FTA Low-Speed Urban Maglev Research Program: Updated Lessons Learned [November 2012]

01479059https://doi.org/10.21949/15035632012PDFTech ReportFTA Report No. 0026DTFT60-09-C-00006Magnetic levitation vehiclesUrban transitResearch reportsInfrastructureLow-speed urban magnetic levitationMaglevUrban mass transportationLessons learnedUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Transit Administration. Office of Research, Demonstration, and InnovationHoopengardner, RogerThompson, MarcScience Applications International CorporationUnited States. Federal Transit Administration. Office of Research, Demonstration, and InnovationFederal Transit AdministrationIn 1999, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) initiated the Low-Speed Urban Magnetic Levitation (Urban Maglev) Program to develop magnetic levitation technology that offers a cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally-sound transit option for urban mass transportation in the United States. Maglev is an innovative approach for transportation in which trains are supported by magnetic forces without any wheels contacting the rail surfaces. Maglev promises several attractive benefits, including the ability to operate in challenging terrain with steep grades, tight turns, all-weather operation, low maintenance, rapid acceleration, quiet operation, and superior ride quality, among others. This Urban Maglev program is essentially completed, and government program executives and managers desire a program review with an emphasis on lessons learned. The lessons learned in this report have been captured through a multi-faceted assessment of general project impressions, project execution, project conclusions and deliverables, project team performance, stakeholder participation, risk management, and project communications. The assessments are drawn from project documentation, discussions with the performing teams, and direct experience with the five Urban Maglev projects. This updated report provides lessons learned from the two projects that continued through 2011\u20132012.85