SEPTA installed CBTC technology to improve safety for travelers along the 12-route-mile light rail system connecting West Philadelphia and the Delaware County suburbs. Using radio communications between vehicles, CBTC can automatically prevent collisions between light rail trolleys by enforcing safe stopping distances and limiting vehicle speeds.
Safety features include:
Burns served as the engineer of record, delivering design/build contract bid documents, construction drawings, and CBTC specifications.
Burns developed a staging plan to modernize the light rail system’s safety control equipment amid multiple infrastructure upgrades and on-going service operations. New infrastructure involved installation of fiber optic and cellular networking, a 220-MHz radio system, and GPS tracking as well as production of a comprehensive CBTC system database.
System characteristics include:
SEPTA installed the CBTC system in 2024. Transitioning to the new system is expected to be finalized in 2025.
Featured photo: “Media Trolley 072107 018”, by John Mueller, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
Location
Media, PA
Client
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Industry