BRT Coming to Blanding Boulevard

[jandar]

I drove home (from downtown to Middleburg) last night on Blanding just to watch what traffic did with the BRT lane.

Saw 3 cars use it the entire length from 103rd to Morse Ave. One turned right on Morse, the other two japped back into traffic.

Interesting start to the BRT lane. They should be better marked at least.

[thelakelander]

It probably needs a double white line to make it more identifiable.

[ralpho37]

As I stated earlier, confusion is to be expected considering these changes were just implemented recently.  Although you're sure to have people misuse the lanes, as they time passes people will learn of their intended purpose and things should start to run more smoothly.

[JaxNole]

Although this is a bus lane, other cities allow cars to travel behind a bus and not in front of the bus.  Since the headways are infrequent, could this not be another option for those who need to turn right when the bus lane terminates?

[ac]

I drove home (from downtown to Middleburg) last night on Blanding just to watch what traffic did with the BRT lane.

Saw 3 cars use it the entire length from 103rd to Morse Ave. One turned right on Morse, the other two japped back into traffic.

Interesting start to the BRT lane. They should be better marked at least.

You'd think JSO would have some traffic cop$ out there to dole out some fines.  The picking's as easy as I thought it would be, apparently.

As I stated earlier, confusion is to be expected considering these changes were just implemented recently.  Although you're sure to have people misuse the lanes, as they time passes people will learn of their intended purpose and things should start to run more smoothly.

You have a lot of faith in your fellow citizens.  I think those who ignore the roadside signage and the huge freaking "BUS LANE" painted in the lane know exactly what they're doing, and couldn't care less as long as they get where they're going a few minutes faster.

[Doctor_K]

Exactly, AC. 

Also, I didn't see/read/hear a lot of fanfare leading up to this new thing.  The communication to the general public seems to be lacking, as is par for the course for JTA (and subsequently the local media market, as has been lamented elsewhere).

[stjr]

This week, Jacksonville's first bus only lanes will open along Blanding Boulevard between Morse Avenue and 103rd Street.

Help me out here:

Is this "test" going to go beyond this?  What is the timetable for expansion? Why wasn't it all done at once if there are additional phases critical to evaluating it?

Can the buses activate green on traffic lights to speed their travels?  How much faster than presently will the buses be able to cover their targeted distances? Were extra stops created to increase use (since the buses supposedly can travel faster, they should be able to incorporate more stops to increase usefulness of the routes)?  Are there both "local" routes and "express" routes planned? How often are buses running this route?  Were the hours extended as well as route frequency?  Will there be routes that use the BRT as part of going off the BRT to elsewhere?  Are there connections on the BRT to other routes?  Are there any stops at Park and Ride lots?

In off hours or ones with greatly reduced route service for buses, such as after a certain daily time or on weekends, will the lanes be available for regular driving (kind of like metered parking downtown is not used in off hours)?  Will emergency vehicles also use these lanes?  Where does a car in an accident or that breaks down pull over to?  What happens when the utilities open a manhole in the lane - will they be restricted to certain hours given the new "value" of the lanes?  Are BRT rules/traffic laws and/or regulations available on line or in the State's driver's handbook?

What does it cost to build a lane of state road for this or other planned length? How many passengers do they carry now and what is expected with this BRT now or when finished?  What is the cost per passenger of the bus and pavement infrastructure?  What passenger increase and/or load is targeted to make this a "success"?  Were there any bike lanes here and where would they go if desired? (if they do this on San Jose the joggers and bikers will probably be after JTA's head!)

How can we draw relevant conclusions if its being implemented half baked?

Reading how the lines were striped, I already have this funny feeling a lot of these questions were never asked, resolved with common sense, or properly considered before this was implemented.  Please tell me I am wrong, that this is not another Skyway mess in the making, and that it's not the BRT Amateur Hour.  I can aready see JTA saying we can't judge it until we go city wide and spend another billion or so on it.

[JeffreyS]

The JTA just did this section first to coincide with scheduled FDOT road work and resurfacing to save costs.

[thelakelander]

Stjr, unfortunately you are not wrong.  Half the things you mentioned probably were never considered.  This looks like it was simply an opportunity to get some cheap bus lanes from a paving project that was already planned by FDOT.

[BridgeTroll]

Also, I didn't see/read/hear a lot of fanfare leading up to this new thing.  The communication to the general public seems to be lacking, as is par for the course for JTA (and subsequently the local media market, as has been lamented elsewhere).

I was wondering if it was just me...

[fsujax]

If there is this much confusion over a bus lane imagine what it would be like it we actually had streetcars, or light rail cars running within the existing streets. Talking about a learning curve. Maybe this is a good way to introduce transit modes to existing ROW to get people used to it and talking about it in Jacksonville. I read a great article in the Transit Cooperative Research Program about LRT vehicles collisions with cars at signalized intersections. This kind of stuff is going to happen especially when drivers disobey the signs and signals. It will take some getting used to.

[thelakelander]

For those running with cars, I wonder if there is a link between the transparency of the line, in regards to the vehicular lanes.  I remember accidents were routine when Houston's light rail line opened up.  However, if you're not paying attention, the thing does blend in with regular lanes and trains move at pretty swift speeds.

Houston METROrail

Houston's train travels at high speeds, with little to separate it from regular traffic.  Its like running a freight line (except the trains are a lot lighter) in the inside lane of University Blvd.


Collisions have not been a huge issue in Charlotte, but that light rail line does not share lanes with cars.

Charlotte Blue Line


Tampa's TECO Streetcar did not go through what Houston's line did, as well.  The major difference between Tampa's system and Houston's is Tampa's ROW is more easily identified and the streetcar moves at lower speeds than the light rail line.

Tampa TECO Streetcar

Huge curbs separate the streetcar ROW from regular traffic lanes.

Any idea of the difference in collision rates between systems with their own easily identified ROW (like medians) and those that travel in lanes with cars?  While there is certainly a period where drivers have to get used to a system, I think accidents can be limited with proper design within selected travel corridors.

[BridgeTroll]

I lived in San Jose when the light rail was first being installed.  The media coverage was heavy, public service, billboards, etc were everywhere teaching drivers and increasing awareness.  Perhaps the stats will show otherwise but my memory tells me collisions were frequent and well publicized.

[fsujax]

Most of the collisions that are occuring are as follows:
motorists in left turn pocket lanes violate the red left turn signal
making illegal left turns against a static no left turn signal
violating active turn-prohibition signs and train approcahing signs
making left turns from adjacent through only lanes shared with LRV (mixed-use)
drivers encraoh on or stop on the tracks and are struck by the LRV
drivers run red signal and collide with LRV
Most of the accidents occur as turning movements (lefts) and careless driving by motorists. Even with the systems that have their own ROW the turing movements of motorists still cause accidents.

[thelakelander]

The level of accidents experienced in Tampa and Houston were not similar.  Is there any difference between streetcars and light rail, when it comes to accidents early on in an urban setting?  I haven't seen any data, but am I right in assuming a new system that has signal priority, with transit vehicles moving at high speeds through intersections, would be more accident prone early on to careless drivers?