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<br />Definition of the Universe of Transit Technologies <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Defining the universe of transit technologies serves as a starting point for the identification of <br />individual transportation modal elements considered in the MIS. The initial alternative elements <br />considered included: <br /> <br />. Bus System Improvements - Major bus system improvements include: system expansion, <br />express bus on high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, articulated trolley bus, and guided bus. <br />System expansion includes increased bus route coverage, . expanded service hours, and <br />improved headways. HOV lanes are roadway lanes constructed for the exclusive use of <br />vehicles with multiple passengers and buses. <br /> <br />. Rail Transit - The rail transit mode consists of special passenger rail vehicles that operate <br />along a fixed guideway. Seven different rail transit technologies were considered in the <br />development of the universe of alternatives. These transit technologies are described below: <br /> <br />Commuter Rail- Commuter rail consists of diesel powered locomotives pulling or <br />pushing passenger rail cars or electrically powered vehicles operating on a railroad <br />track. Commuter rail service typically operates during peak commute times over longer <br />distances between outlying areas and central cities. <br /> <br />Light Rail- Light rail transit (LRT) includes electrically powered vehicles operating . <br />along rails. Light rail is versatile and can be operated in railroad, highway or street <br />right-of-way, at-grade or elevated, with the electric power provided to the vehicles via <br />overhead wires. <br /> <br />Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) - The DMU technology is similar to light rail and <br />commuter rail technology except the vehicles are powered by individual diesel engines <br />in each vehicle. <br /> <br />Heavy Rail - Heavy rail vehicles are electrically powered rail vehicles that typically <br />operate in trains to accommodate very high volumes of passenger traffic. The vehicles <br />are electrically powered via a "third rail" embedded in the track. <br /> <br />Monorail - Monorail technology uses a narrow vehicle that usually operates along a <br />aerial guideway consisting of a narrow beam. <br /> <br />Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) - The AGT technology includes vehicles which <br />operate under automated control on an exclusive guideway, grade-separated from <br />vehicular traffic. <br /> <br />Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) - PRT provides private party point-to-point <br />transportation along a grade separated guideway in an automated mode. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Northstar Corridor Major Investment Study <br />Conceptual Definition of Alternatives <br />February 1999 <br /> <br />1-4 <br />