Indy to spend billions on BRT?

[fsujax]

Ock, did they really use the cheaper than rail argument??? yes!

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110207/LOCAL18/102070334/1001/LOCAL/Latest-proposal-would-put-bus-riders-fast-track

[thelakelander]

For what it's worth, this is a decent article on the subject.  Much better than how things were handled locally with our BRT project.

It's less expensive than the rail options that IndyConnect initially proposed, but there's a hidden cost.
Officials envision buses sharing existing lanes with traffic. Experts say the service will not have the same impact on economic development as adding dedicated lanes or building a rail line.

The key here is "less expensive than rail options that IndyConnect initially proposed".  What and why did they limit themselves initially?  This would seem like one particular mode was always favored and studies were tilted in a manner to make it stand out.  The same was done for BRT in Jacksonville a decade ago.

The second half of this statement is important as well.  They admit that this option will not have the same economic impact as a fixed transit system.  It appears that they aren't doing this for development.  If the cheapest option is their top priority and they outright acknowledge that economic limitations will come with this selection, you can't fault them on it.  At least they were honest upfront.

At $3 million to $5 million a mile to implement -- without building lanes -- Bus Rapid Transit would be among the least expensive transit services being considered locally. Building rail lines or dedicated bus lanes costs 10 times as much and takes years longer to develop.

If a rail line costs $30 to $50 million a mile to implement, your project is paying for more than just rail.  Cost estimates really depend on what you want in your transportation investment.  If you stick to providing the basic elements in an end-user friendly manner, costs will drop.  If you're going all out with streetscapes, landscaping and other expensive (yet unnecessary) items, you'll break the bank.  That goes for BRT, LRT or streetcar.