Metro Jacksonville

BRT Coming to Blanding Boulevard

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/479288905_yze2H-M.jpg)

This week, Jacksonville's first bus only lanes will open along Blanding Boulevard between Morse Avenue and 103rd Street.  This project offers the community a real life local example of Bus Rapid Transit in action. Will it be a success or will it serve as a monument displaying the reasons why investment in rail should become JTA's top priority?

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1016

I think that it's a real giant step for us. I think it will work out for good. First BRT, then rail may soon follow suit :)  8)

This is the dummest idea that I have ever heard or. We have fought the construction on this section of road for over two years hopeing that when finished the rush hour traffic would move smoother and faster. After two years of construction and much much money spent we are still right where we started. We still have two lane traffic. Only three ways to get into Jacksonville from Orange Park Roosevelt blvd,295 and blanding. I am not alone in my feelings for this stupid project. Has the genius that came up with this project ever tried to get in or out of jacksonville during rush hour or any hour? Someone has stepped in it on this idea and believe me I am not alone in my feelings. Be prepared to hear from sane people on this stupid idea.From the looks of the BUS LANE cars will still have to slow to a crawl to get around the bus because the BUS LANE is too narrow. STUPIDITY AT ITS FINEST.

Welcome Robbie... Do you drive this stretch daily?  Where are you coming from and going to?  What times?  Would you be willing to post your daily experiences?  Jacksonville is pretty new to mass transit and growing pains are to be expected.

I used to work at the Sir Goony's on this stretch of Blanding. I haven't been there in a while but am surprised to here this is where the bus only lanes will be.

It will be interesting to see how the flea market deals with parking on the weekends.  That's when those parallel parking lanes used to really fill up.

Yuck.

I think this is a good idea. It's very dangerous when you find that you're stuck in the non-moving group of cars behind a parked bus, then you try to merge into the other lane of fast moving cars... (I've been there many times.) Hopefully this will remedy that and they can extend the bus lane beyond the current plan.

The most frustrating part of my morning drives in this stretch is on Wednesday going past the flea market. There isn't a safe place to cross the street near there, and it's scary to see an old lady jogging across the road - especially when she doesn't see the oncoming vehicle because she's stepping out in front of a vehicle that's turning in the middle of the road!

But to continue with the bus lane comment, I hope it works! Now we should have two lanes that continually move and one "frequent stops" lane. Nice work JTA!

Robbie, I think it is quite funny on 2 parts. You said dumbest, but can't spell it correctly. 2nd, to get to 295, you have to take either US 17 or Blanding. So technically, it is only 2 ways in and out of the county.

Not a big fan of more buses, but I will give this time to evolve and then judge it, because right now, Jacksonville needs all the help it can get.

Welcome brock... let us know how the commute progresses.

Quote from: reednavy on February 24, 2009, 09:26:40 AM
Robbie, I think it is quite funny on 2 parts. You said dumbest, but can't spell it correctly. 2nd, to get to 295, you have to take either US 17 or Blanding. So technically, it is only 2 ways in and out of the county.

Not a big fan of more buses, but I will give this time to evolve and then judge it, because right now, Jacksonville needs all the help it can get.

Ut-oh, the Spelling nazi's at it again.

Watch this, this'll drive him nuts:

Tim Deegen.

Considering the post made no real sense. At least make your first post good and check your facts before saying 295 is a way in and out of Clay County, because it sure isn't.

Saying it is stupid and all, fine, but at least give it some time to see what happens. Lastly, a 3rd lane on Blanding would not do anything to relieve the traffic on that section because 3 lanes in Clay County sure hasn't done it.

IMO, rail should've come well ahead of the BRT idea.

Call me cynical, but I'm just waiting for the first aggro driver or scofflaw to try and appropriate these lanes and get pancaked by an express bus.  I have a feeling it won't take long.

Seriously, I'm hoping that this enforces the need for more mass transit infrastructure, but at the same time illustrates that rail is the better option over BRT.  Is that possible?

I'm not arguing with you about the other points Mr. Navy, you are correct there. I have a wait and see attitude about the whole BRT thing. My expectations aren't very high though.

Quote from: David on February 24, 2009, 10:18:14 AM
My expectations aren't very high though.

Amen.

I don't have to wait and see.  This country is choke full of good and bad examples of bus rapid transit.

1. If you're going to do it, this is more affordable than purchasing new ROW and building dedicated busways.  The more money we can save by restricting BRT to existing corridors, the more BJP rapid transit money can be funneled to rail transit.

2. Despite the affordability, its not going to excite the general public the way an initial rail line would do.  Nevertheless, this is fine as long as local transit planners understand that BRT should complement and feed riders into rail corridors, not the other way around.

3. Traffic should flow a little better in this short stretch because the bus won't be clogging the through traffic lanes when it stops.  However, by the same token, this improvement will not stimulate transit oriented development, increase transit ridership, improve the public image of JTA or begin to alter Jax's growth patterns.  All of these things are more important to the community than shaving a few seconds off bus travel times.

4. The heavily congested area is Blanding SOUTH of I-295.  If it fails, it will probably end up being converted into an additional lane of traffic.  I'm kind of shocked that the lane isn't separated from the others with a heavy white continuous line.  To the casual observer, it looks like a regular traffic lane.

Well I meant wait and see about how it's going to work here. I personally have no opinion yet because I don't know enough about the subject. You did mention "if it fails" though so i'm assuming there's no general concensus if this thing's going to be a success or not.

And do the local tranit planners understand that it should feed into rail corridors, or is rail even on the horizon as far as they're concerned?

QuoteAnd do the local transit planners understand that it should feed into rail corridors, or is rail even on the horizon as far as they're concerned?

That's the question that remains to be answered, imo.  Mentally, I believe they do, but it does not seem that a true commitment has been made to move forward with any form of an initial rail implementation plan.  If so, a change in priorities, having a rail starter moving forward ahead of BRT implementation/continued corridor studies, would have occurred.  While financial concerns are certainly valid, this community is sitting on $100 million (or whatever is left of it) for rapid transit ROW.  If we can commit to a plan, there's no reason the council can't be sold on agreeing to have that money used for implementation, in addition to ROW purchase (if necessary).

(http://thecityfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/lagos4.jpg)
Right Turns without Rear End accidents?

Quote from: robbie davis on February 24, 2009, 07:46:59 AM
This is the dummest idea that I have ever heard or. We have fought the construction on this section of road for over two years hopeing that when finished the rush hour traffic would move smoother and faster. After two years of construction and much much money spent we are still right where we started. We still have two lane traffic. Only three ways to get into Jacksonville from Orange Park Roosevelt blvd,295 and blanding. I am not alone in my feelings for this stupid project. Has the genius that came up with this project ever tried to get in or out of jacksonville during rush hour or any hour? Someone has stepped in it on this idea and believe me I am not alone in my feelings. Be prepared to hear from sane people on this stupid idea.From the looks of the BUS LANE cars will still have to slow to a crawl to get around the bus because the BUS LANE is too narrow. STUPIDITY AT ITS FINEST.

Robbie, Don sweate de smal stuf. Mark Twain said, "Truly great writers can't spell."

As to your remarks on BRT. I don't think we can judge this project when only a tiny fraction of it is completed. If we shoot it down before giving it a complete roll-out, IT WILL suffer the same fate as the Skyway, and become just another of Jacksonville's failed, almost, could have, might be, oh darn, projects.

The idea here is not to take away lanes from the traffic, but to make the bus lane flow like a fluid river of transit. When the bus lanes reach Kingsley on one end and Downtown on the other, then we can judge it. When the buses roll past with headways closer then every 15 minutes, and great parking facilities and attractive stations beckon, those remaining lanes should be able to cope for a prolonged time. BRT will not solve any traffic problems, but it can ease the pain if enough people find it useful.

I have a few reservations about this route, (as usual), but I wouldn't be doing my job as the resident transit monster if I didn't comment:

1. My "opinion" is that most of the Bellair-Meadowbrook-Well's Road area seems to be employed at NAS Jax. Am I correct? What are we doing to address this? With such dense delivery points within the base, it should be an attractive alternative to sitting in that mess in the family sedan.

2. Transit lanes without an open invitation. JTA is a State Agency. JTA is only one of two(?) major Transit Authorities that is also a public road builder. As Blanding is a public road with a dedicated "TRANSIT" lane, should all motor coaches, jitney's or van pools be allowed to use this?

3. The bottom right illustration of turning right from the center lane into the grocery store looks like an invitation to rear end disaster.  

(http://www.naparstek.com/uploaded_images/BRT-718460.jpg)
Right Turns fixed but left turns still need a turn lane + a warning device for buses fast approaching from the left rear of your vehicle.  

Damned if you do - Damned if you don't!

OCKLAWAHA

Quote from: Ocklawaha on February 24, 2009, 10:57:24 AM
As to your remarks on BRT. I don't think we can judge this project when only a tiny fraction of it is completed. If we shoot it down before giving it a complete roll-out, IT WILL suffer the same fate as the Skyway, and become just another of Jacksonville's failed, almost, could have, might be, oh darn, projects.
OCKLAWAHA[/color][/u][/i][/b]

This brings out an important element in transit corridor rollout.  Whatever you do, no matter what the mode, the initial segment needs to be something that is virtually guaranteed to work.  The success of your initial line, no matter what the length, will do more to change local perception of mass transit than any dog and pony show.  A poor rollout leads to the same fate the skyway suffered.  Nothing is new under the sun.  Even sprawbugs like Houston, Charlotte and Salt Lake City have used good, smartly planned initial segments as leverage to the implementation of regional wide mass transit systems.  Its time for Jax, to stop attempting to recreate the wheel and follow suit.

I think it would be nice if Jacksonville would just implement some HOV lanes instead of just adding regular lanes.

I live near this new BRT, but I no longer use it in my commute.  I now do the commute I see nothing on the table for, Westside to the Beaches.  I'm not sure how well this short stretch will work as a BRT.  The biggest thing I see it solving it the parking of big trucks along Blanding.  It has gotten to were it seemed like a trucking depot along there more than a regular road.

I was a part of the initial group that identified the north/southeast corridor back in 2000/2001.  I got very frustrated with the rail won't work in Jax attitude JTA had back then.  They seemed to think BRT was the end all be all and that left a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth about the BRTs.

Good luck and I hope something works out.  Jax needs to get on the mass transit wagon and do something rather than keep doing studies hoping they get it right out of the box.

Thomas Mann

Welcome to the site.  I think we've done a pretty good job of educating the local "BRT is superior crowd" on rail.  Hopefully, in the upcoming months, the discussion will turn into implementing something, as opposed to continuing to study without commitment.

So is this how they plan to keep these lanes separate from other traffic?  With a few orange cones?  If so, this does seem like a recipe for trouble to any commuter who frequents this drive.  I'll say I'm not very familiar with this area of town, but making these changes seems like it would only confuse drivers and not alleviate traffic.

We took the images before they removed the orange cones.  So there is nothing that separates these lanes from regular traffic other than paint saying "Bus Only Lane."

So what is the overall route that will use these lanes?  Is it for an actual express line from OP to Downtown?

This appears to be a simple restriping effort after a repaving job. It may be just a pilot to see how it goes. I wouldn't get all worked over it at this point. JTA could have built solely deidcated guideways for this. So it could be worse.

Okay, its good to hear that they didn't keep the cones haha...  Even though I am a huge proponent of commuter rail, I'd say this is definitely a step in the right direction.  It shows that JTA is dedicated to introducing some much-needed mass transit to Jacksonville.

Quote from: Jason on February 24, 2009, 04:12:39 PM
So what is the overall route that will use these lanes?  Is it for an actual express line from OP to Downtown?

The WS 2.  Its a regular bus line between Orange Park Mall and Downtown.

http://www.jtafla.com/pdf/RouteMap_Jan09pdf.pdf

Quote from: fsujax on February 24, 2009, 04:16:08 PM
This appears to be a simple restriping effort after a repaving job. It may be just a pilot to see how it goes. I wouldn't get all worked over it at this point. JTA could have built solely deidcated guideways for this. So it could be worse.

Yes, that's all it is.  However, as a pilot we'll get to see up close and personal why so many of our peers are scratching and pawing to implement rail solutions first.

Quote
The WS 2.  Its a regular bus line between Orange Park Mall and Downtown.

Would this route alone not already doom it to spectacular failure?  The two end-points are a (perceived) empty downtown core and a suburban mall?  I need to look at the route on the JTA site to see how many stops lie along the route, but it seems like this is practically connecting nothing-to-nothing, as the Skyway does downtown.

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.

(http://blog.wired.com/cars/images/2007/09/15/img_3154.jpg)

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

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.

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?

Quote from: jandar on February 24, 2009, 04:48:07 PM
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.

Quote from: ralpho37 on February 24, 2009, 04:53:01 PM
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.

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).

QuoteThis 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.

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

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.

QuoteAlso, 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... :)

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.

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
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-4031-houstonmetrorail-crossmage.jpg)
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
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-6165-p1130877.JPG)

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
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/images/brt/other_cities/tampa/DCP_9443.jpg)
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.

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.

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.

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?

Not sure about the comparisons between LRV and Streetcars. The articles always seem to focus on LRV. Since streetcars normally move at slower speeds, the accident rate is probably a little less than with LRV.

BRT Lanes - Accidents or Centers of Beauty, LRT or Streetcar still wins...

In this photo, take a good look at another RIVER CITY - Cincinnati
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/streetcarHIGHWAYCENTERCINCINNATI.jpg)
Cincinnati and its waterfront, besides the great swaths of concrete of the roadways themselves are the vast parking lots and garages necessary to accommodate the battalions of private motor vehicles which this combined land use and transportation policy is designed to encourage. SEE: http://www.westonmorris.com/html/brt.htm
[Photo: Google Maps]

In this photo, take a good look at another RIVER CITY on the BAY - San Francisco
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/streetcarHIGHWAYabsentcenterSFO.jpg)
San Francisco and its waterfront, unseen is the "heavy" rapid rail BART subway system, the Muni Metro light rail system (also underground in the downtown). Just out of the photo to the south is the CalTrain regional (commuter) rail station, and on the surface and visible in the photo is a surface light rail line and a streetcar line, along with cable cars, electric trolleybuses, and diesel buses.
SEE: http://tripplanner.transit.511.org/mtc/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en
[Photo: Google Maps]

Which one smells like Jacksonville?

Any Questions?

Ho! Its SOCO time again!

OCKLAWAHA

I live not far from the area that got the BRT lanes added. They are lanes that were converted from on street parking for business(most notably a flea market). My husband and I were driving to MH the night before the lanes opened and noticed that the lanes would open the next day at noon. (We had no idea up until this point). While driving I was pointing out questions that I wanted to know in terms of the lanes. For one how does one turn into the business on the right? Are you to wait in the now center lane? If so wont that clog up a lane the way the buses used too? Or are you to drive in the bus only lane. If so wont that hold up the bus lanes?

Also the lane abruptly ends at 103rd St(which is heavily used for people coming off of Blanding) so you have the bus only lane ending in the turning lane for 103rd St. I foresee a log jam with buses trying to get over to continue down Blanding and cars wanting to turn east onto 103rd.

Lastly I asked my husband who drives this route to and from downtown for work if he ever see's any buses in the lane. His reply? Nope.

This isn't a test they just built this leg now to piggy back the FDOT road work.

I doubt that this will provide a meaningful example of the positive or negative of BRT because this is such a small section of the city. More of Blanding should have been utilized or there should have been more areas of the city open to BRT. When performing a social experiement such as the perceived benefits of the BRT, more samples should be obtained.  

CrysG, cars can use the lane for right hand turns only and I think buses come along that stretch every 30 minutes or so. 

Quote from: CrysG on February 25, 2009, 07:18:35 PM
For one how does one turn into the business on the right? Are you to wait in the now center lane? If so wont that clog up a lane the way the buses used too? Or are you to drive in the bus only lane. If so wont that hold up the bus lanes?

Quote from: thelakelander on February 25, 2009, 09:14:16 PM
CrysG, cars can use the lane for right hand turns only

Lake, according to the very first diagram in this article, it appears cars can only use the bus lane for right turns approaching an intersection. If you're turning into a business, you turn right from the center travel lane.

You're right.  Be careful out there when making those right turns into individual businesses.

Our neighborhood group - Lake Shore Area Preservation Society - had a couple folks from JTA come speak to us about the BRT probably about a year ago. For those of you that don't know, Lake Shore is right around the corner from where the BRT trial has been setup. I've lived in the area a very long time and have honestly never had a problem with buses blocking the right lane when they stop. There's always been enough of an emergency lane on the right for them to pull safely into.

JTA set up the trial lanes on this stretch basically because (1) it was free for them, as others have already mentioned and (2) they're pretty much guaranteed a "success" because there's so little bus traffic there to begin with. That's assuming they brush under the rug the number of pedestrians that will probably get hit near the flea market, as well as the number of accidents caused by there being basically no parking for the flea market anymore. If they had done this between Collins and Wells Road (just a busy stretch, as an example), it'd be a completely different story.

I guess they're hoping people will be so frustrated with the situation (which JTA is kind of creating) that they take the bus and put money into JTA's wallets.

AS a long time JTA rider, I would come to believe that the Bus Lanes are more beneficial for use by school buses which have the right to use the lanes as well. As far as BRT lanes being used by JTA, They would have been wise to start with I-10 and I-95 as BRT lanes would reduce transit delays for about 60% of all lines.

As Clay and Duval have historically been linked by only 2 arterials [US17 and SR21]  I understand that the BRT rollout effectively cleaned up the appearance of Blanding by removing all on-street parallel parking near SacredHeart. great. fine. whatever even though such a move has negatively impacted the bargain house of fleas.

WHY wasn't BRT [restriping] launched in an area of greater density as aprecursor to rail to begin training crazies outof their 4wheel polluters?
SAY between Harlow and FSCJ Kent?

Quote from: rwolfe618 on February 26, 2009, 01:32:40 PM
Our neighborhood group - Lake Shore Area Preservation Society - had a couple folks from JTA come speak to us about the BRT probably about a year ago. For those of you that don't know, Lake Shore is right around the corner from where the BRT trial has been setup. I've lived in the area a very long time and have honestly never had a problem with buses blocking the right lane when they stop. There's always been enough of an emergency lane on the right for them to pull safely into.

JTA set up the trial lanes on this stretch basically because (1) it was free for them, as others have already mentioned and (2) they're pretty much guaranteed a "success" because there's so little bus traffic there to begin with. That's assuming they brush under the rug the number of pedestrians that will probably get hit near the flea market, as well as the number of accidents caused by there being basically no parking for the flea market anymore. If they had done this between Collins and Wells Road (just a busy stretch, as an example), it'd be a completely different story.

I guess they're hoping people will be so frustrated with the situation (which JTA is kind of creating) that they take the bus and put money into JTA's wallets.

You have a good point about the flea market.  I still remember one incident in which a couple were killed when they attempted to cross Blanding by the flea market.  I remember this because they had either just celebrated their anniversary or they were about to and a friend of mine told me what he saw at the horrific scene.  With or without on-street parking there, I hope that we will remain vigilant with an eye toward safety - this includes both drivers and pedestrians...

Yes, If I remember correctly one of those folks was wheelchair bound.

I maintain:  IF what is dubbed 'BRT'  had launched as a mechanism to connect Avondale, Oakleaf and DT, maybe?

I don't think Riverside would like your Post Street route.  Post is majority residential and gets pretty narrow at certain spots.  To accommodate BRT style traffic, you're probably looking at removing significant amounts of on-street parking (in a neighborhood that already has residential parking issues), along with trying to convince residents that its perfectly fine for buses to blow right past the front door of their houses every 10 minutes.