AARHUS LIGHT RAIL PROJECT

Transcription

1 AARHUS LIGHT RAIL PROJECT Integrating Land Use and Public Transportation Planning Workshop, 10 October, 2012

2 Ole Sørensen Project Manager Light Rail Secretariat Established in 2007 by 8 municipalities in The Greater Aarhus Area,The Central Denmark Region and Midttrafik Task: Develop a high quality local and regional light rail system

3 The Aarhus Light Rail Project a short presentation What would you - from a public transport planners point of view - want from city planners and local politicians The problem of representing the benefits of light rail on city development in Socio-economic Analysis (Cost Benefit Analysis)

4 First stage and later extensions/lines Railway to Grenaa owned by the state 69 km Regional operated railway to Odder 26,5 km Letbanesamarbejdet Aarhus Syddjurs Favrskov Skanderborg Odder Aarhus omegn

5 Infrastructure and operation, stage 1 Conversion of two local railway lines, Grenaa- and Odderbanen to light rail 12 km new and rebuild rail infrastructure in Aarhus through central corridor with extensive urban development 7½ minutes frequency between Skejby University Hospital and Aarhus main station during the day 1 tog/h (100 km/h) 2 tog /h (80 km/h) Concentration of Work places

6 800,000 sq. m. residential and commercial development along the waterfront Urban Media Space - is planned for completion in Navitas Park housing an engineering school with students - will be finished in 2014.

7

8 Aarhus University is expanding 30,000 students today and expanding with 10 and 15,000 over the next years Extensive investment in bus priority lanes along main corridor is converted into light rail.

9 Aarhus University Hospital Expanding to one of the largest hospitals in Scandinavia over the next years with employees

10 Bridge over the Egaa valley 360 m long bridge over the Egaa Valley and major road infrastructure 17 m wide bridge Height 12 m when crossing the creek

11 New towns at Lisbjerg and Elev Lisbjerg: Dense housing and business development with inhabitants. Elev: inhabitants

12 Vehicle and electrification strategy In a new political agreement in the Danish Parliament settled the 12th of June, 100 mio. Dkr. is reserved to secure full electrification of the project including electrification of Grenaabanen

13 Vehicle and electrification strategy One electrical vehicle

14 Aarhus Light Rail, legal and financial framework 1 A law establishing the legal framework for Aarhus Letbane was passed by the Danish Parliament on the 8 th of May 2012 The law is based on a political agreement between the State, The City of Aarhus, and the Central Denmark Region signed on the 31 th of October The agreement includes the financing of the project 1,2 bio. Dkr. State is not participating in financing depots and vehicles. These are financed by Aarhus and the region 0,9 bio. Dkr. The law states that a client organization, Aarhus Letbane I/S takes over the implementation of the project Aarhus Letbane I/S has been established The legal framework for establishing Aarhus Light Rail is expected to copied in other Danish light rail projects in Copenhagen, Odense and Aalborg

15 Aarhus Letbane I/S Builds new infrastructure and buys vehicles City of Aarhus 47,2% Danish State 47,0% Central Denmark Region 5,8% Risk sharing: Financial risks is carried in these proportions Operations and Infrastructure Company Responsible for operation and infrastructure City of Aarhus Central Denmark Region Midtjyske Jernbaner Management and maintenance of infrastructure (Banedanmark still to maintain Grenaabanen) Midttrafik Tendering of operation

16 Tendering structure Civil works offered in a negotiated framework contracts with PQ Transport Package offered in a negotiated Design Build contract with PQ Traffic Operation offered separately in a negotiated tender with PQ. (Not included)

17 STOPS AND PLATFORMS Platform lengths: Platforms at Harbour front: 80 m All other new platforms: 55 m

18 What would you from a public transport planners point of view want from city planners an local politicians? Short answer build Manhattan!

19 Localization of workspaces an transport behaviour Car use in relation to localization of office workspaces in the greater Copenhagen Area (Share of employed using car for travelling to work) Inner City Transit oriented Areas Non transit oriented Areas

20 Share of employed using public transport in relation to distance to station PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION INSURANCE COMPANIES ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

21

22 The problem of representing the benefits of light rail on city development in Socio-economic Analysis (Cost Benefit Analysis) Politicians wants projects that supports a liveable city by reducing pressures from car traffic Economists mainly compare Generalized Travel Costs in evaluating the project

23 The problem of forecasting city development Cost benefit calculations Basic alternative Project alternative Planners forecast for development in different areas of the city Time

24 The problem of forecasting city development Cost benefit calculations Project alternative Project alternative Cost benefit calculations Basic alternative Basic alternative Time

25 Other paradoxes in cost benefit analysis puzzling politicians A light rail project unavoidably causes delays in car traffic thereby reducing car traffic. This is punished heavily in the cost benefit analysis. Wasn't reduction of pressure of car traffic one of the main goals of the project? Positive effects on city environment by reduction of car traffic and reduction of space for cars in the in central urban area is not easily quantified or not quantified at all. Wasn t this a main target of the project? In Danish cost benefit analysis it is not allowed to calculate with a comfort factor (willingness to pay more for the comfort of a train ride compared to bus) In other areas of life Danes seems to be willing enough to pay for comfort The fall in taxes from reduction of gasoline because of reduction in car traffic is a cost for the project Lets build more roads and widen the ones we have!

26 Contact: