Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a series of frequently asked questions regarding light rail service to the Arborway. The answers are taken from MBTA documents except where noted. In most instances, the answers seek to compare aspects of the light rail vehicles (LRV), which would be used under the current mandate of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection [see 310 CMR 7.36 (2)(d)], and the MBTA's proposed alternative, a 60-foot compressed natural gas bus (CNG).

1. How long and how wide are the vehicles?
2. How many passengers can each hold?
3. What is the travel time for the journey from Arborway/Forest Hills to Park Street?
4. What will be the final destination downtown of each?
5. If the final destination is short of Park Street, may passengers get a free transfer?
6. What's the effect on air quality and the environment both locally and regionally?
7. How many stops would there be on each side of the street between Heath Street and Forest Hills?
8. What schedule would each option follow during rush-hours and other times?
9. How much do the vehicles cost? How many would be needed?
10. What construction would be needed to be done? How much would it cost? How long would it take? What would the difference in operating costs be?

1. How long and how wide are the vehicles?
   

Length:
CNG articulated bus = 60 feet long
LRV single car = 72 feet long (double car = 146 feet)

Width:
CNG = 102"
LRV = 104"



2. How many passengers can each hold?

CNG articulated maximum passenger load = 84 passengers total
LRV single car = 176 passengers total (double car = 352)



3. What is the travel time for the journey from Arborway/Forest Hills to Park Street?

CNG rush-hour travel time to Copley* = 35.5 minutes
LRV rush-hour travel time to Copley* = 28.3 minutes
 
* Travel time to Park Street was not calculated, but the running time for CNG operating on city streets would be much longer than the running for the LRV in the subway.



4. What will be the final destination downtown of each?

CNG final destination = undetermined (Transcript 2/28/01 JP community meeting)
LRV final destination = Park Street



5. If the final destination is short of Park Street, may passengers get a free transfer?

CNG transfer policy = current T fare policy requires payment of 25 cents for a transfer
LRV transfer policy = N/A



6. What's the effect on air quality and the environment both locally and regionally?
   
   
CNG vehicle emissions = CNG vehicles pollute both the neighborhoods in which they operate and regionally. The air pollution results for CNG indicated in the chart below are taken from the Booz-Allen bus study commissioned by the MBTA and issued in April 2000. The results are for 40-foot CNG buses. The results may vary for 60-foot CNG buses.

LRV vehicle emissions = Because LRVs are zero emission vehicles, they do not pollute the neighborhoods in which they operate. As for regional emissions impacts, the T, to my knowledge, has not done any study relating to its electric vehicle fleet. On average, however, studies done elsewhere seem to conclude that while electric vehicle operations do produce regional emissions, the total emissions from power stations identifiable to electric vehicle operation are lower than the total emissions from individual motor bus operation. For example, the results of a study relating to electric trolley buses by Prof. Kevin Brown of the University of Alberta seem to confirm that proposition. They are also set out in the chart below. The results for LRVs may vary. For comparison purposes, the chart also includes the Booz-Allen results for the T's current diesel fleet.



	MODE
P O L L U T A N T S (grams per mile)		Diesel: Newest fleet Purchase	CNG:	ETB: Regional Impacts	ETB: Neighborhood Impacts
	Carbon dioxide	2213.0	2382.0	1435.0	0.0
	Carbon monoxide	8.9	12.2	0.1	0.0
	Oxides of Nitrogen	37.3	16.5	3.2	0.0
	Particulate matter	0.50	0.06	Nil	0.0
	Non-methane hydrocarbons	0.17	1.50	Nil	0.0


The more important aspect of the emissions question, however, relates to whether the transit service can encourage people to leave their autos at home. The real environmental savings comes from fewer autos on the road. The MBTA's 1987 Arborway Study demonstrated that a single-seat LRV ride into the central subway will result in an increase in ridership while a bus service requiring a transfer to get downtown would lose riders. The difference in daily ridership between LRV and a bus service (depending upon which bus alternative was implemented) ranged from about 2000 to 3000 riders.



7. How many stops would there be on each side of the street between Heath Street and Forest Hills?

CNG stops* = undetermined
LRV stops* = 11 each side of street from VA Hospital to Arborway terminus

*Stop numbers and locations are ultimately determined by the community working with the City and the T


8. What schedule would each option follow during rush-hours and other times?

CNG AM rush-hour headways = 4 minutes
CNG PM rush-hour headways = 5 minutes
LRV rush-hour headways = 6 minutes (restored LRV service as mandated by Mass DEP)

CNG mid-day headways = 8-9 minutes
LRV mid-day headways = 8-9 minutes

CNG after 9:00 p.m. = 23.5 minutes
LRV after 9:00 p.m. = 10 minutes



9. How much do the vehicles cost How many would be needed?

CNG articulated 25-year cost = $600,000 x 28 buses x 2.08 purchases = $34.94 million
(This cost seems to be an underestimate in view of the $1.6 million cost per bus of the new dual mode buses being purchased for the South Boston Transitway project. Also, the CNG bus proposed is not an off-the-shelf design.)

LRV 25-year cost = $2.64 x 10 LRVs x 1 purchase= $26.40 million (In fact, no additional LRVs need be purchased. With the current order for LRVs, the T will have more trolleys in its fleet than at any time since Arborway service was suspended in 1985-- approximately 215. This is more than ample.)



10. What construction would be needed to be done? How much would it cost? How long would it take? What would the difference in operating costs be?

CNG construction =

• Southampton Street fueling and storage facility needs to be built;
• Accessible bus stops along route from Forest Hills to Park Street (?) need to be built;
• Tracks would be removed according to the LSTS report from South Huntington, Centre, South Streets;
• Trolley poles and wires would be taken down. The T has provided no construction cost estimate. Construction time for all elements is probably two to four years.

LRV construction =

• Arborway LRV storage facility needs to be built;
• Accessible stops along the route from the VA to Arborway terminus need to be built;
• Tracks would be rebuilt in places from VA to Arborway terminus;
• Trolley poles and overhead wire would be replaced.

Construction time for all elements is probably two to four years. Cost estimate for all LRV construction work is roughly $26.66 million. This is confirmed both in the LSTS Report and in correspondence from Peter Haley, former MBTA General Manager.

CNG vs LRV operational costs = The annual operating cost of bus service to the Arborway from a downtown terminus will exceed the annual operating cost of LRV service to the Arborway by more than $2.7 million. (The New Program for Mass Transportation, EOTC Document, 1994)