■ If overhead wiring is considered unacceptable, light rail vehicles may be
able to run on batteries or take power from a third rail.CONS (COMPARED TO BUSES)
■ Higher capital costs than buses.
■ Generally a lower proportion of seats to standees.
■ Route is often inflexible, which could be an issue in the event of a
breakdown or a temporary street closure due to a special event or a
parade.
■ Could cause a disruption to traffic and local businesses during their
construction.
■ Permanent inconvenience to motorists where lanes are lost or the
motorists are required to stop behind a light rail vehicle while its
passengers are getting on and off.
■ The cost of construction means that interchange with buses will be
necessary on some routes or on the outer ends of routes.
■ A greater capacity of these vehicles may mean reduced frequency
compared to buses.
■ If coal-fired electricity is used, greenhouse emissions per passenger-mile
(km) may be higher than that of buses.
■ May lead to fewer bus routes in areas that are away from light rail access.
■ The efficiency and smooth ride in light rail vehicles, especially if
separated from other road traffic, can attract so many passengers that the
“spare capacity” is exhausted.Environmental Advantages of Mass Transit
There are many examples of environmental advantages of switching from
vehicles powered by fossil fuels to alternative, less, or nonpolluting fuel types
and increasing mass transit options. Those environmental advantages are:
■ Less air pollution, resulting in decreased levels of smog (e.g., SOx and
NOx)■ A reduction in wet and dry acid precipitation
■ A reduction in greenhouse gases (e.g., CO 2 , O 3 , and nitrous oxide, N 2 O)
■ A reduction in particulate matter stemming from both vehicles and