The Urbanaut® Monorail Technology

Cost of any monorail project is quite involved and varies with the location, the geography and the route layout of the monorail guideway, along with the station location and sizes, service and maintenance facilities, switching and total environmental impact on the community. Urbanaut®has the flexibility to integrate future expansion or deletion, which could reduce planning and construction cost.

The graphical cost illustration shown in Elements of an Urbanaut®Elevated Monorail Project below is specific to the Urbanaut® technology. While the "Cost Of Depot" is a relatively small item for the Urbanaut®, it is large for the straddle-beam type monorails, which require a very large land area with complicated equipment to move the inseparable massive beam ways with the trains on top.

Elements of an Urbanaut® Elevated Monorail Project

Relative Cost of Each Element

v        Civil Works:        Guideway, Stations, Switches, Maintenance Buildings

v        Rolling Stock:    Trains and special vehicles

v        Signaling:           Train Control System (TCS) and other controls

v        Energy:               Energy Supply

v        Telecom:             Communication

v        Depot:                 Equipment and Control Center

v        AFC:                    Automated Fare Collection  System

 

The "Core System" for the Urbanaut® represents close to 85% of the total project and costs. It embraces:

1.                            The Civil Works (Elevated Guideway)

2.                            The Rolling Stock (Vehicles)

3.                            Signaling (Automatic Control)

The "Fixed E&M" (Electrical & Mechanical) integrates and overlaps with the Civil Works

The "Movable" (Rolling Stock) includes operational trains and vehicles

 

 

Cost Estimate Guidelines for 3 Types
 of Urbanaut® Guideways

The following three cost estimate guidelines for an Elevated Single Guideway, Double Guideway and Guideway at Surface are based upon experience on monorail technology by a number of consultants and contractors. A list of variable costs that may apply to any installation is also provided.   

 

URBANAUT® INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM                TYPE I
APPROXIMATE COST ESTIMATE PER MILE (1.6 KM)
OF SINGLE ELEVATED GUIDEWAY
(For USA and Canada)

Fixed Costs:

A.  Elevated Guideway, Including Foundations                                   42%    =    $ 6.30  Mill
B.  Passenger Loading / Unloading Facilities (2 Stations)                10%    =    $ 1.50  Mill
C.  Maintenance Yards & Operational Control Facility                          7%    =    $ 1.05 Mill
D.  Electrical Power, Signals, and Moving Block Control                     6%    =    $ 0.90 Mill
E.  Rolling Stock (3 Single Vehicles or 3 Car Train)                             25%    =    $ 3.75 Mill
F.  Fees & Contingencies of A, B, C, & D                                                10%    =    $ 1.50 Mill
Total cost of INTERMEDIATE SIZE PER MILE (1.6 km)                     100%    =  $ 15.00 Mill

 

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 EXAMPLE OF COST
For 5 Km (3.13 Miles) Urbanaut® Elevated Single Guideway

 

 

Total miles

 

US $ per mile

 

% of total cost

 

Total

A.

3.13 miles

$6.30 million

42%

= $19.7 mill

B.

3.13 miles

$1.50 million

10%

=   $4.7 mill

C.

3.13 miles

$1.05 million

7%

=   $3.3 mill

D.

3.13 miles

$  .90 million

6%

=   $2.8 mill

E.

3.13 miles

$3.75 million

25%

= $11.7 mill

F.

3.13 miles

$1.50 million

10%

=   $4.7 mill

 

 

Total =

100%

= $46.9 mill

 Variable cost items to be determined after a preliminary study of the project.

 

URBANAUT® INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM                TYPE II
APPROXIMATE COST ESTIMATE PER MILE (1.6 KM)
OF DUAL ELEVATED GUIDEWAY
(For USA and Canada)

Fixed Costs:

A.  Elevated Guideway, Including Foundations                               41.8%    =   $11.70 Mill

B.  Passenger Loading / Unloading Facilities (2 Stations)               8.5%    =     $2.40 Mill

C.  Maintenance Yards & Operational Control Facility                     7.2%    =     $2.00 Mill

D.  Electrical Power, Signals, and Moving Block Control                7.2%    =     $2.00 Mill

E.  Rolling Stock (3 Single Vehicles or 3 Car Train)                        26.8%    =     $7.50 Mill

F.  Fees & Contingencies of A, B, C, & D                                            8.5%    =     $2.40 Mill

Total cost of INTERMEDIATE SIZE PER MILE (1.6 km)                    100%    =   $28.0 Mill

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URBANAUT® INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM                TYPE III
APPROXIMATE COST ESTIMATE PER MILE (1.6 KM)
OF SINGLE GUIDEWAY AT SURFACE
(For USA and Canada)

Fixed Costs:

 A.  Excavation, drainage, sub-ballast, foundation slab,          22%    =     $2.00 Mill
guide rail

B.  Passenger Loading / Unloading Facilities (2 Stations)      4%    =     $0.40 Mill

C.  Maintenance Yards & Operational Control Facility          12%    =     $1.05 Mill

D.  Electrical Power, Signals, and Moving Block Control     10%    =     $0.90 Mill

E.  Rolling Stock (3 Single Vehicles or 3 Car Train)               42%    =     $3.75 Mill

F.  Fees & Contingencies of A, B, C, & D                                 10%    =     $0.90 Mill

Total cost of INTERMEDIATE SIZE PER MILE (1.6 km)      100%    =     $9.00 Mill

 

 

 

 

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URBANAUT® INTERMEDIATE SIZE SYSTEM

Variable Cost Items Not Included in Cost Estimates for Types 1,2 and 3

1. Land acquisition (if necessary public right-of-way not available)

2. Improvements such as relocation of underground and aerial utilities

3. Aerial right-of-way and underground expropriation

4. Parking lots, park-ride facilities

5. Stations built into existing facilities (buildings)

6. Foundations for poor soil conditions and unforeseen underground conditions

7. Special elevated structures that deviate from standard prefabricated designs

8. Legal fees and feasibility studies

9. Unexpected delays and obstructions encountered

10. Financing costs

 

FOR COMPARISON OF COSTS WITH OTHER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS,
 SEE COMPARISON (LINK)