r y: t h e ol d e st s u b w a y t u n n el i n t h e w o rl d, w hi c h r u n s f o r
a h alf- mil e i n B r o o kl y n. F o r y e a r s h e h a d e x pl o r e d t h e t u n n el u n b ot h e r e d, c at al o gi n g it s
a n ci e nt r ail s pi k e s, r e s e a r c hi n g it s all e g e d u s e a s a hi d e o ut f o r t hi e v e s a n d pi r at e s, a n d
off e ri n g t o u r s t o c u ri o u s l o c al s o n S u n d a y aft e r n o o n s. B ut n o w, t h e offi ci al t ol d hi m, t h e
cit y w a nt e d hi m o ut.
T h e D O T’ s l at e st g ri p e, a n d t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e a n g r y p h o n e c all, st e m m e d f r o m
Di a m o n d’ s l o n g- h el d b eli ef t h at b e hi n d a w all of r o c k y s e di m e nt s e ali n g off t h e
w e st e r n m o st 4 0 0 f e et of t h e Atl a nti c A v e n u e T u n n el a r e t w o Ci vil W a r t r e a s u r e s: a n
1 8 3 0 s w o o d- b u r ni n g st e a m l o c o m oti v e a n d t h e l o st p a g e s of J o h n Wil k e s B o ot h’ s di a r y,
w hi c h t o g et h e r, h e b eli e v e s, w o ul d p r o v e t h e m a y o r a n d ot h e r t o p r a n ki n g N e w Y o r k
Cit y offi ci al s c o n s pi r e d t o a s s a s si n at e A b r a h a m Li n c ol n. Si n c e t h e e a rl y 1 9 9 0 s, Di a m o n d
h a d b e e n l o b b yi n g t o e x c a v at e t h e t u n n el, a n d w hil e t h e D O T h a d al w a y s b e e n i r k e d b y
hi s hi st o ri c al d et e cti v e w o r k, it h a d f o r m a n y y e a r s s u p p o rt e d Di a m o n d’ s eff o rt s t o s h o w
t h e t u n n el t o t h e p u bli c.
F o r a ti m e, Di a m o n d’ s n o n p r ofit, t h e B r o o k l y n Hi st o ri c R ail w a y A s s o ci ati o n ( B H R A),
e v e n h a d a p p r o v al f r o m t h e cit y t o r u n a t r oll e y li n e t h r o u g h t h e t u n n el, c o n n e cti n g
d o w nt o w n B r o o kl y n t o t h e i s ol at e d n ei g h b o r h o o d of R e d H o o k. T h e p r oj e ct w a s a
t e st a m e nt t o Di a m o n d’ s s elf- p r o cl ai m e d “ p e n ni e s- o n-t h e- d oll a r ” effi ci e n c y: Wit h f e d e r al
f u n di n g o bt ai n e d t h r o u g h t h e D O T, h e c o r r all e d 1 5 u s e d t r oll e y c a r s f r o m B o st o n a n d
B uff al o, mil e s of r ail f r o m P e n n s yl v a ni a, t h o u s a n d s of c e nt u r y- ol d p a vi n g st o n e s f r o m
a n A mt r a k st ati o n i n B alti m o r e, a n d t r a c k si g n al s a n d t r oll e y wi r e f r o m N e w J e r s e y.
B ut i n t h e s u m m e r of 2 0 0 2, Di a m o n d s a y s, “ st uff st a rt e d t o g o c r a z y. ” T h e D O T a b r u ptl y
st o p p e d s p o n s o ri n g hi s t r oll e y p r oj e ct, a n d a y e a r l at e r, t h e cit y ri p p e d u p t h e h alf- mil e
of t r a c k s h e h a d l ai d. I n 2 0 1 0, aft e r N ati o n al G e o g r a p hi c h a d fi n all y a g r e e d t o c o n d u ct a
m a g n et o m et e r t e st t o fi n d o ut w h at, if a n yt hi n g, w a s i n si d e t h e s e al e d- off s e cti o n of t h e
t u n n el, Di a m o n d r e c ei v e d a l ett e r f r o m t h e cit y i nf o r mi n g hi m hi s t o u r s w e r e n o w
d e e m e d “ u nl a wf ul. ” N o w, t h e D O T offi ci al o n t h e p h o n e w a s a c c u si n g hi m of fili n g a n
a p pli c ati o n b e hi n d t h e a g e n c y’ s b a c k t o e x c a v at e t h e t u n n el. Di a m o n d h otl y d e ni e d — a n d
still d e ni e s — h a vi n g e v e r e v e n s e e n, l et al o n e si g n e d, s u c h a f o r m. “It w a s li k e g oi n g i nt o
Ali c e i n W o n d e rl a n d , ” h e s a y s n o w.
H e a n d t h e a n g r y D O T offi ci al a r g u e d f o r a mi n ut e, d e b ati n g t h e p r o v e n a n c e of
Di a m o n d’ s si g n at u r e, a n d t h e y h u n g u p. A m o m e nt l at e r, hi s f a x m a c hi n e b u z z e d t o lif e.
O ut c a m e a l ett e r f r o m t h e D O T, offi ci all y e vi cti n g hi m f r o m t h e t u n n el. “I n e a rl y c h o k e d
t o d e at h o n m y b e a n s, ” h e r e c all s.
D a y s l at e r, t h e cit y w el d e d t h e m a n h ol e e nt r a n c e s h ut. Di a m o n d h a s n’t b e e n b a c k i n si d e
hi s t u n n el si n c e. “It w a s ki n d of li k e h a vi n g m y s o ul t a k e n a w a y, ” h e s a y s.
B o b Di a m o n d sit s i n hi s a p a rt m e nt i n K e n si n gt o n, B r o o kl y n, w h e r e, f o r t h e p a st f o u r
y e a r s, h e h a s b e e n fi g hti n g t h e cit y t o r e g ai n a c c e s s t o t h e Atl a nti c A v e n u e T u n n el.

Q. S a k a m a ki f o r N e w s w e e k
“ Y o u’ r e a Y o u n g M a n, G o Fi n d It ”
Di a m o n d i s a pl u m p, 5 4- y e a r- ol d N e w Y o r k e r wit h ki n d, s u n k e n e y e s a n d f r a z zl e d h ai r —
w h at’ s l eft of it. K n o w n i n t h e l o c al p a p e r s a s “t h e T u n n el Ki n g, ” h e i s a n i n di s p ut a bl y
o d d a n d p a r a d o xi c al f ell o w. Hi s a c q u ai nt a n c e s d e s c ri b e hi m a s “ b rilli a nt ” — h e i s a n
o b s e s si v e r e s e a r c h e r a n d p r o di gi o u s G o o gl e r w h o s e li vi n g r o o m i s fill e d wit h pil e s of
b o o k s, e n gi n e e ri n g di a g r a m s a n d n e w s p a p e r cli p pi n g s a b o ut t h e t u n n el. B ut t h e y al s o
s a y h e c a n b e “ p a r a n oi d ” a n d “ h y p e r b oli c ” r e g a r di n g hi s b eli ef t h at t h e cit y h a s
c o n s pi r e d t o k e e p hi m o ut of t h e t u n n el; a n d t h at if h e g et s b a c k i n si d e, h e mi g ht fi n d
t h e mi s si n g p a g e s of B o ot h’s di a r y t h at will p r o v e a c a b al of hi g h- r a n ki n g, p r o-
C o nf e d e r at e N e w Y o r k offi ci al s pl ott e d t o kill Li n c ol n. W h e n a s k e d a b o ut t hi s l att e r,
s e e mi n gl y p r e p o st e r o u s cl ai m, Di a m o n d si m pl y r e pli e s, “ T h e y u s e d t o s a y t h e t u n n el
di d n’t e xi st. ”
Si n c e b ei n g e xil e d f r o m t h e t u n n el, Di a m o n d p a s s e s hi s ti m e at a C o n n e cti c ut M uffi n
n e a r hi s a p a rt m e nt i n B r o o kl y n. T h e r e, o v e r l a r g e c off e e s a n d a m o u nt ai n of s u g a r
p a c k et s, h e a n d t w o f ell o w B H R A m e m b e r s m e et m o nt hl y t o di s c u s s all m a n n e r of N e w
Y o r k Cit y t r a n sit c o n c e r n s: t h e S e c o n d A v e n u e s u b w a y li n e, k n o w n a s “ T h e Li n e t h at
Ti m e F o r g ot, ” o ri gi n all y p r o p o s e d i n 1 9 2 9 ; a 1 9t h c e nt u r y p n e u m ati c s u b w a y t u b e
Di a m o n d b eli e v e s i s b u ri e d u n d e r Cit y H all P a r k; a n d t h e B H R A’ s $ 1 6 0 milli o n l a w s uit
a g ai n st t h e D O T, w hi c h Di a m o n d h o p e s will r e st o r e hi s a c c e s s t o t h e Atl a nti c A v e n u e
T u n n el. T hi s t o pi c i s hi s l e a st f a v o rit e. W h e n h e sit s t o o l o n g b e n e at h hi s t o w e ri n g st a c k s
of c e nt u r y- ol d ci vi c st u di e s, m a p s a n d l e g al d o c u m e nt s, t r yi n g t o fi g u r e o ut h o w t o g et
i n si d e t h e s e al e d- off c h a m b e r at t h e w e st e r n e n d of t h at t u n n el, h e c a n f e el hi s “ mi n d
sli p pi n g, ” h e s a y s. “I n e v e r k n e w w h e n I w a s 1 9 t h at t hi s t u n n el w o ul d b e m y e nti r e lif e. ”
Di a m o n d still li v e s i n t h e a p a rt m e nt w h e r e h e w a s r ai s e d, i n B r o o kl y n’ s K e n si n gt o n
n ei g h b o r h o o d. Hi s f at h e r di s a p p e a r e d w h e n h e w a s 8, a n d h e w a s r ai s e d b y hi s m ot h e r.
H e w a s a s h y, e x c e pti o n all y s m a rt st u d e nt. I n hi g h s c h o ol, h e w o n a s c h ol a r s hi p t o t h e
P r att I n stit ut e f o r d e si g ni n g a s ol a r- c ell s at ellit e t h at c o ul d t h e o r eti c all y s u p pl y p o w e r t o
all of M a n h att a n. B ut aft e r l e a r ni n g t h e s c h ol a r s hi p w a s c o nti n g e nt u p o n hi m w o r ki n g
f o r y e a r s at a K o d a k f a cilit y i n u p st at e N e w Y o r k — w hi c h Di a m o n d s p e a k s of a s if it w e r e
a f o r ei g n c o u nt r y — h e l eft s c h o ol. O n e of hi s p r of e s s o r s w r ot e a l ett e r r e c o m m e n di n g
hi m t o C ol u m bi a U ni v e r sit y, t elli n g t h e d e a n of a d mi s si o n s, “ H e s h o ul d b e all o w e d t o
l e a r n a s m u c h a s p o s si bl e, ” b ut n ot hi n g c a m e of it. “I n e v e r h a d m u c h l u c k wit h s c h o ol, ”
Di a m o n d s a y s wit h a sli g ht s h r u g.
H e fi r st h e a r d of t h e t u n n el o n w h at h e c all s t h at “ s hitt y 1 9 7 0 s d a y ” h e d r o p p e d o ut of
P r att. H e w a s “t r yi n g t o fi g u r e o ut w h at t o d o n e xt ” w h e n h e t u r n e d o n hi s r a di o a n d
h e a r d a p r o g r a m di s c u s si n g a n e w n o v el, T h e C o s g r o v e R e p o rt . T h e b o o k’ s pl ot hi n g e d
o n t h e i d e a t h at, aft e r killi n g Li n c ol n, B o ot h w a s n e v e r c a u g ht. I n st e a d, h e fl e d t o N e w
Y o r k, w h e r e h e st a s h e d t h e b u n dl e of mi s si n g p a g e s f r o m hi s di a r y — w hi c h a r e a
hi st o ri c al f a ct —i n a m et al b o x n e a r a w o o d- b u r ni n g l o c o m oti v e b u ri e d i n si d e a r ail w a y
t u n n el i n B r o o kl y n. Di a m o n d h a d littl e i nt e r e st i n B o ot h, b ut w a s c u ri o u s a b o ut t h at
t u n n el. H e t el e p h o n e d t h e b o o k’ s a ut h o r, G. J. A. O’ T o ol e, w h o h e s a y s t ol d hi m, “I d o n’t
k n o w m u c h a b o ut it. I r e a d a s a ki d t h at M u r d e r I n c o r p o r at e d w a s d u m pi n g d e a d b o di e s
d o w n t h e r e. Y o u’ r e a y o u n g m a n, g o fi n d it. ”
Di a m o n d s p e nt t h e n e xt y e a r i n t h e mi c r ofil m a r c hi v e s of t h e p u bli c li b r a r y, l o o ki n g f o r
a n y m e nti o n of a t u n n el. H e di s c o v e r e d t h at t h e L o n g I sl a n d R ail r o a d h a d b uilt a t u n n el
b e n e at h Atl a nti c A v e n u e b a c k i n 1 8 4 4 — p a rt of a li n e c o n n e cti n g N e w Y o r k t o B o st o n —
t h at w a s cl o s e d i n 1 8 6 1 w h e n t h e st at e b a n n e d r ail r o a d s f r o m o p e r ati n g i n B r o o kl y n.
Di a m o n d' s s e a r c h l e d hi m t o t h e T o p o g r a p hi c al M a p s D e p a rt m e nt i n t h e t o p-fl o o r atti c
of B o r o u g h H all i n B r o o kl y n. T h e r o o m c o nt ai n e d t o w e r s of c u b bi e s st uff e d wit h r oll e d-
u p m a p s a n d l ot b o o k s, a n e nti r e, d u st y hi st o r y of t h e b o r o u g h. T h e r e, Di a m o n d f o u n d a
ci vil e n gi n e e r s e at e d at a d e s k, r e a di n g a r a ci n g f o r m. W h e n h e a s k e d t h e w hit e- h ai r e d
m a n if h e h a d a n y m a p s of Atl a nti c A v e n u e, t h e m a n l o w e r e d hi s p a p e r. “ Y o u’ r e n ot o n e
of t h o s e ki d s l o o ki n g f or t h e t u n n el ? ” h e a s k e d. “ B e c a u s e it’ s n ot t h e r e. ”
W h e n Di a m o n d a s k e d w h y h e w a s s o c e rt ai n, t h e m a n r e pli e d, “ W h e n I w a s a ki d, I w e nt
l o o ki n g f o r it t o o. ”
T h e t u n n el h a d b e e n s o u g ht b y c u ri o u s N e w Y o r k e r s f o r m o r e t h a n a c e nt u r y. T h o u g h
t h e cit y p ai d t o h a v e it fill e d i n 1 8 6 1, t h e y e a r it cl o s e d, r u m o r s h a d al w a y s p e r si st e d t h at
t h e w o r k w a s n e v e r d o n e. I n 1 8 9 6, t h e B r o o kl y n E a gl e i n v e sti g at e d st o ri e s of
“ r e n d e z v o u s f o r b a n dit s, m u r d e r s, e s c a p e d m o o n s hi n e r s, o r c r o o k s ” b e n e at h Atl a nti c
A v e n u e a n d f o u n d t h at t h e “ cit y w o r k s d e p a rt m e nt k n o w s a b s ol ut el y n ot hi n g a b o ut t h e
t u n n el. ” I n 1 9 3 6, p oli c e r e c ei v e d a n a n o n y m o u s l ett e r f r o m M a s s a c h u s ett s t h at r e a d “if
y o u i n s p e ct t h e ol d t u n n el y o u mi g ht fi n d s o m et hi n g i nt e r e sti n g, ” b ut w e r e u n a bl e t o
l o c at e a n e nt r y p oi nt.
T h e ol d ci vil e n gi n e e r n e v e rt h el e s s w el c o m e d Di a m o n d’ s eff o rt s. Aft e r a f r uitl e s s s e a r c h
of t h e cit y’ s r e c o r d s, Di a m o n d c a m e a c r o s s a f o r g ott e n w o o d e n b o x o n a hi g h s h elf t h at
p r o b a bl y h a d n’t b e e n o p e n f o r al m o st a c e nt u r y. T h e t w o m e n b r o k e off it s r u st y
p a dl o c k. I n si d e w a s a m a p of t h e Atl a nti c A v e n u e T u n n el.
W h e n t h e t w o m e n u nf ol d e d t h e 4- b y- 2-f o ot di a g r a m, Di a m o n d n oti c e d a littl e bl u e d ot
w h e r e t h e t u n n el’ s r o of m et t h e st r e et. “I fi g u r e d it w a s a m a n h ol e. ”
A y e a r l at e r, i n A u g u st 1 9 8 1, Di a m o n d g at h e r e d a g r o u p of cit y e m plo y e e s o n a c o r n e r of
C o u rt St r e et a n d b u s y Atl a nti c A v e n u e. T o g et h e r, t h e y p ri e d o p e n t h e m a n h ol e c o v e r i n
t h e mi d dl e of t h e st r e et. Di a m o n d cli m b e d i n si d e b ut f o u n d t h e r e w a s o nl y a b o ut t h r e e
f e et of cl e a r a n c e b ef o r e h e hit a di rt fl o o r. Hi s b o d y h alf w a y p o p pi n g i nt o t h e st r e et, wit h
c a r s p a s si n g o n eit h e r si d e, Di a m o n d r e m e m b e r s “ st a rti n g t o f e el li k e a r e al m o r o n. H o w
di d I g et m y s elf i nt o t hi s ? ” H e d u c k e d i n si d e t h e n a r r o w c a v e r n a n d, cl ut c hi n g a r a di o
a n d fl a s hli g ht, h e b ell y- c r a wl e d al o n g t h e di rt fl o o r, m a ki n g hi s w a y i nt o t h e d a r k n e s s.
Aft e r c r a wli n g j u st 7 0 f e et, h o w e v e r, Di a m o n d hit a di rt w all. H a vi n g j u st s e e n R ai d e r s
of t h e L o st A r k t h e ni g ht b ef o r e, h e r e m e m b e r s t hi n ki n g, W h at w o ul d I n di a n a J o n e s d o ?
I n q ui x oti c d e s p e r ati o n, h e s h o v el e d a w a y h a n df ul aft e r h a n df ul of di rt, a n d i n a f e w
mi n ut e s, h e u n e a rt h e d t h e t o p of a st o n e a r c h w a y. It w a s, h e r e ali z e d, t h e e nt r a n c e t o t h e
t u n n el. Di a m o n d t ri e d t o r a di o t o t h e c r e w a b o v e hi m o n t h e st r e et. “ B ut all I c o ul d d o
w a s l a u g h, ” h e r e c all s. B ut t h at w a s e n o u g h. “ T h e y k n e w I f o u n d it. ”
O n e of t h e cit y offi ci al s cli m b e d i nt o t h e m a n h ol e wit h c r o w b a r s, a n d t h e t w o of t h e m
b e g a n p r yi n g a w a y t h e b ri c k s a n d c o b bl e st o n e s o b st r u cti n g t h e e nt r a n c e. F o r h o u r s, t h e y
h a c k e d a w a y at t h e c e nt u r y- ol d r o c k, a n d w h e n t h e y fi n all y b r o k e t h r o u g h, a r u s h of c ol d
ai r c a m e o ut of t h e o p e ni n g. Aft e r a littl e m o r e di g gi n g, t h e y di s c o v e r e d t h at t h e r e w a s a
1 5-f o ot d r o p t o t h e fl o or of t h e t u n n el. T h e offi ci al a c c o m p a n yi n g Di a m o n d i nf o r m e d
hi m t hi s w a s a s f a r a s t h e y c o ul d g o b e c a u s e n o l a d d e r w o ul d fit t h r o u g h t h e m a n h ol e.
“ J u st gi v e m e $ 2 0, ” Di a m o n d pl e a d e d. M u c h t o hi s s u r p ri s e — ”t h at w a s a l ot of m o n e y
b a c k t h e n ” —t h e m a n c o m pli e d. Di a m o n d cli m b e d o ut i nt o t h e st r e et, w al k e d t o B r u n o’ s
H a r d w a r e o n Atl a nti c a n d b o u g ht a c h ai n l a d d e r.
“ H e r e, ” h e s ai d t o t h e offi ci al i n si d e t h e t u n n el. “ S et it u p. ” T h e y t h e n l o w e r e d t h e l a d d e r
i nt o t h e o p e ni n g a n d Di a m o n d d e s c e n d e d i nt o t h e d a r k c a v e r n t h at h a d b e e n u nt o u c h e d
f o r a b o ut a c e nt u r y. H e s hi n e d hi s li g ht a r o u n d t h e 1 3 7- y e a r- ol d p a s s a g e. It w a s h u g e,
wit h a n a r c h e d c eili n g m a d e of c o b bl e st o n e. L a r g e r, i r r e g ul a rl y s h a p e d st o n e s f o r m e d
t h e si d e w all s. T h e r e w e r e st r a y r o c k s, r ail s pi k e s a n d s h a r d s of a b o otl e g li q u o r b ottl e
s c att e r e d o n t h e di rt fl o o r w h e r e t h e r ail r o a d t r a c k s o n c e r a n. H e w a n d e r e d i nt o t h e d a r k
c a v e r n. Aft e r w al ki n g a b o ut 1, 6 0 0 f e et, h e hit t h e f o u r- st o r y w all of r o c k y d e b ri s t h at h e
n o w b eli e v e s c o n c e al s B o ot h’ s di a ri e s a n d t h e l o st l o c o m oti v e. “It w a s li k e n ot b ei n g i n
N e w Y o r k a n y m o r e, ” h e s a y s. “ N o s o u n d s i n t h e st r e et s, n o p e o pl e —li k e a n ot h e r pl a n et. ”
Q. S a k a m a ki f o r N e w s w e e k
T u n n el D e m e nti a
T h e Atl a nti c A v e n u e T u n n el i s o nl y a s m all fi n g e r of N e w Y o r k’ s hi d d e n u n d e r g r o u n d
w o rl d. T h e r e a r e h u n d r e d s of mil e s of s u b w a y c a v e r n s, c o m m ut e r r ail li n e s,
s u bt e r r a n e a n st r e a m s, a q u e d u ct s, c a n al s, utilit y t u n n el s a n d p e d e st ri a n p a s s a g e w a y s
b e n e at h t h e cit y, c o n c e ali n g c ol o ni al a rtif a ct s, h o m el e s s e n c a m p m e nt s, a n d d e c a d e s of
g r affiti a n d f ol k a rt. It’ s a w o rl d f e w p e o pl e k n o w a b o ut a n d e v e n f e w e r w a nt t o k n o w
a b o ut. B a c k w h e n Di a m o n d b e g a n off e ri n g hi s t u n n el t o u r, u r b a n e x pl o r e r J o e A n a st a si o
s a y s, t h e r e w e r e o nl y a b o ut 2 0 o r s o s e ri o u s s u bt e r r a n e a n e x pl o r e r s i n t h e cit y, a s f e w
p o s s e s s t h e p r o p e r di s p o siti o n f o r lif e u n d e r g r o u n d. A n a st a si o r e c all s o n e t r e k wit h a
y o u n g e x pl o r e r i n si d e a d e r eli ct, 4 1- mil e a q u e d u ct. A s t h e y w a n d e r e d f a rt h e r d o w n t h e
d a r k p a s s a g e w a y, li st e ni n g t o t h e r u m bli n g of n e a r b y s u b w a y s, hi s c o m p a ni o n g r e w
i n c r e a si n gl y d e p r e s s e d, p r e o c c u pi e d b y t h e n oti o n t h at n o o n e k n e w t h e y w e r e d o w n
t h e r e a n d t h at if t h e y w e r e t o v a ni s h, t h e cit y w o ul d h a p pil y c h u r n al o n g wit h o ut t h e m.
“I c all it t u n n el d e m e nti a, ” h e s a y s. A s a r e s ult, m o st p e o pl e t r e at t u n n el s a s a p a s si n g
h o b b y. “ B ut f o r s o m e p e o pl e, li k e B o b, ” h e s a y s, “it w a s t h ei r lif e. ”
Di a m o n d d e s c ri b e s hi s fi r st j o u r n e y i n N e w Y o r k’ s u n d e r g r o u n d a s “ e u p h o ri c, ” a n d h a s
b e e n c h a si n g t h at f e eli n g si n c e. B ut, wit h n o c oll e g e d e g r e e, h e h a s al w a y s st r u g gl e d t o
b e t a k e n s e ri o u sl y. W h e n h e di s c o v e r e d t h e t u n n el i n 1 9 8 1, h e i n vit e d a g r o u p of
a r c h a e ol o gi st s t o j oi n hi m d o w n b el o w at t h e cit y’ s b e h e st. T h o s e e x p e diti o n m e m b e r s
w e r e p a rt of a n e wl y f o r m e d g r o u p c all e d t h e P r of e s si o n al A r c h a e ol o gi st s of N e w Y o r k
Cit y. T h e y a r e k n o w n c oll o q ui all y a s P A N Y C, p r o n o u n c e d “ p a ni c. ” O n c e t h e y w e r e
i n si d e, h o w e v e r, it w a s cl e a r t h e y w e r e n’t t h e r e t o h el p, Di a m o n d s a y s. “ T h e y h u d dl e d
i nt o a c o r n e r w hi s p e ri n g t o e a c h ot h e r, ” Dia m o n d r e c all s. “I t h o u g h t, ' T hi s i s n ot g o o d. ”
F o u r d a y s l at e r, hi s m ot h e r, t h e B H R A’ s t r e a s u r e r at t h e ti m e, r e c ei v e d a l ett e r f r o m a
l a w y e r wit h w h o m Di a m o n d h a d w o r k e d: “ D e a r El s a, I h a v e r e c ei v e d i nf o r m ati o n t h at
l e g al st e p s a r e p o s si bl y b ei n g t a k e n b y at l e a st t w o m e m b e r s of t h e e x p e diti o n t o c a u s e
t h e t u n n el t o b e s e al e d a n d t o f r e e z e R o b e rt c o m pl et el y o ut of t h e pi ct u r e. ”
D e s pit e P A N Y C’ s eff o rt s t o t h w a rt Di a m o n d, w hi c h w e nt o n f o r at l e a st a d e c a d e, h e w a s
g r a nt e d a p e r mit t o m ai nt ai n t h e t u n n el i n 1 9 8 6. W h e n n ot i n si d e — gi vi n g t o u r s, m a ki n g
r e p ai r s, c oll e cti n g r ail r o a d s pi k e s — h e s c o u r e d hi st o ri c al cit y r e c o r d s, p h ot o g r a p h s,
R ail r o a d C o m mi s si o n r e p o rt s a n d n e w s p a p e r a r c hi v e s f o r a n y m e nti o n of it.
Di a m o n d t a k e s a n e n gi n e e r’ s pl e a s u r e i n c o n n e cti n g t h e st r a y hi st o ri c al f a ct s h e
u n c o v e r s a b o ut t h e t u n n el. W h e n h e b e g a n hi s r e s e a r c h, h e g a v e littl e c r e d e n c e t o t h e
i d e a t h at t h e mi s si n g p a g e s of J o h n Wil k e s B o ot h’ s di a r y w e r e b e hi n d it s w all s. O v e r t h e
y e a r s, h o w e v e r, c o n n e cti o n s b et w e e n O’ T o ol e’ s b o o k a n d hi s t u n n el r e s e a r c h b e g a n t o
m at e ri ali z e. H e f o u n d B r o o kl y n E a gl e a rti cl e s s a yi n g B o ot h t r a v el e d t o N e w Y o r k
f r e q u e ntl y d u ri n g t h e Ci vil W a r, a n d st a y e d i n h ot el s, Di a m o n d s a y s, “t h at w e r e w ell
k n o w n f o r h o u si n g C o nf e d e r at e a g e nt s. ” H e p oi nt s o ut t h at N e w Y or k’ s m a y o r at t h e
ti m e, F e r n a n d o W o o d, w a nt e d t h e cit y t o s e c e d e f r o m t h e U ni o n, b e c a u s e m u c h of N e w
Y o r k’ s W all St r e et elit e m a d e t h ei r m o n e y i n t h e c ott o n t r a d e. Di a m o n d h a s al s o f o u n d a
r e p o rt t h at t w o w e e k s b ef o r e t h e a s s a s si n ati o n, t h e cit y p ai d a c o nt r a ct o r $ 2 5 t o r e p ai r a
m a n h ol e o n Atl a nti c A v e n u e. “I s u b mit, ” Di a m o n d w r ot e i n a n e s s a y o n B o ot h, “t hi s
m a n h ol e w a s i n f a ct l o c at e d o n Atl a nti c A v e n u e b et w e e n Hi c k s St r e et a n d C ol u m bi a
St r e et —i n t h e s e cti o n of t u n n el n o w b e hi n d t h e w all. ”
T a k e a HI Q A
Di a m o n d’ s fi r st att e m pt t o fi n d o ut w h at w a s b e hi n d t h e w all i n si d e t h e t u n n el c a m e i n
O ct o b e r 1 9 9 1, w h e n h e m et wit h a c o nt r a ct o r n a m e d F r a n k F e r r a nt e. T h e p ai r g ot
t o g et h e r at t h e B el- Ai r e di n e r i n A st o ri a, Q u e e n s, w h e r e F e r r a nt e t ol d Di a m o n d h e’ d
h a p pil y v ol u nt e e r hi s c r e w a n d e q ui p m e nt f o r t h e j o b. T h e y d e ci d e d t o di g f o u r h ol e s
al o n g Atl a nti c A v e n u e, e a c h st r at e gi c all y l o c at e d t o b r e a k i nt o a s e cti o n of t u n n el
c u r r e ntl y c o n c e al e d b e hi n d t h e w all, i n t h e h o p e t h at o n e of t h e m w o ul d u n e a rt h t h e
l o c o m oti v e, a n d m a y b e e v e n B o ot h’ s di a r y p a g e s.
A r m e d wit h j a c k h a m m e r s, b a c k h o e s a n d a p e r mit f r o m t h e D O T, t h e c r e w b r o k e g r o u n d
t h e n e xt w e e k. T a ri q A g a, a c o nt r a ct o r w h o n o w r u n s a si st e r c o m p a n y of F e r r a nt e’ s,
r e m e m b e r s w o r ki n g o n t h e sit e. “ B o b w a s r u n ni n g a r o u n d e v e r y w h e r e. M y g o d h e w a s a
d et e r mi n e d g u y. It w a s m e s m e ri zi n g. ” T h e y w o r k e d f o r s e v e r al w e e k e n d s, a n d b y
O ct o b e r 2 6 h a d d u g t w o 1 0-f o ot- d e e p h ol e s i nt o Atl a nti c A v e n u e, e a c h a b o ut 3-f e et- b y-
4-f e et wi d e. T h o u g h n eit h e r e x c a v ati o n r e v e al e d a Ci vil W a r t r e a s u r e, t h e l o c al
n e w s c a st e r s ai r e d i nt e r vi e w s wit h a c o nfi d e nt Di a m o n d, st a n di n g i n t h e t u n n el d e cl a ri n g
t h at t h e n e xt h ol e w o ul d r e v e al a l o c o m oti v e.
H e n e v e r g ot t h e c h a n c e t o d eli v e r o n t h at p e r h a p s r a s h v o w. T h e f oll o wi n g d a y, t h e
D O T’ s Hi g h w a y I n s p e cti o n a n d Q u alit y A s s u r a n c e ( HI Q A) u nit — w hi c h i n s p e ct s w o r k
sit e s — s h o w e d u p a n d, Di a m o n d cl ai m s, t h r e at e n e d t h e c r e w wit h a r r e st a n d a $ 5 0, 0 0 0
fi n e if t h e y di d n’t st o p l o o ki n g f o r t h e l o c o m oti v e a n d fill i n t h e h ol e s. Aft e r t h at, t h e
p r oj e ct w a s s h utt e r e d.
T h e D O T di d n’t r e s p o n d t o N e w s w e e k’ s i nt e r vi e w r e q u e st s, s o it s r e a s o n s f o r t a ki n g t hi s
a cti o n r e m ai n a m y st e r y.
M o r e t h a n a d e c a d e l at e r, a si mil a r s c e n e w o ul d pl a y o ut a g ai n. I n A u g u st 2 0 0 3,
Di a m o n d w a s gi vi n g a t o u r of t h e t u n n el t o a g r o u p of hi g h s c h o ol e r s w h e n t w o p oli c e
offi c e r s s h o ut e d d o w n t h e m a n h ol e t o t ell hi m h e w a s u n d e r a r r e st. H e u s h e r e d t h e
st u d e nt s o ut of t h e t u n n el a n d w a s p r o m ptl y h a n d c uff e d. A c c o r di n g t o t h e ti c k et h e
r e c ei v e d, Di a m o n d w a s d et ai n e d b e c a u s e h e l a c k e d t h e p r o p e r p a p e r w o r k t o g o i nt o t h e
t u n n el, alt h o u g h d o c u m e nt s i n di c at e t h at i n 1 9 8 6, t h e cit y g r a nt e d hi m a 5 0- y e a r
c o nt r a ct t o gi v e t o u r s i n si d e t h e t u n n el.
Di a m o n d cl ai m s HI Q A t ol d hi m t h e a r r e st w a s a “ p r e s e nt f r o m t h e D O T ” f o r
c o m pl ai ni n g i n l o c al p a p e r s t h at t h e cit y h a d t o r n u p hi s t r oll e y p r oj e ct m o nt h s e a rli e r.
H e h a d al s o p oi nt e d o ut t h at aft e r ri p pi n g u p hi s t r oll e y li n e, t h e cit y r e q u e st e d a n d
r e c ei v e d $ 2 9 5, 0 0 0 i n f e d e r al m o n e y —f o u r ti m e s w h at it h a d al r e a d y i n v e st e d i n
Di a m o n d’ s p r oj e ct —t o c o n d u ct a f e a si bilit y st u d y f o r b uil di n g e s s e nti all y t h e s a m e
t r oll e y li n e a g ai n. H o w e v e r, t h e st u d y w a s n’t d o n e f o r al m o st a d e c a d e, aft e r t h e st at e
a p pli e d p r e s s u r e o n t h e cit y t o u s e t h e g r a nt m o n e y i n 2 0 1 2. It t h e n s p e nt o nl y $ 2 5, 0 0 0
b ef o r e c o n cl u di n g t h e t r oll e y p r oj e ct w o ul d b e t o o e x p e n si v e.
HI Q A r el e a s e d Di a m o n d wit h a $ 1, 0 0 0 ti c k et. T h at fi n e w a s l at e r d r o p p e d w h e n a
B r o o kl y n Cit y C o u n cil m e m b e r c o m pl ai n e d, a n d t h e d e p a rt m e nt n e v e r s h o w e d u p t o
d ef e n d it s elf at t h e s u m m o n s h e a ri n g. B ut t h e i n ci d e nt s h o o k Di a m o n d. A r o u n d t h e
s a m e ti m e, hi s l o n gti m e gi rlf ri e n d di s a p p e a r e d. H e e n d e d t h e t u n n el t o u r s a n d l eft t o w n.
“I w a s d o n e wit h N e w Y o r k, ” h e s a y s. Di a m o n d’ s s u d d e n di s a p p e a r a n c e p e r pl e x e d ot h e r
u r b a n e x pl o r e r s. “ H e v a p o ri z e d, ” s a y s A n a st a si o, w h o “ c a m e a c r o s s B o b’ s a b a n d o n e d
v a n i n R e d H o o k, d o o r s o p e n, o ut s i d e of a n ol d s u g a r f a ct o r y. ”
Di a m o n d m o v e d t o N e w J e r s e y, w h e r e h e st a rt e d d ri n ki n g a n d u si n g d r u g s. T w o y e a r s
l at e r, h e w o u n d u p i n a p s y c hi at ri st’ s offi c e, c o m pl ai ni n g t h at h e w a s u n a bl e t o f o c u s a n d
w a s e x p e ri e n ci n g s ei z u r e s al o n g wit h fl a s h b a c k s of hi s b attl e s wit h t h e D O T. “ T h e st r e s s
a n d a n xi et y f r o m t h e s e e v e nt s h a v e o v e r w h el m e d hi m, i m p ai ri n g hi s a bilit y t o c o p e
eff e cti v el y, ” hi s d o ct o r w r ot e i n a 2 0 0 5 a s s e s s m e nt. Di a m o n d w a s di a g n o s e d wit h p o st-
t r a u m ati c st r e s s di s o r d e r, w hi c h, h e s a y s, still m a nif e st s it s elf a s ni g ht m a r e s f oll o w e d b y
l o n g st r et c h e s of m el a n c h ol y. H e p a s s e s t h e s e bl u e p e ri o d s b y e ati n g j u n k f o o d a n d
w at c hi n g m o vi e s o n t el e vi si o n. “I’ m n o t t h e s a m e p e r s o n a n y m o r e, ” h e s a y s.

P h ot o g r a p h of t h e Atl a nti c A v e n u e T u n n el, u n e a rt h e d b y B o b Di a m o n d aft e r d e c a d e s of

r e s e a r c hi n g t h e 1 7 4- y e a r- ol d s u b w a y c a v e r n.
Q. S a k a m a ki f o r N e w s w e e k
A B u ri e d C at c h- 2 2
Aft e r f o u r y e a r s i n L o n g B r a n c h, N e w J e r s e y, Di a m o n d ki c k e d hi s d r u g a d di cti o n a n d
r e u nit e d wit h hi s gi rlf ri e n d. B ut a c r o s s t h e H u d s o n, hi s n e w, s o b e r lif e p r o v e d a b o r e. I n
2 0 0 6, t h e t w o m o v e d b a c k t o B r o o kl y n. Di a m o n d, n o w li vi n g at hi s m ot h e r’ s a p a rt m e nt
i n K e n si n gt o n, h a d n o i nt e nti o n of g oi n g b a c k i nt o t h e t u n n el. B ut s o m e 1 0 m o nt h s
l at e r, i n 2 0 0 7, h e r e c ei v e d a c all f r o m t h e D O T a s ki n g hi m t o r e s u m e hi s t u n n el t o u r s.
S u r p ri s e d b ut g r at ef ul, h e a g r e e d. T h e cit y i s s u e d hi m a n e w p e r mit, a n d h e r e u nit e d
wit h a n ol d B H R A p a rt n e r a n d hi g h s c h o ol f ri e n d. T h e y p o p p e d o p e n t h e m a n h ol e. “I
t h o u g ht t hi n g s w e r e g oi n g t o b e diff e r e nt, ” h e s a y s.
I niti all y, t h e y w e r e. T h e Hi st o r y C h a n n el fil m e d a s p e ci al o n t h e t u n n el. T h e N e w Y o r k
Ti m e s r a n a n a rti cl e p r o m oti n g hi s t o u r s. A n d N ati o n al G e o g r a p hi c d e ci d e d it w o ul d
c o n d u ct a m a g n et o m et e r t e st of w h at —if a n yt hi n g — w a s b e hi n d t h at w all.
A s t h e p r oj e ct p r o g r e s s e d, h o w e v e r, N ati o n al G e o g r a p hi c s e e m e d t o w a nt a s littl e t o d o
wit h Di a m o n d a s p o s si bl e. “ M y r ol e w a s b ei n g di mi ni s h e d, ” h e r e c all s. “ T h e y w e r e t h e
s ci e nti st s, a n d I w a s j u st t hi s c r a n k w h o h u n g a r o u n d t h e n ei g h b o r h o o d t al ki n g a b o ut
t h e t u n n el f o r y e a r s. ” N ati o n al G e o g r a p hi c d e cli n e d t o b e i nt e r vi e w e d b y N e w s w e e k ,
b ut a 2 0 1 0 e m ail f r o m t h e c o m p a n y t o t h e D O T s u p p o rt s Di a m o n d’ s cl ai m: “ R e g a r di n g
B o b … pl e a s e u n d e r st a n d t h at w e a r e n ot e n d o r si n g, n o r hi g hli g hti n g t h e t o u r s t h at h e
h a s b e e n l e a di n g. ” T h e a r c h a e ol o gi st t h e y hi r e d t o c o n s ult o n t h e p r oj e ct, Di a m o n d
n ot e s, w a s t h e p r e si d e nt of P A N Y C.
B y t h e ti m e t h e N ati o n al G e o g r a p hi c p r oj e ct h a d g o n e a w r y, t h e B H R A’ s r el ati o n s hi p
wit h t h e D O T h a d d et e ri o r at e d a s w ell. T h e B H R A h a d b e g u n b uil di n g a s e c o n d e nt r a n c e
t o t h e t u n n el, s o m et hi n g it h a d a g r e e d t o d o b a c k i n 1 9 8 6. I n 2 0 0 9, h o w e v e r, t h e
d e p a rt m e nt p oi nt e d o ut ( ri g htl y) t h at hi s n e w a g r e e m e nt wit h t h e cit y n o l o n g e r all o w e d
hi m t o p e rf o r m a n y c o n st r u cti o n, a n d s o w o r k w a s h alt e d. I n l at e 2 0 1 0, Di a m o n d
r e c ei v e d t h at a n g r y p h o n e c all a n d f a x f r o m t h e D O T t elli n g hi m t h at hi s p e r mi s si o n t o
e nt e r t h e t u n n el h a d b e e n r e v o k e d. T h e l ett e r off e r e d n o e x pl a n ati o n, b ut e n cl o s e d wit h
it w a s a n a s s e s s m e nt of t h e t u n n el b y t h e fir e d e p a rt m e nt, a p p a r e ntl y b a s e d o n p h ot o s
f r o m t h e B H R A’ s w e b sit e, cl ai mi n g t h at t h e t u n n el w a s a s af et y h a z a r d, a s it h a d o nl y a
si n gl e e nt r a n c e.
“It w a s a c at c h- 2 2, ” s a y s Di a m o n d’ s l a w y e r, G a b e S al e m, w h o i n 2 0 1 1 fil e d s uit a g ai n st
t h e cit y f o r w r o n gf ull y r e v o ki n g Di a m o n d’ s a c c e s s t o t h e t u n n el. “ W e n e v e r c o ul d fi g u r e
o ut w h at r e all y h a p p e n e d, ” s a y s Di a m o n d. “It’ s o n e of t h e r e a s o n s w e s u e d. ”
E a rl y p h ot o g r a p h of B o b Di a m o n d at t h e t u n n el.
Q. S a k a m a ki f o r N e w s w e e k
Page 662
O n e ni g ht i n D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2, Di a m o n d w a s u p l at e. Hi s c a s e w a s g oi n g n o w h e r e, a n d
hi s s pi rit s w e r e l o w. H e w a s w at c hi n g a m o vi e, l e afi n g t h r o u g h a n ei g ht-i n c h st a c k of
m o r e t h a n 2, 0 0 0 l e g al d o c u m e nt s S al e m h a d o bt ai n e d b y s u b p o e n ai n g a c o n s ult a nt o n
t h e N ati o n al G e o g r a p hi c p r oj e ct. H e h o p e d t o fi n d s o m e e x pl a n ati o n f o r w h y N ati o n al
G e o g r a p hi c di d n’t w a nt hi m i n v ol v e d i n it s s p e ci al a b o ut t h e t u n n el. B ut aft e r h e
s c a n n e d h u n d r e d s of p a g e s, t h e s e a r c h l o o k e d g ri m.
A r o u n d mi d ni g ht, h o w e v e r, h e r e a c h e d P a g e 6 6 2, w hi c h h a d t h e r e s ult s of a
m a g n et o m et e r st u d y of t h e a r e a b e hi n d t h e t u n n el’ s w all. “I di d n’t k n o w t h e y di d a
st u d y, ” Di a m o n d s a y s, a s h e b e g a n t o r e a d t h e r e s ult s: “ O n e l a r g e s u b s u rf a c e m et alli c
a n o m al y w a s i d e ntifi e d e xt e n di n g a c r o s s Atl a nti c A v e n u e a n d e n c o m p a s si n g b ot h t h e
w e st b o u n d a n d e a st b o u n d r o a d w a y. … ”
“I w a s fl o o r e d, ” Di a m o n d s a y s. “I r e a d it a b o ut 1 0 ti m e s t o m a k e s u r e. ” H e t h e n f o u n d a n
e m ail, f r o m t h e c o m p a n y t h at p e rf o r m e d t h e m a g n et o m et e r t e st t o t h e P A N Y C
c o n s ult a nt o n t h e p r oj e ct, c o nfi r mi n g w h at at t hi s p oi nt h e al r e a d y k n e w: “ T h e r e i s n o
q u e sti o n t h at s o m et hi n g( s) m et alli c i s b u ri e d u n d e r Atl a nti c A v e. ”
“I w a s i n a st at e of e c st a s y, ” h e r e m e m b e r s. T h e n e xt m o r ni n g h e t el e p h o n e d S al e m.
“ Y o u k n o w w h at, G a b e ? ” h e s ai d, l a u g hi n g. “ T h e y f o u n d t h e l o c o m oti v e d o w n t h e r e! ”
“ T h at’ s a Littl e P a r a n oi d, B o b ”
I n A p ril, I vi sit e d Di a m o n d at a m o nt hl y B H R A m e eti n g. H e a n d t w o c oll e a g u e s w e r e
g at h e r e d a r o u n d t h ei r r e g ul a r t a bl e at C o n n e cti c ut M uffi n, di s c u s si n g a n e w t r oll e y li n e,
f o r w hi c h t h e g r o u p h a s p r o d u c e d a 3 0 0- p a g e r e p o rt d et aili n g h o w r e c e nt st r e et c a r
p r oj e ct s i n t h e U. S. h a v e yi el d e d a s m u c h a s a 2, 0 0 0 p e r c e nt r et u r n o n i n v e st m e nt a n d
c o st h alf a s m u c h a s t h e a v e r a g e cit y b u s t o o p e r at e. If t h e p r o p o s al i s a c c e pt e d, t h e
t r oll e y w o ul d r u n u n d e r Atl a nti c A v e n u e, r e q ui ri n g t h e cit y t o at l a st b r e a k t h r o u g h t h e
w all at t h e e n d of Di a m o n d’ s t u n n el.
Di a m o n d i s c o nfi d e nt h e will g et b a c k i n si d e t h e t u n n el, eit h e r t h r o u g h hi s l a w s uit o r t h e
n e w t r oll e y p r o p o s al. W h e n I a s k if h e still t hi n k s t h e l o st di a r y p a g e s of J o h n Wil k e s
B o ot h a r e d o w n t h e r e, h e l a u g h s a n d t a k e s a si p of hi s c off e e. “ T h e y u s e d t o s a y t h e
l o c o m oti v e di d n’t e xi st, ” h e s a y s.
W hil e h e w ait s, Di a m o n d i s s e a r c hi n g f o r a n ot h e r f o r g ott e n t u n n el. T hi s o n e, a
p n e u m ati c t u b e b e n e at h Cit y H all P a r k i n M a n h att a n, w a s c o n st r u ct e d i n 1 8 7 0 b y
S ci e ntifi c A m e ri c a n e dit o r Alf r e d El y B e a c h. O nl y t h r e e y e a r s aft e r it o p e n e d, h o w e v e r,
B o s s T w e e d, t h e n a r g u a bl y t h e m o st p o w e rf ul a n d c o r r u pt p oliti c al o p e r at o r i n N e w
Y o r k Cit y, h a d it s h ut d o w n, f e a ri n g it w o ul d c o m p et e wit h hi s h o r s e- d r a w n c a r ri a g e
b u si n e s s. T h e g e n e r al b eli ef i s t h at B e a c h’ s t u n n el w a s d e st r o y e d w h e n N e w Y o r k d u g
t h e c u r r e nt s u b w a y s y st e m y e a r s l at e r. B ut Di a m o n d t hi n k s ot h e r wi s e. U si n g t h e o nli n e
hi st o ri c al d at a b a s e of t h e N e w Y o r k P u bli c Li b r a r y, h e’ s a s s e m bl e d y ell o w e d m a g a zi n e
cli p s, s c h e m ati c s a n d c e nt u r y- ol d m a p s of t h e h a n d r ail s i n Cit y H all P a r k. Di a m o n d
a s s e rt s t h at t h e s e d o c u m e nt s p r o v e B e a c h’ s t u b e w a s n ot i n t h e p at h of t h e c u r r e nt
s u b w a y s y st e m b ut i s, i n st e a d, still b u ri e d s af el y b e n e at h t h e p a r k. If h e’ s ri g ht, it w o ul d
b e t h e ol d e st s u b w a y t u n n el i n M a n h att a n, a n d s e c o n d i n t h e fi v e b o r o u g h s o nl y t o
Atl a nti c A v e n u e.
T u r ni n g t o B H R A m e m b e r R a y H o w ell a c r o s s t h e t a bl e, Di a m o n d s a y s, “If w e fi n d it,
h o w m u c h y o u w a nt t o b et t h e y w o n’t l et m e i n si d e ? ”
“ T h at’ s a littl e p a r a n oi d, B o b, ” s a y s H o w ell.
“I’ll b et y o u a c h e e s e b u r g e r — a d o u bl e c h e e s e b u r g e r. ”
A f e w w e e k s l at e r, Di a m o n d a n d I w e nt t o Cit y H all P a r k t o s e a r c h f o r e vi d e n c e of t h e
t u n n el. H e l o c at e d t h e s p ot w h e r e it o n c e v e nt e d i nt o t h e o p e n ai r, b ut g r a s s h a s l o n g
g r o w n o v e r t h e a r e a. “ W e’ r e st a n di n g ri g ht o n t o p of it, ” h e t ell s m e. B ut wit h o ut h el p
f r o m t h e cit y, t h e r e w a s n o w a y t o k n o w f o r c e rt ai n w h et h e r h e i s ri g ht.
T h e T u n n el Ki n g si g h s. Si n c e di s c o v e ri n g t h e Atl a nti c A v e n u e T u n n el, h e h a s g ai n e d
m o r e t h a n 1 5 0 p o u n d s a n d l o st m o st of hi s t e et h a n d s o m e of hi s h ai r. H e i s e x h a u st e d.
“ O h w ell, ” h e s a y s. “ L et s o m e b o d y el s e fi n d it a n d b e c h a s e d b y P A N Y C f o r 3 0 y e a r s. ”

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Tr u m p' s s e cr et- s e cr etl y m et wit h Ki m dir e ctl y t o N ort h K or e a D e n u c le a ri za tio n U n w
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U n o n J u n e 1 2 i n Si n g a p or e, t h e U S pr e si d e nt a n n o u n c e d T h ur s d a y o n T witt er.

" T h e hi g hl y a nti ci p at e d m e eti n g b et w e e n Ki m J o n g U n a n d m y s elf will t a k e pl a c e i n Si n g a p or e

o n J u n e 1 2t h," Tr u m p t w e et e d. " W e will b ot h tr y t o m a k e it a v er y s p e ci al m o m e nt f or W orl d
P e a c e!"

T h e s u m mit, w hi c h h a s b e e n i n t h e w or k s si n c e Tr u m p a c c e pt e d Ki m' s i n vit ati o n t o m e et i n

M ar c h, will b e t h e fir st e v er m e eti n g b et w e e n a sitti n g U S pr e si d e nt a n d N ort h K or e a n l e a d er.

U S offi ci al s h a d al s o c o n si d er e d h ol di n g t h e s u m mit at t h e K or e a n d e milit ari z e d z o n e or i n

M o n g oli a, b ut ulti m at el y s ettl e d o n t h e cit y- st at e of Si n g a p or e a s t h e l o c ati o n.

C N N r e p ort e d W e d n e s d a y Tr u m p a d mi ni str ati o n offi ci al s w er e m o vi n g f or w ar d wit h pl a n s f or t h e

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R e c ei v e F a r e e d Z a k a ri a' s Gl o b al A n al y si s
i n cl u di n g i n si g ht s a n d m u st - r e a d s of w o rl d n e w s

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g n g

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L e a di n g c h oi c e

R el at e d Arti cl e:

Si n g a p or e w a s t h e e arl y l e a di n g c h oi c e a m o n g t o p a d mi ni str ati o n offi ci al s, i n cl u di n g S e cr et ar y of

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r e c o g ni z e d t h at t h e s u m mit l o c ati o n w o ul d pl a y a n o ut si z e d r ol e i n h o w t h e t al k s ar e vi e w e d
ar o u n d t h e w orl d.

T h eir c hi ef c o n c er n w a s t h e a p p e ar a n c e of n e utr alit y -- b ot h i n t h e l o c ati o n' s p oliti c s ( n o

c o u ntri e s s u c h a s C hi n a or R u s si a t h at ar e s e e n a s "t o o c o m m u ni st") a n d it s g e o gr a p h y.
L o gi sti c s w er e a s e c o n d ar y b ut still m aj or c o n c er n. O n c e Ki m d e m o n str at e d h e w a s willi n g t o g et
o n o n e of hi s air pl a n e s t o fl y t o C hi n a t hi s w e e k, offi ci al s w er e c o n vi n c e d Si n g a p or e -- s o m e
3, 0 0 0 mil e s fr o m P y o n g y a n g -- w o ul d w or k.

Tr u m p l a st w e e k s ai d a d at e a n d ti m e f or t h e m e eti n g h a d b e e n s et. B ut d e s pit e t h at, a l o c ati o n

a n d d at e w er e n ot fi n ali z e d u ntil P o m p e o m et wit h t h e N ort h K or e a n s. B ot h t h e y a n d t h e S o ut h
K or e a n g o v er n m e nt w er e pr e s si n g f or t al k s at t h e D M Z a n d w er e e n c o ur a g e d b y Tr u m p' s p u bli c
e n d or s e m e nt of h ol di n g t h e m t h er e.

" N u m er o u s c o u ntri e s ar e b ei n g c o n si d er e d f or t h e M E E TI N G, b ut w o ul d P e a c e H o u s e/ Fr e e d o m
H o u s e, o n t h e B or d er of N ort h & S o ut h K or e a, b e a m or e R e pr e s e nt ati v e, I m p ort a nt a n d L a sti n g
sit e t h a n a t hir d p art y c o u ntr y ? J u st a s ki n g!" Tr u m p h a d t w e et e d l a st w e e k.

Hi s t w e et c a u g ht ai d e s off g u ar d, si n c e t h at sit e h a d b e e n i nt er n all y r ul e d o ut. Ai d e s h a d b e e n

t a s k e d wit h s e ei n g w h et h er Si n g a p or e c o ul d pr o vi d e si mil arl y c el e br at or y at m o s p h eri c s s h o ul d
t h e t al k s s u c c e e d.

P o m p e o, K ell y a n d n ati o n al s e c urit y a d vi s er J o h n B olt o n c o nti n u e d t o ar g u e t h at t h e D M Z c o ul d

a p p e ar c o n cili at or y t o Ki m a n d t h at h e m a y g et t h e wr o n g m e s s a g e if Tr u m p tr a v el e d t h er e. It
t o o k a c o u pl e w e e k s t o di s s u a d e hi m fr o m t h e i d e a of h ol di n g t h e t al k s t h er e, b ut e v e nt u all y h e
c a m e ar o u n d t o Si n g a p or e.

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R el e a s e d pri s o n er s

R el at e d Arti cl e:

T h e a n n o u n c e m e nt c a m e a d a y aft er N ort h K or e a r el e a s e d t hr e e i m pri s o n e d A m eri c a n s d uri n g

U S S e cr et ar y of St at e Mi k e P o m p e o' s m o st r e c e nt vi sit t o P y o n g y a n g.

B e y o n d s e c uri n g t h e r el e a s e of t h e t hr e e A m eri c a n s, P o m p e o al s o fi n ali z e d d et ail s f or t h e

u p c o mi n g s u m mit b et w e e n Tr u m p a n d Ki m.

Tr u m p h a s str u c k a c a uti o u sl y o pti mi sti c t o n e i n di s c u s si n g t h e pr o s p e ct s of r e a c hi n g a d e al

d uri n g hi s u p c o mi n g s u m mit wit h Ki m, s a yi n g h e i s h o p ef ul a hi st ori c a gr e e m e nt c a n b e
br o k er e d w hil e al s o w ar ni n g t h e t al k s c o ul d pr o v e u nfr uitf ul. B ut t h e Pr e si d e nt s a w t h e r el e a s e of
t h e t hr e e A m eri c a n s a s y et a n ot h er r e a s o n f or o pti mi s m a s h e pr e p ar e s f or t h e s u m mit.

" W e ar e st arti n g off o n a n e w f o oti n g -- I r e all y t hi n k w e h a v e a v er y g o o d c h a n c e of d oi n g

s o m et hi n g v er y m e a ni n gf ul. A l ot of v er y g o o d t hi n g s h a v e h a p p e n e d," Tr u m p s ai d a s h e gr e et e d
t h e f or m er pri s o n er s at J oi nt B a s e A n dr e w s e arl y T h ur s d a y m or ni n g.

"I r e all y t hi n k h e w a nt s t o d o s o m et hi n g a n d bri n g t h e c o u ntr y i nt o t h e r e al w orl d," h e a d d e d of

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Ki m. "It' s n e v er b e e n t a k e n t hi s f ar, t h er e h a s n e v er b e e n a r el ati o n s hi p li k e t hi s. I r e all y t hi n k a

l ot of pr o gr e s s h a s b e e n m a d e."

P AI D C O N T E N T

L o c at e A n y o n e B y E nt eri n g T h eir S e ar c hi n g f or t h e B e st 2 0 1 8
N a m e ( T hi s i s A d di cti n g) Cr o s s o v er S U V s ?
S p o n s or e d: Tr ut h Fi n d er S p o n s or e d: Fi n d Arti cl e s

1 6 A m a zi n g F a ct s a b o ut Mi c k 3 5 Stri ct R ul e s M e g h a n M ar kl e H a s T h e I n cr e di bl e 2 0 1 8 C ar s S o C o ol It' s
J a g g er’ s L a vi s h Lif e T o F oll o w N o w S h e I s a R o y al H ar d t o B eli e v e T h e y C o st U n d er 2 0 k
S p o n s or e d: W or k + M o n e y S p o n s or e d: I c e P o p S p o n s or e d: F a q e o

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P e a c e di vi d e n d - Wi ki p e di a

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Arti cl e T al k Read E dit Vi e w hi st or y S e ar c h Wi

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Fr o m Wi ki p e di a, t h e fr e e e n c y cl o p e di a
M ai n p a g e
C o nt e nt s
P e a c e di vi d e n d i s a p oliti c al sl o g a n p o p ul ari z e d b y U S Pr e si d e nt G e or g e H. W. B u s h and U K
F e at ur e d c o nt e nt Pri m e Mi ni st er M ar g ar et T h at c h er i n t h e e arl y 1 9 9 0 s, p ur p orti n g t o d e s cri b e t h e e c o n o mi c
C urr e nt e v e nt s b e n efit of a d e cr e a s e i n d ef e n s e s p e n di n g. It i s u s e d pri m aril y i n di s c u s si o n s r el ati n g t o t h e g u n s
R a n d o m arti cl e v er s u s b utt er t h e or y . T h e t er m w a s fr e q u e ntl y u s e d at t h e e n d of t h e C ol d W ar , w h e n m a n y
D o n at e t o Wi ki p e di a W e st er n n ati o n s si g nifi c a ntl y c ut milit ar y s p e n di n g ( s u c h a s Brit ai n' s O pti o n s f or C h a n g e
Wi ki p e di a st or e
d ef e n c e r e vi e w).
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C o nt e nt s [hi d e ]
H el p
1 R e al or n ot ?
A b o ut Wi ki p e di a
2 Ot h er u s e s
C o m m u nit y p ort al
R e c e nt c h a n g e s 3 S e e al s o
C o nt a ct p a g e 4 N ot e s

T o ol s

W h at li n k s h er e R e al o r n ot ? [ e dit ]
R el at e d c h a n g e s
W hil e e c o n o mi e s d o u n d er g o a r e c e s si o n aft er t h e e n d of a m aj or c o nfli ct a s t h e e c o n o m y i s
U pl o a d fil e
f or c e d t o a dj u st a n d r et o ol, a " p e a c e di vi d e n d" r ef er s t o a p ot e nti al l o n g-t er m b e n efit a s b u d g et s
S p e ci al p a g e s
P er m a n e nt li n k f or d ef e n s e s p e n di n g ar e a s s u m e d t o b e at l e a st p arti all y r e dir e ct e d t o s o ci al pr o gr a m s a n d/ or a
P a g e i nf or m ati o n d e cr e a s e i n t a x ati o n r at e s. T h e e xi st e n c e of a p e a c e di vi d e n d i n r e al e c o n o mi e s i s still d e b at e d,
Wi ki d at a it e m b ut s o m e r e s e ar c h p oi nt s t o it s r e alit y. [ 1]

Cit e t hi s p a g e
A p oliti c al di s c u s si o n a b o ut t h e p e a c e di vi d e n d r e s ulti n g fr o m t h e e n d of t h e C ol d W ar i n v ol v e s
Pri nt/ e x p ort a d e b at e a b o ut w hi c h c o u ntri e s h a v e a ct u all y s c al e d b a c k milit ar y s p e n di n g a n d w hi c h h a v e n ot.
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D o w nl o a d a s P D F R u s si a n F e d er ati o n . T h e U nit e d St at e s , w h o s e milit ar y s p e n di n g w a s r a pi dl y r e d u ci n g b et w e e n
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N ot e s [ e dit ]

1. ^ S a nj e e v G u pt a, B e n e di ct Cl e m e nt s, Ri n a B h att a c h ar y a, a n d S h a mit C h a kr a v arti ( 2 0 0 2), " T h e

El u si v e P e a c e Di vi d e n d" at Fi n a n c e & D e v el o p m e nt , a q u art erl y m a g a zi n e of t h e I M F.
2. ^ " U. S. milit ar y s p e n di n g" . N ati o n al Pri oriti e s Pr oj e ct .
3. ^ S a ul, J o n at h a n ( 5 M a y 2 0 0 8). " N ort h er n Ir el a n d l o o k s t o m a k e p e a c e di vi d e n d p a y" .
R e ut er s . T h o m s o n R e ut er s. R etri e v e d 2 2 O ct o b er 2 0 1 2. " N ort h er n Ir el a n d' s a ut h oriti e s h o p e t h at
er a, w hi c h cl ai m e d o v er 3, 6 0 0 li v e s a n d w a s k n o w n a s T h e Tr o u bl e s , i s n o w cl o s e d, a n d t h e y
s a y t h e y ar e alr e a d y r e a pi n g a p e a c e di vi d e n d. I n t h e p a st 1 0 y e ar s, o v er 1 0 0, 0 0 0 j o b s h a v e
b e e n cr e at e d, a n d t h e u n e m pl o y m e nt r at e n o w st a n d s at ar o u n d 4. 2 p er c e nt, b el o w t h e U K
a v er a g e of a b o ut 5. 2 p er c e nt. E c o n o mi c gr o wt h i n N ort h er n Ir el a n d a v er a g e d ar o u n d 2. 9 t o 3
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p er c e nt."

C at e g ori e s : P oliti c al e c o n o m y Peace Milit ar y e c o n o mi c s

T hi s p a g e w a s l a st e dit e d o n 1 J ul y 2 0 1 7, at 1 9: 4 9.

T e xt i s a v ail a bl e u n d er t h e Cr e ati v e C o m m o n s Attri b uti o n- S h ar e Ali k e Li c e n s e ; a d diti o n al t er m s m a y a p pl y. B y u si n g t hi s sit e,

y o u a gr e e t o t h e T er m s of U s e a n d Pri v a c y P oli c y . Wi ki p e di a ® i s a r e gi st er e d tr a d e m ar k of t h e Wi ki m e di a F o u n d ati o n, I n c. ,
a n o n- pr ofit or g a ni z ati o n.

Pri v a c y p oli c y A b o ut Wi ki p e di a Di s cl ai m er s C o nt a ct Wi ki p e di a D e v el o p er s C o o ki e st at e m e nt M o bil e vi e w

htt ps:// e n. wi ki p e di a. or g/ wi ki/ P e a c e _ di vi d e n d[ 5/ 3 0/ 2 0 1 8 4: 2 7: 5 6 P M]

 THE ALL·NEW 2019

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UNDERUTILIZED

North Korea is sitting on trillions of dollars

of untapped wealth, and its neighbors
want in

D P1enty more where this came from. (Reuters/Yuri Maltsev)

SHARE Few think of North Korea as being a prosperous nation. But it is rich in
one regard: mineral resources.

WRITTEN BY Currently North Korea is alarming neighbors with its frequent missile
Steve Mollman tests, and the US with its attempts to field long-range nuclear missiles
that can hit American cities. A sixth nuclear test could be imminent. An
attack on the US or its allies would be suicidal, so Pvongyan� probably
June I b, zu I/
aims to extract "aid" from the international community in exchange for
dismantling some of its weaponry-rewind about 10 years to see the
last time it pulled off the old "nuclear blackmail" trick.

But however much North Korea

could extract from other
nations that way, the result
would pale in comparison to
the value of its largely
untapped underground
resources.

Below the nation's mostly seo..:• -

mountainous surface are vast

mineral reserves, including
iron, gold, magnesite, zinc,
copper, limestone,
molybdenum, graphite, and
more-all told about 200 kinds
ti No shortage of minerals. (Quartz)
of minerals. Also present are
large amounts of rare earth
metals, which factories in nearby countries need to make smartphones
and other high-tech products.

Estimates as to the value of the nation's mineral resources have varied

greatly over the years, made difficult by secrecy and lack of access.
North Korea itself has made what are likely exaggerated claims about
them. According to one estimate from a South Korean state-owned
mining company, they're worth over $6 trillion. Another from a South
Korean research institute puts the amount closer to $10 trillion.

State of neglect

North Korea has prioritized its mining sector since the 1970s (pdf, p.
31). But while mining production increased until about 1990-iron ore
production peaked in 1985-after that it started to decline. A count in
2012 put the number of mines in the country at about 700 (pdf, p. 2).
Many, though, have been poorly run and are in a state of neglect. The
nation lacks the equipment, expertise, and even basic infrastructure to
properly tap into the jackpot that waits in the ground.

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In April, Lloyd R. Vasey, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies, noted that:
 North Korean mining production has decreased significantly since the
early 1990s. It is likely that the average operational rate of existing
mine facilities is below 30 per cent of capacity. There is a shortage of
mining equipment and North Korea is unable to purchase new
equipment due to its dire economic situation, the energy shortage
and the age and generally poor condition of the power grid.

ii Don't expect stable electricity. (NASA, Wikimed·a Commons)

It doesn't help that private mining is illegal in communist North Korea,

as are private enterprises in general (at least technically). Or that the
ruling regime, now led by third-generation dictator Kim Jong-un, has
been known to, seemingly on a whim, kick out foreign mining
companies it's allowed in, or suddenly change the terms of agreements.

Despite all this, the nation is so blessed with underground resources

that mining makes up roughly 14% of the economy.

A"cashcow"

China is the sector's main customer. Last September, South Korea's

state-run Korea Development Institute said that the mineral trade
between North Korea and China remains a "cash cow" for Pyongyang
despite UN sanctions, and that it accounted for 54% (paywall) of the
North's total trade volume to China in the first half of 2016. In 2015
China imported $73 million in iron ore from North Korea, and $680,000
worth of zinc in the first quarter of this year.

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North Korea has been particularly active in coal mining in recent years.
In 2015 China imported about $1 billion worth of coal from North
Korea. Coal is especially appealing because it can be mined with
relatively simple equipment. Large deposits of the stuff are located near
major ports and the border with China, making the nation's bad
transportation infrastructure less of an issue.

For years Chinese buyers have purchased coal from North Korea at far
below the market rate. AI; of last summer, coal shipments to China
accounted for about 40% (paywall) of all North Korean exports. But
global demand for coal is declining as alternatives like natural gas and
renewables gain momentum, and earlier this year Beijing, in line with
UN sanctions, began restricting coal imports from its neighbor.

The sanctions game

After North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, the UN began
imposing ever stronger sanctions against it. Last year the nation's
underground resources became a focus. In November 2016, the UN
passed a resolution capping North Korea's coal exports and banning
shipments of nickel, copper, zinc, and silver. That followed a resolution
in March 2016 banning the export (pdf) of gold, vanadium, titanium,
and rare earth metals.

The resolutions targeting the mining sector could hurt the Kim regime.
Before they were issued, a 2014 report on the country's mining sector by
the United States Geological Survey noted that (pdf, p. 3), "The mining
sector in North Korea is not directly subject to international economic
sanctions and is, therefore, the only legal, lucrative source of
investment trade available to the country."

That is no longer the case.

Of course, Pyongyang has grown adept at evading such sanctions,

especially through shipping. Glimpses of its covert activities come from
occasional interceptions of vessels. Last August Egyptian authorities
boarded a ship laden with 2,300 tons (2,087 metric tons) of iron ore
heading from North Korea to the Suez Canal (they also found 30,000
rocket-propelled grenades below the ore).

Earlier this year a group of UN experts concluded that North Korea,

despite sanctions, continues to export banned minerals. They
determined, as well, that North Korea uses another mineral-gold­
along with cash to "entirely circumvent the formal financial sector."

Interested neighbors

Meanwhile China's overall trade with North Korea actually increased

37.4% (paywall) in the first quarter compared to the same period last
year. Its imports of iron ore from North Korea shot up 270% in January
and February from a year ago. Coal dropped 51.6%.
 D Plenty of iron ore in Musan. (Reuter.;/John Ruwitch)

North Korea's neighbors have long had their eyes on its bonanza of
mineral wealth. About five years ago China spent some $10 billion on an
infrastructure project near the border with North Korea, primarily to
give it easier access to the mineral resources. Conveniently North
Korea's largest iron ore deposits, in Musan County, are right by the
border. An analysis of satellite images published last October by 38
North, a website affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, showed
mining activity was alive and well in the area.

China particularly covets North Korea's rare earth minerals. Pyongyang

knows this. It punished Beijing in March by suspending exports of the
metals to China in retaliation for the coal trade restrictions.

Meanwhile Russia, which also shares a (smaller) border with North

Korea, in 2014 developed plans to overhaul North Korea's rail network
in exchange for access to the country's mineral resources. That
particular plan lost steam (pdf, p. 8), but the general sentiment is still
alive.

But South Korea has its own plans for the mineral resources. It sees
them as a way to help pay for reunification (should it finally come to
pass), which is expected to take decades and cost hundreds of billions or
even trillions of dollars. (Germany knows a few things about that.)
Overhauling the North's decrepit infrastructure, including the aging
railway line, will be part of the enormous bill.

MOST POPULAR
In May, South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
invited companies to submit bids on possible infrastructure projects in
North Korea, especially ones regarding the mining sector. It argued that
(paywall) the underground resources could "cover the expense of
repairing the North's poor infrastructure."

The Tesla Model 3 cost $28,000

to build, German engineers say­ It was, of course, jumping the gun a bit. For now South Korea-and the
and it still may not be profitable world-is stuck with a bully in the mineral-blessed North.

YOUVE GOT TWEETS

The complete, star-crossed saga of Donald

Trump and Kim Jong Un
 ft Quite the charmer. (South Korea Presidential Blue House Via AP)

SHARE 1\vo houses alike in dignity. Two passionate rivals at the height of their
powers. One high-stakes conflict. From ancient grudge to new mutiny, the
tale of how Trump finally met Kim is the story of the century.
WRITTEN BY

Annalisa Merelli When Trump met Kim (2016)

@missanabeem

Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump met online, and their relationship
OBSESSION
started off hot.

In January 2016, North Korea tested a hydrogen bomb, deeply irritating

Shours ago Trump. With a hint of jealousy, the US president blamed the bad
influence of a third party: China.

"China has total control, believe me, they say they don't, they have total
control over North Korea," he said in an interview with Fox and Friends.

But Trump couldn't stay away, apparently intrigued what he described

Waiting for www.facebook.com...
;is thP Nnrth KnrP,m ]p;irJpr's "h;irl rlnrlP" imilP-P. HP tnlrl 1.RS:
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 1

B R O O K L Y N HI S T O RI C R AI L W A Y A S S O CI A TI O N

Q ui c k R e p l y t o N Y C
D OT STREET C AR St ud y
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 2

H o ri z o n t a l C u r v e s & C o r n e r C l e a r a n c e s

T h e N Y C D O T s t u d y ci t e d a n u m b e r o f p o t e n ti a l c o n f li c t s t h e s t r e e t c a r w o u l d h a v e w hi l e
n a vi g a ti n g c o r n e r s i n c l u di n g: S n o w Pi l e s , C a r s , a n d B ui l di n g s .

S n o w Pi l e s :
I t i s p o s si b l e t o c l e a r s t r e e t c a r t r a c k a g e u si n g s p e ci a li z e d s t r e e t c a r s n o w p l o w s w hi c h w a s
s t a n d a r d p r a c ti c e d u ri n g t h e h e y d a y o f s t r e e t c a r o p e r a ti o n . T hi s w o u l d e li mi n a t e t hi s
c o n c er n . N ot e t h e l ar g e br us h es o n t h e fr o nt a n d b a c k of t h e str e et c ar s n o w pl o w.

C ars :
M o s t o l d e r s t r e e t c a r s h a v e t a p e r e d e n d s (t h e f r o n t a n d b a c k a p p e a r r o u n d e d ). T hi s h e l p e d t h e m
a v oi d c o n f li c t s wi t h o t h e r o b j e c t s a r o u n d c u r v e s . N o t e t h a t t h e n e w T o r o n t o S t r e e t c a r s
r e t ai n t hi s f e a t u r e w hi l e o t h e r “n e w e r ” s t r e e t c a r s a p p e a r m o r e b o x y .
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 3

B ui l di n g s :
C o n t r a r y t o t h e fi n di n g s i n t h e D O T s t u d y m o d e r n a r ti c u l a t e d s t r e e t c a r s c a n b e b ui l t t o
n a vi g a t e r a dii (H o ri z o n t a l C u r v e s ) o f l e s s t h a n 5 0’. T o r o n t o s p e ci fi c a l l y r e q u e s t e d a
s t r e e t c a r t h a t c o u l d n a vi g a t e i t s s m a l l t u r ni n g r a dii o f 3 6 - 3 8’ a n d t h e i n d u s t r y r e s p o n d e d .
C o r n e r b ui l di n g s wi l l n o t h a v e t o b e d e m o li s h e d t o b ui l d t h e s t r e e t c a r li n e .
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 4
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 5

I n t e r m o d a l C o n f li c t s
L o a di n g / U n l o a di n g :
S t r e e t c a r s w o u l d n o t c o n f li c t wi t h c o m m e r ci a l a c ti vi ti e s a n d c a n r e s p e c t t h e n e e d s o f l o c a l
b u si n e s s b y u ti li zi n g o f f s e t d e di c a t e d t r a n si t l a n e s . T h e s e l a n e s a r e a t l e a s t o n e l a n e r e m o v e d
f r o m t h e c u r b s o t h a t c o m m e r ci a l a c ti vi ti e s c a n s ti l l t a k e p l a c e .

B o a r di n g S t a ti o n s :
Si d e w a l k s w o u l d n o t h a v e t o b e r e c o n s t r u c t e d t o s t r e e t c a r h ei g h t i f b o a r di n g i s l a n d s a r e
u s e d . B o a r di n g i s l a n d s a r e e a si l y u s e d i n c o m bi n a ti o n wi t h o f f s e t l a n e s a n d wi l l n o t c r e a t e
t r a f fi c c h o k e h o l d s li k e t h e D O T s t u d y r e c o m m e n d e d b o a r di n g s t a ti o n .
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 6

Bi c y c l e s :
Bi c y c l e s a n d s t r e e t c a r s c a n e a si l y c o e xi s t . A si m p l e r u b b e r d e vi c e c a l l e d a bi k e s n e a k p r e v e n t s
bi c y c l e w h e e l s f r o m g e t ti n g s t u c k i n t r a c k w a y s . A d di ti o n a l l y , s t r e e t c a r s wi l l n e v e r b e
t r a v e li n g m o r e t h a n 2 5 m p h t h e N Y C s p e e d li mi t .

" "

T hi s i s H o w B H R A e n vi si o n s t h e s e c o n si d e r a ti o n s :
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 7

C ost
T h e Li n e c a n b e c o n s t r u c t e d f o r $ 1 3 mi l li o n / mi l e u si n g i n n o v a ti v e s t r a t e gi e s . T h e B H R A k n o w s
b e c a u s e i t w a s a b l e t o b ui l d f o r t hi s p ri c e .

N o n - P r o fi t :
A n o n - p r o fi t wi l l k e e p c o s t s d o w n . Ci ti e s t h a t h a v e u s e d t r a di ti o n a l m e t h o d s h a v e s e e n m u c h
hi g h e r c o s t s .

B H R A ’s C o m p a c t P o w e r C O n v e r t e r :
I t i s s m a l l e n o u g h t o b e a t t a c h e d t o t h e t r o l l e y wi r e p o l e a n d wi l l r e p l a c e u n si g h t l y a n d
r e a l - e s t a t e h u n g r y p o w e r c o n v e r t e r s t a ti o n s .

P r e f a b ri c a t e d T r a c k S e g m e n t s :
E a si l y i n s t a l l e d a n d wi l l a l l o w f o r e a s y r e p l a c e m e n t o f t r a c k s . T h e y c a n a l s o h o l d u ti li t y a n d
C o m m u ni c a ti o n c a b l e s . f e a t u r e d d e si g n s wi l l a l s o a l l o w s t o r m w a t e r t o d r ai n e a si l y .
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 8

T r a n si t O ri e n t e d D e v e l o p m e n t :

T he Red H o ok 1 9 7a p l a n e x a mi n e d t h e p o t e n ti a l o f a s t r e e t c a r li n e a n d a l s o e x p r e s s e d t h e
c o m m u ni t y ’s d e si r e t o i n c r e a s e t h e d e n si t y o f r e d h o o k b a c k t o p r e 1 9 6 0 hi g h s . D e v e l o p m e n t
o f n e w c o m m e r ci a l a n d r e si d e n ti a l u ni t s s h o u l d b e c o n c e n t r a t e d wi t hi n 1 / 2 mi l e o f a
s t r e e t c a r s t o p w hi c h i s i d e n ti c a l t o 1 0 mi n u t e s o f w a l ki n g a t a n o r m a l p a c e .

D e s pi t e t h e r e b ei n g n o s t r e e t c a r o r a d e q u a t e t r a n s p o r t a ti o n a n u m b e r o f l a r g e d e v e l o p m e n t s
a r e i n p l a n ni n g p h a s e s f o r r e d h o o k w hi c h wi l l n e e d t r a n s p o r t a ti o n . O n e s u c h d e v e l o p m e n t i s
l o w d e n si t y a n d hi g h l y c a r d e p e n d e n t .
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 9

1 6 0 I ml a y Street

R e d H o o k I n n o v a ti o n di s t ri c t (C o f f e y a n d F e r ri s S t r e e t s )
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 10

2 8 0 Ri c h a r d s S t r e e t

2 0 2 C offe y Street
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 11

1 6 0 V a n Br u nt Street

1 1 5 Ki n g S t r e e t ( 3 s t o r y Si n g l e F a mi l y )
I n a p p r o p ri a t e l a n d U s e : N o t e t h e B ui l t i n d e p e n d e n c e o n t h e A u t o m o bi l e a n d l o w d e n si t y
w hi c h wi l l s e r v e t o i n c r e a s e l a n d p ri c e s a n d l e a d t o g e n t ri fi c a ti o n .
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 12

F e d e r a l F u n di n g S o u r c e s

TI G E R G r a n t s :

t h e T r a n s p o r t a ti o n I n v e s t m e n t G e n e r a ti n g E c o n o mi c R e c o v e r y (TI G E R ) p r o g r a m w a s p a r t o f
t h e A m e ri c a n R e c o v e r y a n d R ei n v e s t m e n t A c t . F u n d s a r e d r a w n f r o m t h e g e n e r a l f u n d o f t h e
U .S . T r e a s u r y .

N e w St arts a n d S m all St arts Pr o gr a m:

T h e N e w S t a r t s a n d S m a l l S t a r t s p r o g r a m p r o vi d e s f e d e r a l f u n d s t o p u b li c t r a n s p o r t a ti o n
a g e n ci e s o n a l a r g e l y c o m p e ti ti v e b a si s f o r t h e c o n s t r u c ti o n o f n e w fi x e d g ui d e w a y t r a n si t
s y s t e m s a n d t h e e x p a n si o n o f e xi s ti n g s y s t e m s . T h e N e w S t a r t s a n d S m a l l S t a r t s p r o g r a m i s
o n e o f si x m a j o r f u n di n g p r o g r a m s a d mi ni s t e r e d b y F T A , a c c o u n ti n g f o r a b o u t 1 8 % o f F T A ’s
b u d g e t . U n li k e t h e o t h e r m a j o r f e d e r a l t r a n si t p r o g r a m s , w hi c h a r e f u n d e d f r o m t h e m a s s
t r a n si t a c c o u n t o f t h e hi g h w a y t r u s t f u n d , f u n di n g f o r t h e N e w S t a r t s a n d S m a l l S t a r t s
p r o g r a m c o m e s f r o m t h e g e n e r a l f u n d o f t h e U .S . T r e a s u r y .
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 13

F l e xi b l e Hi g h w a y F u n di n g

M A P - 2 1 c o n ti n u e s t o a l l o w c e r t ai n f e d e r a l - ai d hi g h w a y f u n d s t o b e u s e d f o r p u b li c
t r a n s p o r t a ti o n p r o j e c t s a t t h e di s c r e ti o n o f s t a t e a n d l o c a l o f fi ci a l s . M o s t o f t h e “f l e x e d ”
f u n d s h a v e c o m e f r o m t w o p r o g r a m s , t h e S u r f a c e T r a n s p o r t a ti o n P r o g r a m (S T P ) a n d t h e
C o n g e s ti o n Mi ti g a ti o n a n d Ai r Q u a li t y I m p r o v e m e n t P r o g r a m (C M A Q ).

N e w M a r k e t s T a x C r e di t P r o g r a m :

T h e N M T C p r o g r a m w a s e s t a b li s h e d a s a n e l e m e n t o f t h e C o m m u ni t y R e n e w a l T a x R e li e f A c t o f
2 0 0 0 – a bi - p a r ti s a n e f f o r t t o s ti m u l a t e i n v e s t m e n t a n d e c o n o mi c g r o w t h i n l o w - i n c o m e
u r b a n n ei g h b o r h o o d s t h a t l a c k a c c e s s t o c a pi t a l f o r b u si n e s s s u p p o r t , j o b c r e a ti o n , a n d
s u s t ai ni n g h e a l t h y l o c a l e c o n o mi e s . I t s g o a l i s t o s p u r r e vi t a li z a ti o n o f c o m m u ni ti e s a n d
p r o vi d e t a x c r e di t i n c e n ti v e s t o i n v e s t o r s f o r t h ei r i n v e s t m e n t s i n c e r ti fi e d C o m m u ni t y
D e v e l o p m e n t E n ti ti e s (C D E s ), w hi c h i n v e s t i n l o w - i n c o m e c o m m u ni ti e s . A N M T C i n v e s t o r r e c ei v e s
a t a x c r e di t e q u a l t o 3 9 p e r c e n t o f i t s t o t a l q u a li fi e d i n v e s t m e n t i n a n y c o m m u ni t y
d e v e l o p m e n t e n ti t y , wi t h t h e c r e di t r e a li z e d o v e r a s e v e n - y e a r p e ri o d – fi v e p e r c e n t a n n u a l l y
f o r t h e fi r s t t h r e e y e a r s , a n d si x p e r c e n t i n y e a r s f o u r t h r o u g h s e v e n . T h e M 1 r ai l p r o j e c t i n
D e t r oi t i s t h e fi r s t t o U s e t hi s p r o g r a m f o r t r a n si t .
r di a m o n d @ b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t b r o o k l y n r ai l .n e t 14

M U NI CI P A L F u n di n g S o u r c e s
P a r ki n g S a l e s T a x e s :
T hi s i s a s p e ci a l t a x o n p a r ki n g t r a n s a c ti o n s (w h e n m o t o ri s t s p a y di r e c t l y f o r p a r ki n g ).

P a r ki n g L e v y :
T hi s i s a s p e ci a l p r o p e r t y t a x o n n o n - r e si d e n ti a l p a r ki n g s p a c e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e
r e gi o n .

E x p a n d e d P a r ki n g P ri ci n g :
T hi s i n v o l v e s t h e e x p a n si o n o f w h e r e a n d w h e n p u b li c p a r ki n g i s p ri c e d , s u c h a s
m e t e ri n g c u r r e n t l y u n p ri c e d o n - s t r e e t p a r ki n g s p a c e s i n u r b a n n ei g h b o r h o o d s a n d
c h a r gi n g f o r o f f - s t r e e t p a r ki n g a t p u b li c f a ci li ti e s s u c h a s f o r g o v e r n m e n t e m p l o y -
e e s a n d a t s c h o o l s a n d p a r k s . T hi s i s b e s t i m p l e m e n t e d a s p a r t o f a c o m p r e h e n si v e
p a r ki n g m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m t h a t a l s o i n c l u d e s b e t t e r p ri ci n g s y s t e m s , u s e r i n f o r-
m a ti o n a n d e n f o r c e m e n t p r a c ti c e s .

D e v e l o p m e n t C o s t C h a r g e s o r T r a n s p o r t a ti o n I m p a c t F e e s :
T h es e ar e f e es o n n e w d e v el op m e nt t o h elp f u n d i nfr astr u ct ur e c osts .
T r a n s p o r t a ti o n o r t r a f fi c i m p a c t f e e a r e s o m e ti m e s d e di c a t e d t o r o a d w a y i m p r o v e-
m e n t s , s o p o li c y c h a n g e s m a y b e r e q ui r e d t o a l l o w t h e m t o b e s p e n t o n p u b li c
t r a n si t i m p r o v e m e n t s.

L a n d V al ue C apt ure :
T hi s i s a s p e ci a l p r o p e r t y t a x i m p o s e d i n a r e a s wi t h hi g h - q u a li t y p u b li c t r a n si t ,
i n t e n d e d t o r e c o v e r a p o r ti o n o f t h e i n c r e a s e d l a n d v a l u e s p r o vi d e d b y t r a n si t a n d
t o h e l p fi n a n c e t h e s e r vi c e i m p r o v e m e n t s. I t i s s o m e ti m e s c a l l e d a t r a n si t b e n e fi t
di s t ri c t t a x .

S t a ti o n R e n t s :
T hi s i n v o l v e s c o l l e c ti n g r e v e n u e s f r o m p u b li c - p ri v a t e d e v e l o p m e n t s o n p u b li c l y -
o w n e d l a n d i n o r n e a r t r a n si t s t a ti o n s .

S t a ti o n Ai r Ri g h t s :
T hi s i n v o l v e s s e l li n g t h e ri g h t s t o b ui l d o v e r t r a n si t s t a ti o n s .

A d v e r ti si n g :
M o s t t r a n si t a g e n ci e s c o l l e c t r e v e n u e s f r o m t r a n si t v e hi c l e , s t o p , a n d s t a ti o n a d v e r -
ti si n g .
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T R A N SI T I M P R O V E M E N T DI S T RI C T :
A t r a n s p o r t a ti o n i m p r o v e m e n t di s t ri c t (TI D ) i s a s p e ci a l f u n di n g di s t ri c t f o r i m p r o vi n g
t r a n s p o r t a ti o n i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a n d s e r vi c e s i n a s p e ci fi c a r e a . K n o w n i n s o m e s t a t e s a s
t r a n s p o r t a ti o n d e v e l o p m e n t di s t ri c t s (T D D ), g e n e r a l l y t h e y f u n c ti o n a s a
s e p a r a t e g o v e r n m e n t a l e n ti t y wi t h a u t h o ri t y t o l e v y t a x e s o r s p e ci a l a s s e s s m e n t s , i s s u e
r e v e n u e b o n d s , a n d e n t e r i n t o c o n t r a c t s f o r t r a n s p o r t a ti o n i m p r o v e m e n t s a n d r e l a t e d
p u r p o s e s . S o m e di s t ri c t s r e q ui r e n e w d e v e l o p m e n t p r o j e c t s wi t h t r a f fi c i m p a c t s t o p a y
f o r i m p r o v e m e n t s b a s e d o n a d o l l a r c o s t p e r v e hi c l e t ri p g e n e r a t e d .

C arb o n Offs et Pr o gr a m:
R e v e n u e d e ri v e d f r o m t h e s a l e o f t r a n si t o f f s e t c r e di t s w o u l d b e u s e d b y t h e T r a n si t a g e n c y t o
p r o vi d e a d di ti o n a l s e r vi c e o r o n i n v e s t m e n t s t h a t w o u l d p r o vi d e e v e n m o r e e mi s si o n s
r e d u c ti o n s b e y o n d r e g u l a r o p e r a ti o n s . S e a t t l e (Ki n g C o u n t y ) i s t h e fi r s t a r e a t o i m p l e m e n t
s u c h a pr o gr a m.

S T A T E F U N DI N G S O U R C E S

R o a d T olls:
T o l l s a r e u s e r f e e s f o r d ri vi n g o n a p a r ti c u l a r r o a d o r b ri d g e o r i n a p a r ti c u l a r a r e a .
V e hi c l e - K m T a x . T hi s i s a f o r m o f r o a d p ri ci n g t h a t c h a r g e s m o t o ri s t s p e r ki l o m e t e r t r a v e l e d .
It c o ul d
v a r y b y v e hi c l e t y p e , s u c h a s hi g h e r f e e s f o r hi g h e r p o l l u ti n g v e hi c l e s .

F u el T a x es:
S p e ci a l f u e l t a x c a n b e c o l l e c t e d i n a j u ri s di c ti o n t o f u n d p u b li c t r a n si t . I n s o m e
c a s e s a p o r ti o n o f e xi s ti n g f u e l t a x r e v e n u e i s d e di c a t e d t o p u b li c t r a n si t p r o g r a m s
wi t h o u t i n c r e a si n g f u e l t a x r a t e s .

V e hi c l e L e v y :
A v e hi c l e l e v y i s a n a d di ti o n a l f e e f o r r e gi s t e ri n g v e hi c l e s i n t h e r e gi o n .

U ti li t y L e v y :
T hi s i s a s p e ci a l t r a n si t l e v y a p p li e d t o a l l u ti li t y a c c o u n t s i n t h e r e gi o n .
 LIGHT RAIL ELECTRIFICATION

Feederless Traction Power Design Considerations for

New Streetcar Lines
MIKE COLLINS
AKIO UENO
LTK Engineering Services

T he construction of streetcar and electric trolley bus lines in urban areas poses some unique
challenges regarding the installation of overhead contact systems (OCS). These
considerations range from the aesthetics of a catenary system to costs for land procurement, high
voltage feeds required by a typical substation, and possible extensive buried conduit. An
integrated solution of both the overhead contact system and the traction power supply substations
can be used to address these issues without the need for expensive feeders along the track.
Feederless power distribution systems have been developed and implemented effectively
in both Portland and Seattle using novel solutions. The systems were designed independently but
have similarities, which can be used as a basis for the installation of electric traction systems in
other cities. Issues which were considered include

x Restriction of the OCS to a single contact wire;

x Use of existing 480 Vac supply power systems;
x Minimizing property procurement requirements;
x Minimizing the need for underground conduit;
x Minimizing stray currents and utility relocations; and
x Providing adequate power to operate electric vehicles.

Each of these issues will be described with specific examples of the how the challenges
were addressed.

INTRODUCTION

The installation of new streetcar and electric trolley bus (ETB) systems in dense urban areas
poses some design challenges which are not usually seen in rapid transit or LRT systems.
Streetcars and ETBs operate almost exclusively in dense urban areas, while rapid transit and
light rail normally operate with long open route sections and brief forays into downtown areas.
The usual strategies employed with LRT systems—namely, providing power from the fringes of
the downtown area with a low impedance distribution system and relocation of all utilities in the
affected streets—are difficult and very expensive to implement on an exclusively urban system.
In the Northwest, the Portland (Oregon) Streetcar and Seattle (Washington) Metro ETB systems
have used some innovative strategies to address these challenges.
The Portland Streetcar system design began in 1998 with an electrification system typical
of a light rail line. The system was conceptualized as a 2.5-mi (4-km) line using two or three 1

639
640 Transportation Research Circular E-C058: 9th National Light Rail Transit Conference

MW DC traction substations and a contact wire with parallel feeders to deliver power to the
vehicles and control the voltage drop in the lines. During the preliminary engineering phase the
difficulty of implementing this strategy quickly became apparent. The difficulty in siting the
substations, design prohibitions on using a catenary system instead of a single contact wire, and
stray current levels impacting utilities over the entire alignment would prove very expensive and
extremely unpopular. The task of downsizing this system without reducing capacity or
performance resulted in a number of the ideas presented in this paper.
The Seattle Metro ETB system consists of 60 route-mi (96 km) of two way traffic using
overhead contact wire and 37 traction power substations. The nominal system voltage is 700 V
DC. The original 55-mi (88-km) system was designed and constructed between 1975 and 1981
as part of the Trolley Overhead System and Substations Rehabilitation and Expansion Project.
An additional 5 mi (8 km) were added within the last 7 years. The new extensions use a
feederless system consisting of 4/0 AWG copper contact wire with 500 kW substations spaced
about 5,000 to 8,000 ft (1,500 to 2,400 m) apart.
Several techniques have been utilized to meet these challenges in both the Portland
Streetcar and Seattle Metro Trolley Bus systems. The following six areas are discussed in this
paper with examples:

x Restriction of the overhead design to a single contact wire;

x Use of existing utility power distribution systems;
x Minimization of property acquisition requirements;
x Minimization of underground conduit requirements;
x Minimization of stray currents and utility relocations; and
x Delivery of adequate power to the transit vehicles.

SINGLE CONTACT WIRE DESIGN

The single contact wire design seems to be every urban planner’s overhead contact systems
(OCS) preference. (That is, if they have to have a wire at all.) While it can be argued that the
general public will not notice the overhead conductors, the concept of a single contact wire
seems to arise in every urban area as a matter of aesthetics. From an engineering viewpoint, the
single wire design is attractive for its design simplicity and lower cost.
The main concern with using only a single contact wire is the higher impedance and
subsequent voltage drops which result from moving large amounts of current. Doing so through
a single wire over a long period of time may also result in overheating of the wire and annealing
of the copper if the sizing is not correct.
LRT systems constructed with a single contact wire generally use along-track
underground feeder cables typically sized from 500 to 750 kcmil. The other option is a full
catenary, often with a reduced system height referred to as a low profile catenary. The difference
in line resistance is significant. With a full catenary system (300 kcmil contact wire and a 500
kcmil messenger) the resulting resistance is 0.071 ohm per mi (0.044 ohm per km). The
underground feeder systems (300 kcmil contact wire with a parallel underground 750 kcmil
feeder) result in a resistance of 0.054 ohm per mi (0.034 ohm per km). By contrast, a single 300
kcmil contact wire yields a resistance of 0.188 ohm per mi (0.117 ohm per km), or three times
the line resistance of a typical LRT system.
Collins and Ueno 641

On the Portland Streetcar alignment this challenge was met by shrinking the distance
between substations to 0.5 mi (0.8 km) instead of a typical LRT spacing of 1 mi (1.6 km). This
effectively reduces the maximum distance from a substation to one half that seen on an LRT
system, approximately 1320 ft (400 m), and consequently reduces the line resistance by half.
Additionally, for the anticipated single-car operation the required current flow in the overhead
line is also reduced compared to a typical LRT two-car consist. The operational voltages on the
line are discussed further in a subsequent section.
In Seattle, 4/0 AWG overhead contact wire without parallel feeders in outlying area
results in an impedance of 0.266 ohm per mi (0.162 ohm per km), almost one and a half times
the impedance of the Portland Streetcar system. The lighter ETBs with a maximum current draw
of 500 amps allow the system to be operated with a substation spacing of 5,000 to 8,000 ft (1,500
to 2,400 m).
The key to designing for a single contact wire is knowing what the loads are going to be
and designing a system that will serve these loads within the limits of the wire.

MINIMIZING UNDERGROUND CONDUIT

Using the single wire concept instead of a parallel feeder system also greatly reduces the need for
an underground conduit system to contain the feeder system. Generally, two 4-in. (100 mm)
conduits are installed for along-track feeders with a manhole placed every 300 ft (90 m) and a
lateral feeder run to a pole base and up to the contact wire on every block.
Underground conduit can also be required for transfer tripping substations as a back-up to
the primary overcurrent protection. These wires require an additional 2-in. (50 mm) conduit. On
both Portland Streetcar and Seattle Metro ETB systems the di/dt protection with reclosure relays
is relied on to ensure an adjacent substation trips in the event of higher impedance faults where
the primary overcurrent protection does not see the fault.
The cost of installing underground conduits for the power distribution feeders and
transfer trip cables can be grossly estimated at $90/ft ($295/m), including the cost of manholes
and lateral feeders at approximately 300 ft (100 m) intervals. With the tracks separated by a
block on the Portland Streetcar system there are 5 linear track miles (8 km) to cover both tracks.
The cost of the total underground distribution system can be estimated at about $2.5 million.
An additional benefit to eliminating an underground traction power conduit system is the
avoidance of the problems that arise from trying to fit it into a street which is already crowded
with the underground services of several local utilities. Relocating utilities is a task which is wise
to avoid.

EXISTING UTILITY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

Another challenge in urban areas is the supply of primary 60 Hz power to the traction power
substations. Typical LRT substations are fed from dedicated medium voltage (12 to 25 kV)
feeders run from the nearest utility substation. In dense urban areas these feeds can be very long,
and the installation under existing streets can be very difficult and costly. The Portland Streetcar
system was faced with an average cost of $25,000 per substation for the local utility to supply 13
kV power, with one location that may have approached $50,000. On the other hand, a 480 V
distribution grid was easily accessible at all locations.
642 Transportation Research Circular E-C058: 9th National Light Rail Transit Conference

Low voltage service drops, such as 480 Vac, are not normally used for traction power
substations because of the high power demands normally encountered. Typical LRT systems use
1 to 1.5 MW substations, while electrical utilities in general will not usually provide for loads
above 500 kVA without installing a medium or high voltage feed. The ampacity requirements
are too large.
It was Portland Streetcar’s decision to keep the substations below 500 kVA to make use
of the local 480 Vac distribution system. The power rating chosen was 300 kW at the output. All
substations except for one are fed with a 480 Vac supply. The exception is a substation located in
a City of Portland parking garage where the existing 208 Vac supply had sufficient capacity to
handle the substation load.
An additional positive consequence of the low voltage supplies is the ability to use a
standard industrial switchboard for the power supply instead of an incoming AC cubicle and a 15
kV AC breaker. This reduces the price of the primary power equipment by a factor of three and,
of course, the footprint of the substation building is also reduced.

MINIMIZING PROPERTY ACQUISITION

The acquisition of real estate for the siting of traction power substations in central business
districts is also a major cost element in the design of urban transit. The typical 1MW substation
with a medium voltage primary will occupy a minimum of 650 sq ft (57 sq m), with a buried
ground mat of 1,250 sq ft (116 sq m). Typical dimensions of the property acquisition are 60 ft by
30 ft (18.3 by 9.2 m).
By contrast, the smaller low voltage, low power substations used on the Portland
Streetcar alignment require only 400 sq ft (37.2 sq m) of property for a stand-alone substation
with a perimeter ground. The use of low voltage, 480 and 208 Vac, eliminates the need for large
clearances in the AC incoming cubicle. These factors allow for much greater flexibility in the
siting of the units.
Portland Streetcar took full advantage of this flexibility. Of the six substations on the line,
two are stand-alone prefabricated package units, two are installed in vaults placed under the
sidewalks, one is installed in a city parking garage, and one is installed in an unused basement
extension under the sidewalk. One of the package units is installed on the maintenance facility
property which is leased from the state of Oregon and located under a freeway overpass. The
two units installed in vaults under the sidewalks are in the city of Portland right of way. The
parking garage unit was constructed with the loss of only two parking spaces to the city of
Portland. The location in the building basement extension was donated by the building owner
and only required the installation of a fireproof door to the main basement and a personnel access
door in the sidewalk. The final substation was located in the backyard of property owned by a
major stakeholder and only required a credit on the local improvement district assessment. A
route map showing the substation locations is included as Figure 1.
Seattle Metro has also been flexible in accommodating any available area for their
substations. The majority of their 37 substations are located on properties which Seattle City
Light (SCL), the local power utility, has granted easements. Only three substations are located on
Collins and Ueno 643

FIGURE 1 Portland Streetcar substation locations.

644 Transportation Research Circular E-C058: 9th National Light Rail Transit Conference

private, purchased properties. Three of the four newest substations were installed in Washington
Department of Transportation right of way under Interstate 5 structures. The fourth substation
was installed on SCL property. A route map showing the substation locations is included as
Figure 2.
One of the major differences is in the grounding of the substations. As mentioned above,
the Portland Streetcar substations use a perimeter ground instead of a full ground mat. A
perimeter ground consists of four 15-ft (5-m) ground rods installed 3 ft (1 m) from each side of
the substation at the four corners and electrically tied together. The ground rods are driven,
without excavation, and tested to ensure a maximum resistance of five ohms-to-earth. The utility
neutral is tied to the substation structure and the perimeter ground. This results in a considerable
cost savings over the excavation and installation of a full ground mat under a substation serviced
by medium or high voltage.

STRAY CURRENT CONTROL

The primary impact of stray current control on the construction of a transit system is the need to
move underground utilities away from the track bed. Direct current stray, or leakage, currents
will tend to corrode both underground metallic services and structures along the right-of-way.
Thus there is the requirement to relocate all metallic elements where the level of stray currents
may cause a reduced life. Needless to say, the relocation of underground utilities is an expensive
proposition.
While it is not practical to totally prevent the leakage of current from the return rails to
the earth, it is practical to control the currents to a level of about 50 mA per 1,000 ft (305 m) or
less. A detailed metal loss analysis indicated this would not impact underground services located
greater than 18 in. (457 mm) from the tracks. This is about one third of the level normally
tolerated in LRT projects. To achieve these levels three major design strategies were used:

1. The distance between substations was kept as short as economically feasible,

2. The resistance from the rails-to-earth was maximized, and
3. The magnitudes of the vehicle currents were minimized.

As described in previous sections, a substation spacing of approximately 2,500 ft (760 m)

was used. This spacing limits the maximum distance for return currents in the rails to
approximately 1,250 ft (380 m) and results in maximum rail-to-earth potentials of 5.5 V under
normal operating conditions and 8.7 V with a substation out of service. These low potentials
translated to a maximum short-term leakage current of 50 mA per 1,000 ft (305 m) of track with
soil resistivities found on the right-of-way and the rail-to-earth resistances described below.
The required rail-to-earth resistances were established by simulating the actual operation
of the network. Initially five resistance levels were used; 25, 50, 100, 200, and 500 ohms per
1,000 ft (305 m). The lower ranges approximate rails directly embedded in concrete or asphalt
and the upper values reflect rails electrically isolated from the track bed and the track bed
electrically isolated from earth. The required value developed from the simulations was a
minimum of 108 ohms per 1,000 ft (305 m) of track. This level of isolation was obtained using a
high density polymer rail boot that completely encapsulated the rail. Figure 3 shows a section of
the rail with the boot installed.
The magnitude of the vehicle current was constrained with the 66-ft (20-m) vehicles
Collins and Ueno 645

FIGURE 2 Seattle METRO substation locations.

646 Transportation Research Circular E-C058: 9th National Light Rail Transit Conference

FIGURE 3 Cross section of rail with isolating boot.

operating only as single units. Typical acceleration currents are less than 1,000 amps. In contrast,
a two-car light rail vehicle consist will draw over twice this level of current.
While not all three of these methods can be implemented on every transit system, the use
of the applicable strategies described above can reduce stray current levels and limit the amount
of utility relocation that needs to be undertaken. The fewer relocations, the lower the cost.

ADEQUATE POWER TO VEHICLES

The last point is also the most important. The DC supply and distribution system must be capable
of supplying adequate power at an acceptable voltage to the transit vehicles at all times.
Substation sizing, spacing, and the cross-sectional area of the distribution system all have a direct
impact on the ability to operate transit vehicles, especially when operation needs to be assured
even with a substation out of service. The verification of this capacity is performed using
computer programs which model the performance of the vehicles and the power demand on the
distribution system.
The simulations focused on three elements which were judged to be controlling factors in
the design—the voltage supplied at the vehicle’s pantograph, the power required from the
substations, and the heating effects of the rms currents on the copper conductors. These elements
were evaluated during a simulated operation of the vehicles at 10-min headways, 20-s station
dwell times, and a load weight of AW2. The vehicle accelerations and decelerations were set to
Collins and Ueno 647

the maximum rate and regeneration during braking was disabled to produce worst case
conditions. All simulations were run with the Carnegie Mellon Energy Management Model
(EMM) program.
The voltages at the pantograph were recorded during simulated runs in both directions
while maintaining the required headways. The criteria for the voltage was to keep the voltage at
the vehicle above a minimum 525 Vdc—the level at which the propulsion and auxiliary inverters
on the vehicles would shutdown. Sample plots of the line voltages with all substations
operational and with one substation (Legacy) off line are included as Figures 4 and 5. Since the
streetcar system is a starter system that may be significantly expanded in the future and also has
the maintenance facility on the route, a large margin was desired for future headways decreasing
to 5 min or less.
The RMS power delivered by the substation was also simulated with the EMM program.
Figures 6 and 7 show the RMS power demands on each substation for revenue operation. The
substation power demand is far below the sustainable levels for a 300 kW substation, and no
short-term overloads were observed. However, no significant cost savings could be anticipated
by lowering the capacity, and room for future growth of the system capacity is assured.
Heating of the copper conductors was also calculated with a 10-min headway. The
highest temperature found was 50ºC including a 40ºC ambient and a wind speed of only 0.5 ft/s
(0.15 m/s). The annealing temperature for the copper wire is 75ºC. Room for future growth is
again assured.

Central City Streetcar Voltage Profile

All Substations On Line

900

850

800
Voltage at Pantograph

750

700

650

600

550

500

450
750

1250

1750

2250

2750

3250

3750

4250

4750

Stationing (Meters)

FIGURE 4 Voltage profile with all substations on line

(normal operation at design capacity).
648 Transportation Research Circular E-C058: 9th National Light Rail Transit Conference

Central City Streetcar Voltage Profile

Legacy Substation Off Line
900

850

800

750
Voltage at Pantograph

700

650

600

550

500

450
750

1250

1750

2250

2750

3250

3750

4250

4750
Stationing (Meters)

FIGURE 5 Voltage profile with Legacy substation off line

(abnormal operation at design capacity).

Central City Streetcar Power Profile

All Substations On Line

250

200
RMS Power Demand (kW)

150

100

59 55 56
50 42
29

0
Legacy I-405 Flanders Smart Park PSU
Substations

FIGURE 6 Power profile with all substations on line

(normal operation at design capacity).
Collins and Ueno 649

Central City Streetcar Power Profile

Legacy Substation Off Line
250

200
RMS Power Demand (kW)

150

100 88

68

49
50
37

0
0
Legacy I-405 Flanders Smart Park PSU
Substation

FIGURE 7 Power profile with Legacy substation off line

(abnormal operation at design capacity).

Seattle Metro also used simulations to verify the operation of their 60-ft articulated and
40-ft ETBs. Similar criteria for operation with all substations operational or a single outage
condition were used. The system uses a no-load voltage of 700 Vdc and both ETBs have vehicle
drop-out voltage of 450 Vdc. A minimum operational ETB voltage of 500 V is used.
The other substation spacing criteria is a minimum DC fault current of 700 A or greater.
This criterion insures that in case of a single outage condition a fault in the end of the line could
be detected and cleared by the di/dt relay.

SUMMARY

Several techniques that can be implemented to reduce construction costs of rail transit systems in
urban areas have been discussed. All or part of these can be used depending on the requirements
of the transit system. Each technique needs to be evaluated independently although there is
interaction between the different techniques and often two techniques can be used together for
one benefit. For example, both the rail-to-earth isolation and the close spacing of substations act
to reduce utility relocation costs.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the resiliency of the feederless systems designed.
Both have sufficient capacity for the addition of more vehicles to the line in the future. Operation
of two-car trains with peak currents of 1300 A per vehicle, typical of LRT lines, is feasible using
the concept of smaller, low-powered, closely spaced substations, and the construction cost
savings are significant.
01213425 6789ÿ7  ÿ 8ÿ89ÿÿ

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711134214123171 7   8187 31

 The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association

East River Bridges

The Construction of the East River Bridges predate the widespread adoption and the
maturation of the automobile. Their primary function was to transport people between the
boroughs by means of mass transportation. At the time of their construction rail transportation
was the predominate form of transportation and all of the bridges carried electric streetcars
and elevated subway lines by the early 20th century. The figure below* shows the carrying
capacity of the bridges peaked in the years when the bridges were still supporting a high level
of mass transit service. This indicates that removing car lanes can actually decrease traffic and
move people more quickly than the current automobile centered arrangement.

(Figure Courtesy Sam Schwartz Engineering)

* "Managing the East River bridges in New York City", Proc. SPIE 4337, Health Monitoring
and Management of Civil Infrastructure Systems, 60 (August 3, 2001);
doi:10.1117/12.435629

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The QueensboroBridge
At its peak the Queensboro Bridge had 6 tracks for both elevated rail service and streetcar
service.

On the upper level, the 2nd Avenue elevated line spurred off second ave after the 57th street
station and was routed on the bridge to Queens Boro Plaza as seen below.

The current station at Queens Boro plaza is only half its original size. The other half of the
station was torn down after the 2nd ave elevated was demolished, although some remnants
remain visible.

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599 East 7th Street, Suite 5A Brooklyn, NY 11218

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Four Streetcar tracks also crossed over the bridge. One in each outer lane of the lower level
and two on the main deck of the lower level. The pedestrian walk ways which now occupy the
outer lane were originally on th upper level adjacent to the elevates subway. The tracks can be
seen in the following picture which was taken before the installation of the 2nd ave elevated.

The inner tracks on the main lower deck were serviced by streetcars of the Third Avenue
Railway (TARS). These cars ran from Jackson Avenue in Queens, across the river then down third
avenue, and finally went crosstown on 42nd street. This service ended in 1919.

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On the outer roadway Steinway Lines and Manhattan & Queens Transit Companies ran lines to
the underground terminal on 59th Street and 2nd Avenue which is still extant. The terminal had
5 loops which supported 5 streetcar lines. The 5 lines that ran into the terminal from Queens
were: the Astoria Line, the Corona Line, the Flushing and College Point Line, the Queens
Boulevard Line, and the Steinway Line. Today some of these lines still exist as the
Q102,Q101,Q66/65,and Q60 buses. Below is a picture of a streetcar on the bridge.

There were actually two stations on the bridge itself, one on Vernon Blvd and the other on
Roosevelt Island. These stations were accessed via elevator. This remained one of the only
ways to access the island until the construction of a small bridge further north.

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The Location of the underground terminal was marked by 5 kiosks on the Manhattan side of
which only 1 still stands.

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 The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association

Williamsburg Bridge
Like the Queens Borough Bridge the Williamsburg Bridge supported 6 tracks. Two for the
Broadway elevated which still exist today and carry the J,M, and Z trains and four for
streetcars.

The Streetcar tracks were on both sides of the elevated tracks. Only the outermost roadways
carried automobile traffic.
Two tracks on the South side of the bridge carried street cars from Brooklyn into an 8 loop
underground terminal in Manhattan adjacent to the Essex Street Subway Station. The terminal
can still be seen from the subway platform. The following Brooklyn lines owned by the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit crossed the bridge:Nostrand Ave, Nostrand-Prospect, Nostrand-Culver ,
Reid Ave ,Wilson Ave ,Ralph Ave , Ralph-Rockaway , Bushwick Ave, Tompkins Ave , Grand St ,
Franklin Ave , Broadway , and Sumner Ave. Some of these survive as the following bus lines :
Q24, Q59, B15, B42, B43, B44, B47,B48, B60.

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The 8 loop layout can be seen below

Image of underground Terminal:

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Nostrand Avenue Trolley on the Williamsburg Bridge:

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The North Side tracks on the Williamsburg Bridge carried Manhattan Streetcars to an above
ground terminal in Brooklyn. This still exist as well as a bus terminal.

There were 4 loops at this aboveground terminal for 4 lines owned by the Metropolitan Street
Railway. Bus lines that follow these routes include the M8,M10, and M14.

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Manhattan Trolleys at the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Terminal:

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The Manhattan Bridge

The Manhattan Bridge had 8 tracks 4 for subway service and 4 for streetcar service. The
Subway tracks are on the lower level and still extant while the streetcar tracks were located
above the subway tracks.

Only two trolley lines utilized the Manhattan Bridge the Manhattan Bridge 3 Cent line and the
the Brooklyn and North River Railroad (a joint operation with Brooklyn Rapid Transit, New York
Railways, and TARS operating streetcars over the Manhattan Bridge). Both followed similar
routes. Their goal was to connect the Desbrosses Street Ferry on Manhattans West Side to the
LIRR Atlantic Avenue Terminal.

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Map of the 3 Cent Line Route:

3 Cent Trolley on Bridge:

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Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge had 4 tracks 2 for elevated subways and 2 for street cars. The elevated
tracks converged on the Park Row terminal in Manhattan while streetcars used loops below
the terminal. The Terminal was used by Brooklyn Manhattan Transit lines (BMT).
The terminal was the final stops on the now demolished 5th Avenue elevated, Myrtle Avenue
elevated, Fulton elevated, and Lexington elevated lines.

Park Row Elevated Terminal:

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Inside view:

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Elevated train heading for the Brooklyn Bridge:

The following streetcar lines operated over the Brooklyn Bridge: Graham Avenue, DeKalb
Avenue, Fulton, Erie Basin, Flushing Avenue, Seventh Ave, MacDonald-Vanderbilt Aves. Some
now survive as bus routes: B25, B38, B43, B57, B61, B67

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Trolley entering the Park Row Terminal:

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Streetcar on the Bridge:

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