JTA Flyer BRT Service Begins Today

[thelakelander]

New buses and real time information kiosks can get pretty expensive. I assume the federal portion probably equates to 50% or so of the total capital costs for the SE route.

[AaroniusLives]

If they didn't oversell it, or if they positioned this as a Stage One of BRT (such as York Region's VIVA enhanced bus to BRT did,) it might have been a better deal. If you look through the JTA's promotional language on the website, they're really going for the "largest system of its kind in the Southeast" and "bus rapid transit" and all that.

Tampa, for example, backed WAY down in their language when MetroRapid was going to merely be a snazzy bus.

As said, for people already using transit, this is super cool for them. If you're going for a behavioral modal shift, you, at the very least, need exclusive lames and probably island stations. In the US, I'd say you'd also need those over designed buses that look like bullet trains sort of.

[AaroniusLives]

Oh, and the MLK shelter right next to the scary looking overpass? Really? Come on!

[tufsu1]

Tampa, for example, backed WAY down in their language when MetroRapid was going to merely be a snazzy bus.

I will disagree there.  Tampa sold MetroRapid more when it first opened than JTA has been doing with First Coast Flyer.  And all indications are that HART (Tampa's transit agency) wants to implement several more MetroRapid lines (they had 10 planned in all). 

[tufsu1]

$20 million for a bus route? Seems a bit steep.

that's the Federal share, which is around 80%.  It includes the shelters, technology at stops, and transit signal priority.  But the largest expense is bus purchases.  Just think how many additional buses are needed to run 10-15 minute headways 18 hours a day. 

[thelakelander]

Tampa, for example, backed WAY down in their language when MetroRapid was going to merely be a snazzy bus.

I will disagree there.  Tampa sold MetroRapid more when it first opened than JTA has been doing with First Coast Flyer.  And all indications are that HART (Tampa's transit agency) wants to implement several more MetroRapid lines (they had 10 planned in all). 

Was it sold as LRT on rubber wheels?  Do its routes complement or compete against those considered as a part of the Bay Area's LRT alignment dreams?

[Jason]

I noticed there are no dedicated lanes along the Green Line. I wonder if they will be added in certain stretches, at a later date? Outside of the green bus shelters at medical facilities and Lem Turner Road shopping centers, it's hard to identify the path without physically walking up to a bus stop. I faced the same issue in Reno with their BRT-lite system. As a visitor, it took me a while to locate its path through downtown.  I eventually found it after coming across a different colored bus stop.

Would be pretty easy to simply paint a green line on the sidewalk or pavement along the route.

[tufsu1]

Tampa, for example, backed WAY down in their language when MetroRapid was going to merely be a snazzy bus.

I will disagree there.  Tampa sold MetroRapid more when it first opened than JTA has been doing with First Coast Flyer.  And all indications are that HART (Tampa's transit agency) wants to implement several more MetroRapid lines (they had 10 planned in all). 

Was it sold as LRT on rubber wheels?  Do its routes complement or compete against those considered as a part of the Bay Area's LRT alignment dreams?

not sure about your first question...but most definitely yes on the second.

The North-South line uses Nebraska Avenue to connect USF area to downtown.  The rail lines proposed in the past would have either used the CSX tracks or I-275, both of which are merely blocks from Nebraska.

[Ocklawaha]

If commuter rail came to the FEC RY line between Jax and St. Aug. I don't see a problem with the BRT on Philips. Commuter rail is typically installed with MUCH longer distances between stops and the BRT could serve as a feeder.

If we went with LRT, then the chances of getting the Fed's. to fund a parallel line along or near the FEC RY. is going to be slim to none.

Streetcar on the other hand, even rapid streetcars generally have stops more along the line of buses or the First Coast Flyer system respectively. Meaning as long as there is no immediate duplication, a streetcar line along, lets say San Jose, and a BRT on Philips shouldn't be a hard sell.

[Jason]

Anyone give the new busses a ride?

[KenFSU]

Anyone know if East Corridor is still a thing we expect to happen in the coming year?

[exnewsman]

Anyone know if East Corridor is still a thing we expect to happen in the coming year?

Still a thing. JTA has a public meeting coming up on it later this month. Nov. 16th public workshop – 4-7pm at the Wilson Center, FSCJ South Campus

[KenFSU]

^Thanks so much!

Exactly the info I was looking for!