Burns Engineering’s team of engineers and industry professionals have worked on half of the DC Traction Power Systems in the United States.
Technical Know-How
With 30 years of DC traction power substation rehabilitation, replacement, and new installation, there’s no design challenge we haven’t faced. We’ve seen the pitfalls and the hurdles, and know the strategies to keep an electrified rail system moving even while the power system is under replacement.
Logistics Experts
Some of the toughest challenges aren’t even in the technical details, but in the logistics and big picture approach. We have proven design techniques that diffuse risk to schedule, cost and passenger experience.
Construction Savvy
A team of engineers who trained under electrical contractors, who know the realities of installation, who know that successful outcomes depend on the physical installation, and the best practices to get you there.
Risk Averse
We understand that a positive passenger experience is the ultimate goal and yardstick of project success. Clients rely on Burns’ judgment in technical approach to reduce risk in cost, schedule and operation outages.
Collaborative Partnerships
We look at each project as an opportunity to work collaboratively with our clients to bring national perspective on “Best Practices” to our designs. We incorporate must-have project requirements with innovative alternatives that best serve the project goals.
Unambiguous Installation Documents
Whether we are developing detailed point-to-point wiring designs for the SCADA system or 3D models to illustrate the physical clearances, our attention to detail will minimize the field adjustments required to get the system up and running.
No Surprise Outcomes
With national experience in the design and integration of DC traction power substations and gap-breaker stations, we have the technical ability to design, specify and integrate all facets of the system.
- High Voltage Rectifier/Transformers
- DC Rectifiers
- DC Circuit Breakers and Relay Protection
- DC Disconnect Switches
- Control, Communication and SCADA Equipment
- Substation Yard, structure and site work
- Third rail configuration and distribution
DC Traction Power – Project Portfolio
- LACMTA, Gold Line East Side Extension – Design-build 6-mile DC traction power distribution with six 1.5 MW traction power substations.
- Seattle Sound Transit, Federal Way Link Extension – Design 7.8-mile DC traction power distribution system with 8 traction power substations.
- Denver RTD, Metro Area Connection – Design 5-mile DC traction power distribution system with 5 traction power substations.
- Port Authority of NY and NJ, PATH:
- Newark Liberty Airport Extension – Conceptual engineering for 2.5-mile DC traction power distribution systems and traction power substations.
- Substation 9 Replacement – Design/build bridging documents for 650 V DC traction power
- Washington Street Powerhouse Relocation – Preliminary design for 650V DC traction power substation relocation.
- Phoenix Valley Metro, METRO Light Rail – PMO for 19.6 double track line, including 15 DC traction power substations.
- Portland Trimet, South Corridor and Milwaukie Light Rail Extensions – PMO for 3 extension packages, including 10 DC traction power substations.
- SEPTA, Market Frankford Subway – Design of 2 DC Traction Power Substation replacements.
- Long Island Railroad, SOGR – PMO for $35 million per year SOGR program for DC traction power substations and traction power distribution system.
- DRPA/PATCO, Power Cable and Pole Line – Planning, design and construction management for 11-mile DC Traction Power distribution system replacement.
- Miami MIA Mover – Design and construction phase services for new DC traction power system and third rail for 2-mile APM.
- Metro North Railroad, Highbridge Yard – Design build DC traction power substation and power distribution systems.
- Chicago CTA, Ravenswood and Douglas Branch Lines Rehabilitation – PMO for DC traction power and distribution systems replacement for 20 miles of line.
- Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), IN –
- West Lake Extension – Design 8-mile DC traction power distribution and traction power substations.
- Double Track Expansion – Concept design for 22-mile DC traction power distribution system.
- Boston MBTA, Green Line – Engineering study for DC traction power upgrade.
- Dulles Aerotrain – DC Traction power distribution and traction power substations for 2-mile APM.
- Tampa Sky Connect – DC traction power distribution and traction power substations for 1-mile APM.
- Orlando Airport APM – DC Traction power and distribution for 2-mile APM.
Publications
- An Engineer’s Perspective: Design-Build and Public Private Partnerships (P3) – by Daren Petroski, PE
- Transfer Trip – Why Is It Needed? – by Steven D. Bezner, PE
- Restoring Power To A Vast Transportation System After A Substation Failure – by David T. Montvydas, PE and Steven D. Bezner, PE
- PATCO High Speed Line Power Infrastructure Renewal
- Ghost Voltages on LA Metro Traction Power Cable Jackets – by Michael J. Maziarz, PE, Jonathan A. Schimpf, PE, Kelvin Zan, PE
Solutions That Save
Passenger Goodwill
Given that the passenger experience is paramount, we use our modeling software and inject mobile substation alternatives to minimize outages. Through the use of simulation tools and temporary construction techniques, we support planning so that the riding public is not impacted.
Resources
Our engineers provide common-sense solutions by optimizing industry-proven products and protection schemes, and not “reinventing the wheel”. We know that smart use of resources has meaningful impact on the successful outcomes of a traction power replacement project.
Time and Costs
We approach projects with the big picture in mind, and seek economies of scale and efficiencies in coordination. We have proven success in coordinating with other capital projects, and developing and deploying prototypes for large DC Traction Power system renewal.
