INTRODUCTION:

The following is a proposal of monorail system to supersede the shuttle service, operates in
California state university Long beach. I believe strongly that the California state university long
beach needs a good high-speed rapid transit system as the basic backbone network for a more
complex system of student transportation. This backbone would consist of high-speed links
serving the busiest transit corridors.

The typical features of the high-speed network would be high capacity and high speed trains
operating over fixed routes at required frequency, so that during most of the students would have
to wait no more than a few minutes to catch a train. My proposed high-speed backbone network
would be monorail, because of the advantages of monorail over other forms of transportation in
this kind of service.

DRAWBACKS OF CURRENT SHUTTLE SERVICE:
Shuttle service is very popular mode of transport used by students on campus. However, motor
transport is not as reliable as rail transport. During bad weather conditions, roads become unfit
and unsafe for use. There are more chances of accidents
and breakdown in case of motor transport. Thus, motor
transport is not as safe as rail transport. The speed of
motor transport is comparatively slow and limited. The
road transport is comparatively less organized.
More often, it is irregular and undependable. The rates
charged for transportation are also unsuitable and
unequal. This transport is subjected to traffic delays. In
addition, driving regulations may cause delays.
Eventually, student are spending more time at bus stops
waiting for buses.


So there is a need to improve this shuttle service to save money, time. However, the optimization
of the shuttle will not have substantial advantages, moreover we cannot change the traffic rules.
Thus, a new transportation system needs to be proposed. Then comes the monorail system into
picture. This system is


MONORAIL SYSTEM:
It is a railway related transportation system, but it is
entirely different from conventional railways. Monorail
system is based on single rail, which acts as its sole
support. It is usually elevated above traffic, congestion,
above pedestrians and vehicles. In fact, it is based on
style of track. Monorail lines can provide a safe, cost-
effective, high-speed rapid transit system for CSULB
and the surrounding area.



BENEFITS OF MONORAIL SYSTEM:
There are several advantages to monorail, although it depends on the circumstances. The
circumstances where monorail has the most advantages is where there is a need for a fixed route
through a built-up area, with an anticipated medium passenger load. The following advantages
apply to monorails in general.

ELEVATED: The monorail is normally elevated,
above traffic, above congestion, above pedestrians
and vehicles. Although monorails are normally
thought of as elevated structures on a series of pylons
(columns), this is not a requirement. It is possible to
install the guideway beams (rails) directly on the
ground, such as in a tunnel. Other arguments below
will assume that the monorail is elevated.



SAFE:
Because a monorail is grade separated, it can't collide with cars or other vehicles or run over
people or bicycles. People can drive, bike, or walk under the monorail without having to look out
for oncoming trains. Another thing is that, although trains have an excellent safety record, there
are occasions when they derail, sometimes with disastrous results. The straddle-type monorail
that I am proposing wraps around the single rail and cannot derail.


LESS DISRUPTIVE TO COMMUNITIES:
The elevated nature of a monorail line lets people easily drive or walk back and forth between
the two sides of the line. With surface rail systems the neighborhood is sliced in two by the
tracks crossing back and forth is only safe at points blocks apart and dangerous in between. As
for the eventual improvement to the neighborhood, a monorail would have also led to
improvement, maybe more so because it is safer, quieter, and less disruptive to the
neighborhood.

GRADE SEPARATED:
Grade separated means separated from surface
traffic of all kinds cars, trucks, trains, people,
bicycles, etc. so that the monorail train can run
without any interference from (or to) other traffic.
The most common modern monorail designs use
electrically-powered trains with rubber tires.
Compare with railroad trains with steel wheels
running on steel rails. This can make a big
difference in residential areas.

LESS DESTRUCTIVE TO COMMUNITIES:
In most cases a monorail line can be placed in the street, and the 4- or 5-foot columns mean that
the street does not need to be widened in order to accommodate the monorail. Compare with
surface light rail where double tracks are about twenty feet wide, and the street must be widened
to accommodate the railroad. In order to widen the street it is necessary to tear down many
homes and businesses along the street.

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS:
Electrical specifications include whether the electrical
supply is AC or DC and the voltage. The train cars
should be fairly wide and high for comfort, and fairly
long for adequate capacity, and should be of walk-
through design, meaning that passengers may freely
walk through the train from one car to another. Seating
should be comfortable and there should be enough
seats so that passengers seldom need to stand except
during rush hours or enroute to or from special events.
COSTS & RESOURCES REQUIRED:
Monorail systems are not cheap. They cost much more
than bus systems. However they usually cost less than
light rail systems, considerably less than heavy rail
commuter railroads, and much less than underground
light rail or subway systems. Even though bus systems
normally cost much less, in the case of true bus rapid
transit where specially-designed buses run on grade
separated bus-only roadways, the costs may exceed
that of a monorail line.


LIMITATIONS:
It is true that normally the neighborhood is rebuilt and improved, but that does not help many of
the homeowners that were forced to move, or families with small businesses that lost their
business in the project.

The main exception would be the number of cars in a train. However, shorter trains could be
used on less busy routes. All of the monorail routes would be interconnected to form one
integrated regional system. Therefore, the design of the guideways and trains must be compatible
so that any train can go anywhere within the system. However, in the interest of compatibility,
even the least busy and shortest routes would have to meet the minimum system specifications.
Physical dimensions would include the width of the guideway, location of the train wheels
relative to the top of the guideway, location of the electrical contacts, width and height of the
cars, etc.

CONCLUSION:
The elegance and efficiency of monorail system makes it to stand on top of all standard
transportation systems. It has many advantages over shuttle, which mainly includes time saving
for passengers and comparatively more cost effective. Almost all the monorails are powered by
electric motors, which also reduces the harmful emissions into the environment. This kind of
transportation system definitely helps the students of California State University, Long Beach
and elevates the standards of the university.

I understand that the monorail system cannot arbitrarily effect such a drastic transport change. I
look forward to hearing your ideas on the scope of this feasibility report.