Frequently Asked Questions
Maintenance Facilities
Is a new maintenance facility needed for BRT?
If a BRT option is selected, storage and maintenance facilities for buses must be addressed.
The MTA presently operates four bus storage and maintenance facilities: Northwest Division; Kirk Division; Eastern Division, and Bush Division. These locations may not have enough space to accommodate the additional buses needed for the Red Line. The number of bus rapid transit (BRT) vehicles needed for the Red Line is estimated to be 50 to 75. It is not economically desirable to develop a new maintenance facility exclusively for 50 to 75 buses. Therefore, if BRT is the selected alternative a solution will need to be achieved which may be a combination of expansion at existing facilities in combination with a limited new facility.
Is a new maintenance facility needed for LRT?
The MTA presently operates two light transit (LRT) rail storage and maintenance facilities: North Avenue and Cromwell. These facilities are set up for the existing light rail vehicle fleet. There is not space available to expand either of these facilities to accommodate Red Line light rail vehicles. In addition, the Red Line light rail system is not planned to physically connect directly to the existing north-south Light Rail system, therefore it will not be possible to connect Red Line light rail cars to the existing light rail facilities. Since the two systems are not expected to be interconnected the maintenance and storage of Red Line rail vehicles will have to be done independently.
The number of LRT vehicles needed for the Red Line LRT system will be approximately 40 to 60. These rail cars and other maintenance equipment will be stored and maintained at an LRT Storage and Maintenance Facility. It is important that the Storage and Maintenance Facility be located close to the Red Line to minimize costs.
How will a decision be reached on where to locate a new maintenance facility?
A variety of factors will determine where any required new maintenance facility for light rail or buses is located. For light rail, the facility must be on or very close to the light rail alignment so as not to require construction of additional track to move light rail cars from the maintenance facility to the Red Line. For buses, a facility does not need to be located immediately adjacent to the Red Line since buses can use existing streets to access the Red Line. However, it is advantageous to minimize the distance from a bus storage and maintenance facility to the Red Line.
In terms of specific sites, all transportation and environmental impacts will be assessed prior to making a decision. Transportation impacts include the size of the site and ability to efficiently meet storage and maintenance needs, proximity to the Red Line and capital costs to construct and operate. Environmental factors include noise, visual, air quality and socio-economic impact; changes in the natural environment, including wetlands, floodplains and streams; the impact on parks, recreational uses and historic resources, and adhering to the federal standards of environmental justice. Any final decision on a new maintenance facility will be made after an assessment of all impacts. All potential sites for LRT and BRT maintenance facilities are included in the DEIS.
What kinds of activities occur at a bus maintenance facility?
A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) maintenance/storage facility is where buses are stored, maintained and dispatched on their daily routes. The facility needs to accommodate administrative and bus operations functions.
Drivers use the facility as their "home base." Space is needed for operations staff offices, dispatcher work stations, information center employee break room and/or lunchroom, driver area with lockers, showers and restrooms.
Storage and maintenance of a Red Line bus fleet would be a key function of the facility. Space for these operations include a maintenance office, shop areas, parts storage and areas for support personnel. A bus maintenance facility will incorporate areas for maintenance and repair of vehicles, preventative maintenance areas, tire repair and replacement facilities with appropriate storage, brake maintenance and repair, battery replacement and storage and a fare box /electronics room. The facility also will include a fuel and wash service area.
Most of the BRT vehicle storage parking is planned within a roofed structure. There will be an area for employee and visitor parking, and the site will be secured and fenced.
What kinds of activities occur at a light rail maintenance facility?
A Light Rail Transit (LRT) maintenance/storage facility is where light rail cars are stored, maintained and dispatched each day on their daily routes. The facility needs to accommodate administrative functions and light rail operations functions.
Drivers use the facility as their "home base." Space is needed for operations staff offices, dispatcher work stations, information center, employee break room and/or lunchroom, driver area with lockers, showers and restrooms.
Storage and maintenance of the LRT fleet is a key function. The storage yard portion of the facility is the point of origin and termination for mainline service. Functions common to the LRT maintenance facility include storage of vehicles, maintenance and repair shops, interior vehicle cleaning, and exterior car washing. There will be an area for employee and visitor parking, and the site will be secured and fenced.
What would be the hours of operation for a maintenance facility?
For both BRT and LRT some level of activity would occur inside the building throughout the day. Activities outside the maintenance building would typically be when vehicles are going into service or returning from service. The peak hours of operation, during which movement would be at a maximum, are normally between 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the evening.
How would a maintenance facility affect a nearby residential neighborhood?
There are five candidate locations throughout the Red Line corridor under consideration for a new vehicle storage and maintenance facility. A maintenance facility could result in noise and visual effects and additional traffic entering and exiting the site. The potential impacts associated with a storage and maintenance facility in any of these five sites are discussed in the DEIS and in greater detail in the Storage and Maintenance Facility Technical Reports for BRT and LRT. Once the preferred site is identified, MTA will work with the surrounding community to minimize and mitigate for any impacts.