Why BRT is the Better Choice for Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

I was alerted that JTA has a three page response to Metro Jacksonville's argument against BRT in their December "Making Moves" magazine edition.  Things must be getting pretty stressful at their offices.  The biggest mistake was using Ed Castellani as an expert on rail.  Of course Metro Jacksonville will respond soon with an array of factual arguments again poking holes in the hot air balloon, known as Bus Rapid Transit in Jacksonville.

[RiversideGator]

I really like the straw man argument JTA makes:  BRT costs less than light rail (which isnt true, BTW) when they know that the other option, commuter rail, costs even less than light rail and BRT based on numerous recent examples.  Also, they are being completely dishonest about the true costs of BRT.  It will not be as cheap as they claim. 

[thelakelander]

Isn't it strange that concrete and steel have increased in recent years, yet BRT has grown from 29 to 34 miles in length and dropped less than half the price of what their own technology assessment report stated?  If JTA is right, maybe we can expect the courthouse prices to drop back down to the $190 million dollar level.

Btw, if the scan is hard to read (I'll update it later this afternoon), here's a link to the document: http://www.jtaonthemove.com/news/pdf/makingmoveswinter2007.pdf

[Lunican]

JTA propaganda: $11 - $16 million per mile
Technology Assessment Report: $26 - $33 million per mile.

Cut by more than half.

This is only the beginning. More to come in our official response.

[thelakelander]

Interesting tidbit.  JTA's Technology Assessment Report mentions the cost of dedicated busways averaging between $26-$33 million a mile.  JTA plucks the "at-grade" (ours will include several elevated sections) Orange BRT line in LA for faulty ridership numbers, but mentions the BRT line cost $25 million/mile to build.....at grade.  However, dedicated busways will go against the grain locally and come in at the low cost of $11 - $16 million per mile? 

Seriously, picking this thing apart is easier than I thought, now that I'm actually reading through it.  I must say this is quite disappointing.  We're employing people making six figure salaries to look at these issues fulltime and this is the best they can come up with?  Good grief.

[Lunican]

They didn't come up with it: http://www.gobrt.org/Orange_Line_Preliminary_Evaluation_by_BTI.pdf

[JaxNole]

JTA again appears relentless in its pursuit to demonstrate how embarrassingly inept the agency is in providing solid arguments for BRT.  Both direct and indirect costs to develop BRT infrastructure far outweigh the cost to use what we already have for rail.  The author leads into the article with the sentiment that rail is favored over buses, yet backpeddles and ultimately presents weak arguments in favor of BRT.

Not only does the article seem to sheepishly portray BRT as the superior mode of transportation, but it also produces laughable estimates of per-mile construction costs.  Has there been a phenomenal discovery or engineering breakthrough that has dramatically lowered the costs of BRT implementation that we have not been told?  Someone should download or take screen shots of the JTA TAS tables outlining costs for various mass transit options.  They just might not be available to the public soon.

I understand if the lowest cost alternative to the auto will be chosen, but the arguments made by the author are weak at best.  One BRT system's cost to use as evidence to champion BRT as Jacksonville's solution is myopic and insulting.  Then there are the intangible benefits of rail and costs of BRT.  Rail doesn't need hundreds of millions of dollars for new asphalt and other associated costs, like right of way purchasing.  We already have the rail's road (tracks!) while BRT's must be constructed or continue to use a disproportionate amount of space on each street it travels.

We only need to look at Boston, New York, Philadelphia and DC (among others) as venerable examples where rail has and continues to benefit its population rather than destroying the cohesion of neighborhoods by building more roads to accommodate additional buses. 

One final question: Why isn't there an emphasis to deliver cost-effective transit options for the disadvantaged who need to travel around town but don't own a car?  If a gainfully employed resident from Golfair has to ride the bus and transfer at least once to reach her office at Southpoint, that is easily an hour ride on the bus in addition to the time she spent walking to the bus stop as well as waking up early so she does not miss the bus that runs only once every hour.  Her eight hour work day has consumed probably 12-13 hours when accounting for waking up early to catch the bus, the time walking to the bus stop and the time waiting for bus to arrive as well as waiting to transfer.

I'm sorry if this reads like word vomit, but JTA's article only proves to me they have no plans to give serious thought to alternatives when a choice few from the forum have eloquently and repeatedly presented compelling arguments to put BRT on ice.

[Soapbox mode off].

[avonjax]

What an arrogant group. They are so intent on getting their way that they are willing to make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear." I laugh when they use the "rails-to-trails" label for use of s-line. Until that area improves it will be more like "rails to crime and vice." I can't see a lot of people jogging, walking or biking in that area. Are we the only city in America that has the right idea? Buses? JTA must be awfully desperate. It seems apparent that Metro Jax and others with a brain have really scared them.

[thelakelander]

The S-Line was once a double tracked rail corridor.  It's minimum length is 60'.  The asphalt path being built is only 12' wide.  In short, there's plenty of space for the S-Line to become a "Rails WITH Trails" corridor.  Doing such would also increase the usage of the path being constructed today.

The Metrobike Trail in St. Louis


Capital Cresent Trail in Minneapolis


Mission City Trail in San Fernando Valley


More info on Rails WITH Trails: http://home.comcast.net/~phyilla1/sstrails/railswithtrails.html

Its time for JTA to move into the 21st century.