Is the MicroRail guideway designed to withstand earthquate hazards?
We do not believe that the guideway design would need to be changed for an earthquake prone area. However, the support piers and the uprights would be increased in size and a spring mount would probably be used at the base. Each section of guideway weights only about 2,000-lbs for a 48-foot long section and the maximum carried load is also about 2,000 lbs. It is all steel and can’t shake apart like concrete. The structure design is far beyond that necessary to support the load. It is “over designed” in order to minimize the deflection when cars move over it.
