I wonder if any of this will incorporate Streetcar. I know that the folks of San Marco (assuming the extension would go out there) will likely be diametrically opposed to an elevated route above Hendricks. Connecting the current Kings Ave Station to the square or even down to University via Trolly would likely be the best bet.
I doubt Riverside would have an issue with an elevated route heading into Five Points or to Stockton St, so I can see an actual Skyway extension to that neighborhood.
The FEC line through San Marco makes streetcar an impossibility some sort of elevated track has to cross the rail line before it can transition to an at grade system. Some pioneers are trying to start a long term conversation of burying the FEC line from Atlantic to the bridge. Try to drive down Hendricks to work on a weekday and you'll see why this is an idea worth considering.
Although I do think this would be the best alternative, try pulling any crossing permit with FEC (or any railroad)... scoff.
Ock, you around? Any idea what the minumum turning radius would be for a streetcar? APTA states 60' to the CL of the car, could you navigate the streets of San Marco with this standard?
Turning radius: The streetcar MUST have the ability to move through an urban environment with minimal acquisition of land. The wheel-rail relationship is critical so you must plan these curves with the idea of minimizing wheel or rail wear which could in worst circumstances lead to derailments. Old streetcar systems (and San Marco, Springfield, Riverside are full of old streetcar routes just under the modern pavement) would use a curve radius of 40-50 feet centerline radius, Philadelphia uses 35 feet (think PCC Cars). Today, you'd want to use either a heritage type PCC or Tampa style heritage car (the cheap start) or go with modern articulated unit vehicles to prevent corner clips. With the line engineered (and this might include some sway in the track to allow for the classic 'button hook turn') to a modern standard of at least a 66' foot radius your choice of equipment is virtually unlimited. 82' feet if you want to build to Light Rail Standards as Tampa has done so streetcars and LRV's can co-exist on the same track. Anything below 59' feet today really limits your choices of modern streetcars.
A couple more numbers?
Figure engineering Maximum Grades at 6% but streetcars are completely capable of 9%, so a short exception in the area of our bridges is possible if needed.
Maximum speeds for streetcars 35-45 MPH depending on how it's ordered and how it's allowed to operate. Obviously a streetcar on Bay Street in mixed traffic isn't going any faster than a JTA bus or anybody else, but the JTA contention that 12 MPH is ''The Speed" is bunk, that is merely an estimated average in mixed traffic in the urban core and their own buses do no better. Give back that grand median on Pearl or Main Street and the streetcar can race your BRT bus...only it has faster acceleration. A right-of-way parallel to one of our Railroads protected by crossing gates and the same streetcar can become 'Rapid Streetcar' at 45 MPH between stations imitating Light Rail on a budget.
As for at-grade crossings, they CAN BE DONE, but they SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
