Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Technical Feasibility Analysis of Three Rail Lines, Community Impact Study
Client: LTK Engineering Services
Location: Los Angeles County, CA
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) was preparing a feasibility analysis for using Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) on three candidate rail system right-of-ways (Ventura County Line, Antelope Valley Line and San Bernardino Line). DMUs are self propelled passenger rail vehicles that can operate at lower costs and at a smaller scale than conventional passenger rail trains as they don’t need a separate locomotive for power. The analysis was to determine the potential advantages and/or impediments of DMU use to the communities located adjacent to these lines. UltraSystems, as part of the LTK Engineering Services Team, was responsible for assessing the potential environmental and community concerns of DMU use. The criteria for differentiating the three rail lines included the presence of key destinations (such as Griffith Park); communities and neighborhoods; noise-sensitive areas; sensitive adjacent uses; and planned or existing major development projects or land use changes. In addition to ranking the community sensitivity of the three rail lines for future DMU use, UltraSystems analysis also identified areas of likely-community concerns, thereby warranting further future consultation and additional subsequent environmental studies to address potential environmental considerations. For this project, UltraSystems prepared the maps, matrices, and other components of the Community Impact Study.
