InMotion_Summer 2025

A PUBLICATION BY LEA+ELLIOTT TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS

SUMMER 2025

Leading Technologies Improve Rail Transit Systems Worldwide

Platform Screen Doors on the Honolulu Skyline Rail Project

As demand for public rail transit rebounds from the lingering COVID-19 downturn, Lea+Elliott continues to support system enhancements nationwide. We are particularly involved in rail systems, such as train control, electric traction power and communications and have specialized in the planning and implementation of Automated People Movers (APMs) and transit systems for over 50 years. We are encouraged that some transit agencies in North America are exploring the modernization of their train control systems by implementing Communications Based Train Control (CBTC). Related to train control systems and with an eye toward enhanced passenger safety, some transit agencies are also exploring the implementation of Platform Screen Door (PSD) systems at their passenger stations. We are proud to be seen as leaders in the implementation of both CBTC and PSD systems. Lea+Elliott’s engineering staff is highly experienced with train control and signaling systems of all types, ranging from decades-old technologies, such as relay-based control circuits to the latest continued on p 2

In this issue...

Leading Technologies Improve Rail Transit Systems Worldwide Honolulu Rail Transit System Nears Operational Readiness for Second Segment Doppelmayr’s Rope Pull System selected for the Newark AirTrain Replacement Railways Reimagined: Embracing AI for a Safer and Smarter Future in Automated Transit Technologies Meet the Staff

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Rail Transit Systems continued from p 1

upgraded PSDs, these agencies have achieved significant benefits such as cleaner and quieter platforms, less debris on tracks, reduced energy consumption due to loss of HVAC in tunnels, and enhanced passenger information, entertainment, lighting and advertising. PSD implementations offer significant benefits for the riders, but they also come with several challenges. Consideration must be given to areas such as interface requirements with other subsystems, grounding methods to mitigate potential shock hazards, impact on subway operations, and construction phasing. Major agencies including BART, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), NYCT and others have looked to Lea+Elliott to support their PSD efforts via planning, feasibility studies, cost estimates, and preliminary design activities. We have also investigated and reported on alternative technologies that provide platform edge protection at a lower cost point with less required civil/structural station work. Lea+Elliott engineers have worked with automated transit systems that use platform doors since the early days of APM systems. Our staff has a wealth of expertise and compiled lessons learned from our PSD integration work. As transit agencies throughout North America continue to upgrade their train control systems and consider passenger safety enhancements such as Platform Screen Door systems, we look forward to supporting those initiatives with the technical expertise built from decades of implementing automated transit systems. For additional information about the services that we provide to rail transit systems, please visit www.leaelliott.com.

in CBTC products, as well as other emerging technologies. CBTC has been in use on APM systems for decades, with Lea+Elliott positioned as a recognized authority in the planning, procurement, and implementation oversight for such systems. Migration to CBTC Technology Rail and metro properties throughout Europe and Asia have been deploying CBTC technology over the past 10-20 years, and transit owners in the United States have recently started to follow suit. Transit agencies in the U.S. have been reliant on the broken rail detection function that is inherent with fixed block technology. However, the broken rail detection functionality of track circuits cannot detect minor cracks and fissures that eventually lead to catastrophic rail failure. New technology like ultrasonic monitors can scan rails and detect when the integrity of the rail is starting to degrade. This allows for preventative rather than reactionary maintenance. The advent of new technologies, the substantial benefits offered by a CBTC upgrade, and the continued aging of legacy train control systems have all led to growing interest in CBTC. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and New York City Transit (NYCT) are two of the largest transit systems in the U.S. and both have recently begun upgrading to CBTC. Now that those agencies have paved the way, others including WMATA, MARTA and SEPTA are following. Lea+Elliott’s CBTC engineers now assist many agencies in making a smooth and efficient transition to CBTC. Platform Door Trends The roll out of Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) has followed a similar trajectory to the introduction of CBTC on transit systems around the world. Ten to 20 years ago, agencies in Europe and Asia made a major push to achieve the higher level of safety and security provided through the retrofit of PSDs. Since installing

Platform Screen Doors on the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s ATL SkyTrain system

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Honolulu Rail Transit System Nears Operational Readiness for Second Segment

Kalihi Transit Center Station Image credit: HART

Center (TOCC). After this phase, combined static and dynamic testing of Segment 2 with Segment 1 began in September 2024. Earlier this year, several major milestones were completed, including the migration of communications, SCADA, fire detection, traction electrification and their related subsystems from the TOCC into Segment 1 and the existing main and backup Operations Control Center (OCC). Integrated system testing for both segments is conducted during non-revenue service hours at night to ensure uninterrupted passenger service on Segment 1 during regular operating hours. Lea+Elliott also continues to support the coordination of documentation and reviews that are needed to verify Operational Readiness per the FTA’s OP54 checklist. We support HART with the provision of verification evidence to Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), the FTA’s State Safety Oversight Agency in Hawaii. These ongoing efforts are positioning the project for a successful transition into the Trial Operation phase and ultimately, full passenger service.

HONOLULU - The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) is progressing toward Operational Readiness later this year for Segment 2, which connects the Aloha Stadium Station to the Kalihi Transit Center Station. Achieving Operational Readiness for this segment will allow HART to formally turn this segment over to the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS) for the commencement of passenger service as well as operations and maintenance. This second, elevated segment will add 5.2 miles of guideway and four additional stations extending the system to almost 16 miles long with 13 stations. Just as with Segment 1, Lea+Elliott staff have been actively supporting HART in overseeing the Core Systems work and coordinating efforts with other consultants, contractors and stakeholders throughout the design, construction and testing phases of the Project and this segment. Following the opening of the initial 10.75 miles segment on June 30, 2023, this 5.2-mile rail extension will provide transit riders with improved access to key destinations, including Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Pearl Harbor, a major employment hub. The system testing teams are completing the system Integration Testing phase, the final step before entering Trial Operations and achieving full Safety Certification of the system. Most of the static and dynamic testing on Segment 2 was independently conducted using the Temporary Operations Control

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Doppelmayr’s Rope Pull System selected for the Newark AirTrain Replacement

Rendering of the AirTrain Newark replacement system Image credit: PANYNJ

NEWARK - The Newark AirTrain Replacement Project is a key capital investment Project for future mobility within the Newark Liberty International Airport connecting Station 1, Future Station 2, Station 3 and New Rail Link Station with a 2.5-mile, elevated rope pull system. The Project has three key Contract components which are the Maintenance and Control Facility (MCF,), Guideway and Stations (G&S), and System Technology. Lea+Elliott’s daily Project involvement allows our resources to be involved with the key Contract components in a number of technical and commercial facets. Within the Project, Doppelmayr has been selected as the System Technology provider, and we look forward to successful implementation of this technology into the airport environment. In consideration of the implementation of the Doppelmayr Rope Pull System Technology, we note that this Project is different than other APM projects in that it resembles integration of a large, mechanical and electrical machine when you consider ropes, sheaves, pulleys, drive machines, return machines, and rope exchange units required for the technology. Geometry designs become a key component of multiple integrations beyond what is recognized in a typical APM project tied to civil alignment. The ropes must not only follow the civil alignment at guideway track level but must also take into account of geometric and relational aspects which guide the ropes around all the sheaves, pulleys, return machines, rope exchanges, and drive machines. Yes, all these other mechanical elements that interface with the ropes need to establish a volumetric space along the System which

requires many considerations in rope geometry and respective locational limitations regarding the composition of the System for available spaces in stations and MCF facilities. Like other APM systems, we also need to account for equipment rooms, power distribution rooms and central control rooms but again, we stress that integration of the electrical and mechanical aspects into the G&S plus MCF becomes critical. As the Project proceeds forward, we will provide additional insight into highlights regarding additional implementation of the chosen system technology for this Project as well as Project execution highlights as applicable and available. Progress photos will also be available as we move from design to construction aspects. We have some very exciting things happening in this Project and look forward to respectively sharing.

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Railways Reimagined: Embracing AI for a Safer and Smarter Future in Automated Transit Technologies

demand, incidents, or weather disruptions. This can improve throughput and reduce energy consumption. Another advantage is that AI can offer significant potential to enhance passenger safety. Computer vision tools can detect track intrusions, unattended objects, and hazards on platforms in real time, enabling faster response by control centers and station staff. When combined with platform screen doors, these technologies create an integrated safety ecosystem that may significantly reduce the risk of accidents and improve operational efficiency. Advanced analytics can also track crowd movement and congestion patterns, allowing operators to optimize passenger flow and reduce dwell times. Lea+Elliott’s experience writing specifications and overseeing integration of platform screen door systems and video analytics on fully automated systems helps clients deploy these solutions effectively, ensuring that safety systems work seamlessly with train control and station operations. Lea+Elliott has been at the forefront of helping transit agencies and airports adopt, adapt and transition to innovative technologies. As trusted advisors in automated transit and rail systems technologies, we support clients in evaluating AI capabilities and defining requirements for new procurements and system upgrades. By bridging the gap between suppliers and owners, our Lea+Elliott team ensures advanced technology is deployed confidently, safely, and cost-effectively. As excitement grows around the transformative potential of AI in the transportation industry, Lea+Elliott looks forward to collaborating with owners, suppliers, and consultants to explore AI applications in our industry. These include opportunities to optimize operations and service delivery while proactively addressing potential risks and ethical considerations associated with AI adoption.

It is hard to imagine that Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerged as a formal field way back in the mid-1950s. Yet, it is only in the last 3-4 years that AI has advanced at an unprecedented pace. Its veritable explosion is driven by powerful computing hardware, increasingly sophisticated algorithms, and substantial investments from both private corporations and governments. As AI is reshaping the way work is done across various industries, the transit sector must carefully examine the implications and opportunities of AI integration. A key question facing the sector is whether or not AI should eventually replace fully automated fixed block signaling systems or even modern Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) systems. If so, how soon might this transition occur, what benefits could it offer, and what challenges must be addressed? Would such a shift mirror the earlier transition from conventional fixed block signaling to CBTC--or will AI be considered only in an augmentative role? Regardless of whether AI can fully transform Automated Train Control (ATC) technology, it is already augmenting transit technologies in meaningful ways by enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and system resilience. One of the most promising applications is predictive analytics. By collecting and analyzing data from onboard sensors, track equipment, and control systems, AI can detect patterns that precede failures. This allows maintenance teams to intervene before breakdowns occur, reducing delays and extending asset life. For example, algorithms can continuously monitor the health of signaling system equipment and vehicle components, predicting when parts are likely to fail. AI also enables smarter scheduling and traffic management. In complex environments like driverless airport people movers and urban CBTC networks, AI-powered tools can dynamically adjust train movements in response to real-time

Singapore Changi Airport has officially broken ground on Terminal 5. All the buildings in Terminal 5 will be connected via an APM system. There will also be an extension to Terminal 2, where passengers can connect to the rest of Changi Airport. Image credit: Changi Airport Group

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6363 N. State HWY 161, Suite 580 | Irving, Texas 75038

Editor:

Crystal Oczkowski Dallas/Fort Worth | 972.890.9800 Steve Perliss San Francisco | 415.908.6450 Daniel McFadden Miami | 305.500.9390 David Little Washington, D.C. | 703.968.7883

Advisors:

About Lea+Elliott Lea+Elliott is a transportation consulting firm offering a broad range of planning, engineering, program management, and construction management services for clients worldwide. These services are provided to public transit authorities, airports and private sector owners for new transit systems and the refurbishment of existing systems. We have expertise in all modes of transit, including high-speed and intercity rail, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, automated guideway transit, personal rapid transit, autonomous vehicles, and conventional and advanced technology buses. The firm is especially well known for its creative structuring of procurements for a wide range of delivery options that include DBOM and P3.

leaelliott.com

Please send address correction information to coczkowski@leaelliott.com.

Meet Sean Williams, P.E., PMP

PITTSBURGH – Sean Williams is a train control engineer, a project manager and a Senior Associate with Lea+Elliott. He has worked on a variety of automated transit and rail systems, including major railways such as WMATA Metrorail, Bay Area Rapid Transit, Honolulu Skyline, San Francisco’s Muni Metro, Madrid Metro, and London Underground. Prior to joining Lea+Elliott, Sean’s 15+ years in the transportation industry also included working for three CBTC suppliers (Alstom, Hitachi, and Thales) where he held a variety of roles in technical project management, vital software development and testing and commissioning.

Sean particularly enjoys the variety that his position with Lea+Elliott provides. “ I’ve made multiple trips to Singapore for projects like a vehicle fleet expansion, spent time in Honolulu for site testing of the new Skyline which is the first fully driverless rail system in the United States, performed regular visits to supplier facilities in my hometown of Pittsburgh to witness software testing and audit the progress of vehicles being built in their factory, and contributed to engineering reports on exciting new alternative technologies, ” he says. “My work is never boring because each day is unique and presents new challenges.” In addition to acting as ATC Engineer for several CBTC projects, Sean played an instrumental role in positioning Lea+Elliott as the premiere consulting firm for Platform Screen Door (PSD) retrofit projects in North America. He acts as Project Manager and the lead technical contributor for several of Lea+Elliott’s PSD-related projects including studies and preliminary design for the Toronto Transit Commission, construction management of a PSD pilot program with New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and several confidential initiatives. Sean is enthusiastic about the potential impact of PSD retrofit projects. “ Many of North America’s metro systems were designed well over 50 years ago, so it’s great to see that more and more agencies are looking to install modern technology like PSDs and CBTC,” he says. “It’s satisfying to work on these projects, and it feels good to know that I’m helping improve the safety and security of these systems for their daily riders. ” Sean’s interest in transportation started at a very young age. “ I always knew that I wanted to work with transit systems, ” he says. “ My parents would take me to Disney World every year, and they said that I was more interested in riding the Monorail system than the actual rides in the parks. That was one of my inspirations to go for a degree in computer engineering. Now, to have the opportunity to work for a highly regarded firm like Lea+Elliott on cutting edge automated transportation projects all around the world… it’s just a dream come true for me. I’m very proud to work here. ” Outside of the office, Sean spends most of his free time with his 3-year-old daughter Reese, 1-year-old son Pierce, and wife Tesla. He also enjoys golfing, cooking, watch collecting, and attending Penn State University football games to which his family has season tickets. “ My wife and I are also carrying on the family tradition of yearly Disney trips with our kids. Maybe in 30 years or so, they’ll be part of the future generation of Lea+Elliott! ”

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