The International BRT Standard: Will Jax Fail the Test?

[Metro Jacksonville]

The International BRT Standard: Will Jax Fail the Test?



Metro Jacksonville's Robert Mann attempts to evaluate Jacksonville's proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plans with international BRT standards, in order to get a better feel on what our community may be buying.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-nov-the-international-brt-standard-will-jax-fail-the-test

[AaroniusLives]

I'm actually a big believer in BRT, but I don't really think that these quasi-exclusive lane/on-the-cheap variants of BRT will really do much, if anything, to alleviate either the perception of transit as being for the poor only or the idea that transit is a viable and necessary alternative to the private car.

Now, for a smaller city and MSA, like Grand Rapids, Michigan, which recently opened a ahem...cost-effective BRT line (the Silver Line,) I think it makes sense to adopt this style of system. But Jacksonville has hit or exceeded a degree of critical mass and probably needs a more elevated, expansive system.

I also think that it's pretty integral to have, at the very least, a passing lane at the stations, as that effectively demonstrates both cost-effectiveness of BRT and the ability to offer premium Metro style service...which is to say a "local" each stop on the line service and an "express" every third or fifth stop service...something you'd have to double track or triple track to offer on equivalent rail systems.

And, of course, exclusive right of way, always. But that should be a given on any transit application (a streetcar in mixed traffic may drive development, but it's still in bumper to bumper traffic, so FAIL.)

But...you know, if it's merely a snazzy shelter with pre-boarding features on a glam bus with sometimes mixed traffic lanes, and some change the traffic light color tech, I don't think the BRT will speed up the bus or enhance it enough to make a demonstrable impact.

In general, where I think all these piecemeal projects fail is the one line at a time mentality. If you're going to make the claim that for 1 billion, you get (roughly) 10 miles of HRT, 20 miles of LRT and 50 miles of BRT...build the damned 50 miles of BRT. Demonstrate both the speed of building and the quick launch to comprehensive transit coverage. That's not a Jax-exclusive problem...that's an American Transit Problem.   

[AaroniusLives]

A good example of a municipality pursuing a premium style of BRT: Montgomery County is suburban Washington, DC.

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/2014/08/12/montgomery-county-bus-rapid-transit-brt-traffic/13965337/

To be fair, this is in a region that's already connected via extensive regular buses, commuter rail and heavy rail (Metro,) transit, so MoCo's is an addendum to all of that...and in addition to a light rail line (Purple Line.) This is also a highly wealthy and highly liberal region and county, so the politics align for such a development.