Collision Safety Improvements for Light Rail Vehicles Operating in Shared Right of Way Street Environment

The objective of this research project is to develop a novel segmented bumper design with different energy absorbing characteristics for frontal and corner impacts of light rail vehicles (LRVs). This retrofit design will also utilize an improved geometric profile making the front-end less aggressive to automobiles and pedestrians and reduce the LRV derailment potential in these impacts. The research intent is to develop an "active" bumper system, that can be retrofitted into existing fleet of LRVs that will minimize injuries and fatalities resulting from impacts with automobiles and pedestrians, but still prevent damage in 5-mph collisions between two LRVs.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Program Information: National Research Program, National Research

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $250000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  FTA-CA-26-7007

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Robinson, Bruce

• Performing Organizations:

  Applied Research Associates, Incorporated

  Mountain View, CA  United States  94043
• Principal Investigators:

  Bocchieri, Robert

• Start Date: 20081001
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20091031
• Source Data: RiP Project 20069

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bumpers; Crashes; Derailments; Energy absorption; Injuries; Light rail vehicles; Vehicle design
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01489167
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Transit Administration
• Contract Numbers: FTA-CA-26-7007
• Files: RIP
• Created Date: Aug 2 2013 1:01AM