SOPHISTICATION AND COMPLEXITY VERSUS ECONOMY: THE PROBLEM OF GOLD-PLATING

Workshop participants noted the many mistakes made in the past decade in light-rail transit (LRT) and rapid transit planning and design that can be attributed to gold-plating (i.e. spending more than is needed to do the job). It was not quite apparent who was responsible for these mistakes. Although advances in LRT are desirable, the problem is in determining which advances are necessary and are cost-effective. It is noted that overdesign is often introduced early in the planning stages when system designs for civil engineering, railroad or rapid transit power supply, signalling, and fare collection are being selected. Experiences with LRT in Buffalo are quoted. Signaling was discussed and it was noted it would soon be possible to compare many aspects of actual systems in Canada and the U.S. Overdesign was discussed with respect to portions of Muni, the Washington Metro, and the Los Angeles proposals for rapid transit. Comments were also made on chopper control and power collection by means of pantographs or trolley poles.