Light rail has been emerging and disappearing from Milwaukee transportation plans for over twenty-five years. Light rail, which is basically an improved version of the old streetcar, was recently rejected by the most recent transit study due to expense. In terms of capital cost, Langen monorail lies in between light rail and guided bus.
Why do we need an improved mass transit system when we have buses?
Buses have high operating costs and aren't that popular. Indeed, bus ridership has dropped three percent over the last year. Compare this to a sleek monorail, which would be more comfortable, cleaner, quicker, and therefore would probably have a higher appeal. They would also have lower operating costs, saving the city money despite the higher initial investment. A monorail would also stimulate development in downtown and reduce congestion.
Why should I take the monorail when I have a car?
The most obvious reason is cost savings. Even though you don't realize it, your car probably costs about $1.25 per mile (that includes purchase, gas, maintenance, insurance, parking, and taxes you pay for road maintenance). Only a little bit more (supposing monorail fare is similar to bus fare) could take you more than five times the distance. Furthermore, if one uses Park-and-Ride costs would be reduced even more, for your automobile wouldn't need nearly as much maintenance, and the increased speed of freeway flyers would make your day more productive. Dial-a-bus and station cars, if implemented, could save further money.
There is another, more important reason to give up your car for the monorail, though--safety. While a car can get into an accident, there has been only one monorail accident in the last 100 years. Although one may like the fact that you don't have to share your car with strangers, driving is actually a very social activity--how much energy do you use getting angry at other drivers? On a monorail, there is little frustration since you don't have to drive, leaving you free to relax, and if you are sitting next to someone that you feel uncomfortable being near, the monorail vehicles are linked in a manner that allows you to travel from one monorail coach to another. Furthermore, if anything were to make the monorail stop between stations the trains are equipped with emergency escape slides.
Even if you continue to drive, the monorail would still have the advantage of keeping other drivers off the street, meaning less congestion. Whether you take it or not, the monorail is still a good investment.
Wasn't the only monorail accident that of the Wuppertal Schwebebahn? Is the LMMC design safe?
Yes, but this was due to a metal clamp left on the rail, not a deficiency in design. Nevertheless, the LMMC design makes such a derailment impossible.
Will people actually be willing to walk from monorail stations to work?
The monorail system's stations will be strategically placed by areas of the most activity so that walking distance would be as short as possible. Furthermore, bicycles can either be parked at stations or taken on monorail vehicles.
Does this plan have anything to do with the monorail in Seattle?
No--this campaign is not at all related to the Seattle one. The Seattle monorail campaign utilizes Alweg-type monorails that straddle a concrete or steel beam, like the sort at Walt Disney World. This is an unwieldy arrangement that results in a complex bogie design and vehicles with a high center of gravity. Furthermore, Alwegs utilize rubber tires which increase friction and energy consumption and are more susceptible to ill weather than a steel wheel Langen-type monorail. Additionally, they have wider turning radii than Langen-types, and in Seattle this has meant that property destruction is inevitable.
Wasn't Monorail Considered and Then Rejected for Milwaukee, Though?
The rejection of monorail was based mostly on impressions of large Alweg monorail systems (like the one to be built in Seattle), which require immense columns and guideways. A Milwaukee monorail would not need the immense beams. It is also a lot less expensive than Alweg-types. Below I analyze some of the reasons:
If Langen-type monorails are so great why aren't they used everywhere?
Before LMMC, there was relatively little development beyond the Schwebebahn, and the main reason that Schwebebahnen aren't found everywhere is because of visual impact.
Does the Monorail "Screech" or Sway When Going Around Corners?
Despite the fact that Langen-type monorails use steel wheels on steel rails like a streetcar, the track-wheel interface is completely different, so the monorail is very quiet, going around corners or not. This also reduces track wear.
One of the most distinctive things about the Wuppertal Schwebebahn is its sway of up to 14 degrees when it goes around corners. Although the system is perfectly safe, to prevent anxiety the swing is dampened in the LMMC design.
If monorail were implemented, would we be reliant on small shops for parts, which could either go out of business (leaving the system stranded) or hike prices?
No. Most of the parts necessary for a Milwaukee monorail can be found in any steel mill or rail yard, and anything else can be built under license. Indeed, the whole monorail system could probably be built in Milwaukee, benefiting the local economy.
What Are Linear Induction Motors?
Regular electric motors use electromagnets to turn a rotor (which drives the wheels), while linear induction motors (LIMs) use magnets to move the train forward. This reduces maintenance costs since LIMs don't have any moving parts to wear out. Also, don't worry about the magnets messing up pacemakers, computers, or credit cards--the magnets aren't powerful enough to do that. Although LIM technology seems futuristic, it really isn't and LIM-powered trains are used every day in Osaka, Tokyo, and Vancouver.
How Would the Monorail Effect the Milwaukee County Transit Trolleys
The monorail and transit trolleys probably won't interact at all aside from joint stops downtown. This is because then monorail would be a county-wide mass transit system while the trolleys are simply a downtown circulator system.