A SERIOUS LOOK AT BRT vs LRT and TOD DEVELOPMENT
BRT vs LRT again. Starting with Bogota's Transmilenio, touted as the "Worlds Most Successful Transit System". The BRT folks will take the numbers from this system, and stack it's "millions" against the Light Rail projects in someplace like Kenosha Wisconsin. Then they apply for the grants with their "PROOF IS IN THE NUMBERS" argument. THIS is what they are stuffing down the throat of the citizens of our fair City. They are getting aid from the press, and the fact that few in Jacksonville, have ever seen mass transit. What they know of it is another JTA failure, The infamous Skyway! So spoon fed select numbers, on ridership, then compare the construction costs with the Light Rail Subways in Newark, Buffalo or St. Louis! Wow! Light Rail is REALLY expensive. Sadly, Metro Jax and Jax Out Loud are the only voices of dissent anyone is hearing!
JTA claims we will get "Billions" of dollars in Transit Oriented Development or "TOD'S", with the new BRT "Rapid Transit." But ask yourself this...."POOF!" You are now a Billionaire investor in downtown. You can build a multi-million dollar investment property on either of the Bus Systems seen below, OR, you can go someplace with Light Rail and invest... What will you do???
(http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/nuevapagina/fotos/TransmiNoche.jpg)
Bogota Transmilenio, Imagine THIS in downtown Jacksonville!(http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/nuevapagina/fotos/B3.jpg)
Where are the green space in Bogota? BRT "experts" boast, Transmilenio, carrys TWICE the passenger load of Medellins two Metro-Rail lines... That's pretty funny, having lived there. Bogota is THREE TIMES the size of Medellin, and that BRT system? Not just two lines but more like 10! Again distortion to MAKE YOU see it JTA's way! Taxpayer Beware!
What did you see in Bogota? REALLY? Buses? Yes! roads? Yes! Lots of buses? Yes! Lots of roads? Yes! But what else? Sidewalks? Curbs? Stations? What? NOTHING NEW! Just another bunch of buses on another road... Now does THAT move you off your wallet?
(http://www.nc3d.com/albums/ltdbrt/123_01_20.sized.jpg)
Another "Tough Sell of BRT!" Here we see Eugene, Oregons, driveway - highway! This MIGHT look just like a LRT system to a blind person. One listen to those diesels should reveal the truth.
Why is BRT being so deceptive? Why cover the Bus wheels? It sure isn't for ease or economy of maintenance... in fact I'll give those wheel covers about a year before they all get tossed in the local landfill. They are doing this to make it LOOK like it's some sort of Light Rail Vehicle. Eugene, Oregon, has gone to an even further extreme. They have laid down twin concrete driveways, al la Jacksonville housing circa 1960! Remember those driveways? They had the little grass patch down the middle? Without any guideway other then some driver and his steering wheel, do you want to sail along one of these in a big box at 35 MPH? What about 45? 55? What is YOUR limit? I'll walk!
Now, take your imagined Billions of Dollars and take a good look at Sacramento, California. They have Light Rail. They have some private trackage, some street trackage, and that Amtrak Station is another model of what we SHOULD have in Jacksonville. But Jacksonville, wants a bus, we all know it's far cheaper then Light Rail don't we? IS IT? REALLY? Do you know that the new zero emission buses cost as much as some Light Rail Vehicles? Did you know the life of an asphalt road is quite short? Roll a heavy vehicle over it and it cracks, when moisture enters those cracks then freezes in the winter, the roadway lifts and pot holes develop. The life of those new Jacksonville buses is only going to be about 10-15 years. Sacramento may be running those same Light Rail Vehicles in 2067! Hummm? Which system seems more stable? Where do I want my money?
(http://www.freefoto.com/images_e/1219/05/1219_05_13_web.jpg?&k=Sacramento+Regional+Transit+District++light+rail+system,+California+,+USA)
Sacramento Light Rail system, is here to stay, no "driver" will turn off and miss the TOD in this town.
(http://www.sacrt.com/images/newlightrailvehicle.jpg)
Sacramento's, LRT has interesting stations, each one a reflection of its neighborhood. At Amtrak, the trolley is on one side and the train on the other side of the same platforms... A model for JTA, if only they wern't married to the highway.
Eugene, Oregon is trying so hard to do what comes quite easy for Light Rail. Both the new systems in Orleans and Lyon, France, (They want to look like RAIL in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and New Orleans, maybe?) have tried to mix grass and buses! Too funny guys, the first bus to slip off those narrow strips into that Oregon, clay in the rain, and we'll see a massive pavement project in Eugene! Somehow, I don't think that is going to happen on this French "Tram" line. (If you want to do web searches look for the word "TRAM" in most of the World, Light Rail, Streetcar or Trolley in North America, and "TRAMVIA" in Spanish or Latin Countries).
(http://images.nycsubway.org/i22000/img_22407.jpg)
Lyon France Tram, Why is BRT trying to grow grass where the grass won't grow?
I think I'd take my Billions to France, Sacramento or Kenosha, at least their Transit agency's are not busy building roads and then coming up with reasons why I should "Think" it's a "Railroad!" Jacksonville's JTA has lost all consciousness, they need a swift kick! "JTA, It's Time to Pull Your Heads Out!"
Ocklawaha
(http://www.nc3d.com/albums/ltdbrt/123_01_20.sized.jpg)
This is a ridiculous rendering. Why would you build a fixed guideway like this for a bus? You would be much better off just laying tracks. It would probably be cheaper too.
If y'all thought I was joking, here are a couple more images of the great Eugene, Oregon, BUS RAPID TRANSIT line. Incredible, what these idiots will do to try and convince the public this is a "BIG LOTS" version of LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT! NOT! I really wonder how fast they plan to drive on these narrow curb lined driveways? How does that old Bible verse go Stephen?
(http://www.nc3d.com/albums/Eugene-SpringfieldBRTPilotProject/123_03_24.sized.jpg)
(http://www.nc3d.com/albums/Eugene-SpringfieldBRTPilotProject/123_02a_20.sized.jpg)
Oh yes, now I remember those Words of God, "Thinking themselves wise, they became as fools." Our Lord MUST have been thinking of JTA too! If you want a huge belly laugh, you should see the newest of the new in France, it's called "Guided Bus-BRT", they built roads like you see above, then used the old toy slot car concept to "guide" the bus. So you build a highway, dig a slot, line it with two huge steel rails bordering a concrete pit, to guide the steering. Trouble is, it rained! HA HA! TRUE, I'm NOT making this up. The "SLOT" filled with trash and leaves and now the buses won't follow the guideway... And for this they avoided the trumped up costs of Light Rail! INCREDIBLE
Ocklawaha
Nancy (FRANCE) races ahead ... into trouble. Is JTA next?
Hence, Nancy transit management plunged ahead to embrace the TVR "guided-bus" system, assuring a skeptical public they were shrewdly acquiring LRT performance at a fraction of the cost, while LRT proponents questioned why they would go to 85-90% of the capital expense of LRT to get none of its cost-cutting, capacity, and other advantages. (Actually, since only about 8.6 km
Is the Eugene, OR line actually built or is this all conceptual? If it has been constructed, what's the cost/mile compared to regular light rail?
Part is open and part is being built as we speak (errr write) anyway, I just saw an article on it this past week. I will try and find it and post it for you Lake... and friends...
Ocklawaha
Boston has a great mass transit system including subway, light rail, and rail.
Talk about being a true pedestrian friendly city. I was impressed so much with Boston during my visit there that I ended up walking, instead of riding the T.
Yeah, I know what you mean. Last time I went and really spent some time in Los Angeles/Hollywood I couldn't believe it was even the same city. Metro-Link Commuter Rail, Light Rail and Subways. I didn't have to drive ANYWHERE in the City. Very impressive change. Amazing what one good earthquake can cause!
(http://static.flickr.com/8/12518817_00fd9006d4_m.jpg)
The Freeway from LA to Pasadena never looked SO good!
Ocklawaha
I know what you mean. The T goes all the way to Milton. What that is saying, is, imagine a light rail system going to Lake City, Yulee and Ponte Vedra. I miss Boston.
NOW that would be the beginning of something potentioally full of economic recovery opportunities.
but instead we get the FCOB.
I don't KNOW that we don't/won't need it in due time.. .
but a rail path like that could be useful.
(http://www.green-wheels.org/files/u1/agate-station-vehicle-appro.jpg)
Here you go Lunican, "The Eugene Oregon EMX" is a rendering no more and
"the citizens LOVE BRT... and they hate rail." NOT! JTA just wants to share the love.(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_bQsuhPJduqQ/TRSpabDb3HI/AAAAAAAADZw/UEfWefF-Q0A/s640/BRTeugeneEMX.jpg)
OCKLAWAHAQuoteThe proposed EmX Bus Line debate continues in Eugene Oregon.. As the local coalition of W11Th business owners continues to gain momentum.
According to local organizers questioned at the protest , held on the corner of Seneca Blvd. and W 11th Ave Eugene, They don't want it.. Don't need it.
It's not that this group of business owners and riders are apposed to public transportation. The collective mind set? " The buses we have on- line today are under utilized"... " The present as well as projected future ridership does not justify the 140 Million dollar price tag". And then there is the unknown of construction cost over-runs.. Who's going to pay for it?
According to community business owners..Local business tax..
Evolving from a handful of business owners to a reported organized group of 75.. The protest continues to gain popular business as well as rider support.
Napa Auto to the "Ye Old" Pancake House, now proudly displays " No EMX" protest signs..
As I drove up West 11Th Ave toward downtown Eugene, I counted over 40 " No Build EmX " Signs prominately posted in-front of many local business locations as well as residences along the proposed route.
The concern? Future $ cost to local business. As well as obstruction of traffic flow, lost parking spaces.
Others present at the protest felt that the reported $ 140 Million dollar cost of constructing the proposed Railless Train line was not justified by the present nor future ridership.
L.T.D. Disagrees.. Build it and they shall come.. Several months ago, I covered a Eugene City Council open forum, where business, citizens, as well as Lane Transit officials expressed their perspective as to the need for the expanded EmX route.
Officials point to the success of the Franklin as well as Gateway Line, stating that ridership on these routs had doubled in the first 6 months of service.
LTD officials believe that constructing the W 11Th EmX, is a necessary step in the expansion of Eugene's rapid transit BUS system. And that increased ridership on the line will justify the impact to business as well as the cost of constructing the line.
LTD believe that business will benefit from greater ridership in the future..
Business disagrees..
Many present at today's protest believe that Lane Transit Districts motivation for moving forward with construction of the proposed route is the federal entitlement money grab. They don't advocate the forced hand of the federally subsidized transit system pressing expansion of the present line at the expence of local business.
OCKLAWAHA
The EMX line has been in operation for a few years now. However, we're still waiting for TOD to appear along the line.