AARHUS LIGHT RAIL PROJECT Integrating Land Use and Public Transportation Planning Workshop, 10 October, 2012
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
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)
First stage and later extensions/lines Railway to Grenaa owned by the state 69 km Regional operated railway to Odder 26,5 km 2010 2030 Letbanesamarbejdet 694.974 793.251 Aarhus 306.650 373.543 Syddjurs 41.392 44.007 Favrskov 46.529 51.087 Skanderborg 57.303 62.826 Odder 21.721 22.546 473.595 557.601 Aarhus omegn
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) 123456 5 Concentration of Work places
800,000 sq. m. residential and commercial development along the waterfront Urban Media Space - is planned for completion in 2014. Navitas Park housing an engineering school with 2.000 students - will be finished in 2014.
Aarhus University is expanding 30,000 students today and expanding with 10 and 15,000 over the next 10-15 years Extensive investment in bus priority lanes along main corridor is converted into light rail.
Aarhus University Hospital Expanding to one of the largest hospitals in Scandinavia over the next 10-15 years with 9.000 employees
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
New towns at Lisbjerg and Elev Lisbjerg: Dense housing and business development with 20.000 inhabitants. Elev: 10.000 inhabitants
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
Vehicle and electrification strategy One electrical vehicle
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 2011. 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
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
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)
STOPS AND PLATFORMS Platform lengths: Platforms at Harbour front: 80 m All other new platforms: 55 m
What would you from a public transport planners point of view want from city planners an local politicians? Short answer build Manhattan!
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
Share of employed using public transport in relation to distance to station PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION INSURANCE COMPANIES ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS
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
The problem of forecasting city development Cost benefit calculations Basic alternative Project alternative Planners forecast for development in different areas of the city Time
The problem of forecasting city development Cost benefit calculations Project alternative Project alternative Cost benefit calculations Basic alternative Basic alternative Time
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!
www.letbanerimidttrafik.dk Contact: os@midttrafik.dk