[Eddy_A]

In Ottawa we have the Transitwat. It has over 20 stations, most with coffee shops, stores, scheduled-TV screens etc.

The busways are segregated from regular traffic through a system of viaducts, tunnels, over and under passes.

It comes out of downtown to the East and to the West, about half way both West and East split; from West the Southwest line and from the East the South East line branch out, together they all go to 4 corners of the city.
It was started in 1983.


http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/548/2386000_00542.jpg

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/548/2386000_0041.jpg

[Xing]

I've never seen anything like that. That's really interesting.

[hudkina]

So, what is it? Like a cheap version of light rail, using busses?

[Stanzmastertron3000]

riding the busses in this city, even in the suburbs, is usually much faster than driving, and comfortable

[Chi-town]

State Street was a bus mall for a while, but it turned out to be a huge disaster and they reverted the street back to regular automobile traffic.

[Urbanguy]

Hmmm we dont have anything like what Eddy_A posted yet but we have bus only lanes Downtown & Chinatown & a Busway has been proposed which Phase 1 is supposed to go under construction soon but it hit another road block because some people want light rail instead.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/dailypix/2003/Aug/27/ln16a3.jpg

Here's a map of a couple phases of the project that was supposed to be underway

http://www.oahutrans2k.com/corridor/intown5.16.02.jpg
http://www.oahutrans2k.com/corridor/regional5.15.02.jpg

BRT (Bus Rapid Transit)
http://www.oahutrans2k.com/kaheka.gif

[keninhalifax]

http://members.rogers.com/gildner/transitway.jpg

[bobdreamz]

Miami's Busway starts at the southern terminus of our Metrorail system. It runs south 8.2 miles alongside US Highway 1. There currently is a 11.5 mile extension under construction all the way to Florida City which is the last municipality on the US mainland before reaching the Florida Keys. The busway will eventually be replaced by Metrorail.

http://www.fta.dot.gov/brt/images/mdtabswy.jpg

http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit/images/Photos/FutureProj/BuswayFuture.jpg

[hudkina]

So, its a road that's closed off to all traffic except busses? Were the raods built specifically for that purpose? Are there any businesses/houses on the route? Is it outside of the central city area?

[Urbanguy]

^Which city are you refering to?

[Stanzmastertron3000]

hey ken, nice photo
the colors are really sharp and vibrant

[Eddy_A]

So, its a road that's closed off to all traffic except busses? Were the raods built specifically for that purpose? Are there any businesses/houses on the route? Is it outside of the central city area?

It depends, in Ottawa it's like a roadway thats closed off to cars there are "no cars" signs infront of the ramps that lead into it. It stretches to 4 corners of Ottawa and going though the heart of downtown. Some cities have bus lanes which are mixed in with regular traffic tho.
The one in Ottawa is completely segregated from regular traffic, though a system of over passes, viaducts. There are no buisness located on it. The buses travel really fast, reaching 90km/h. There are buisness and attractions located nearby on the regular public streets.

[keninhalifax]

hey ken, nice photo
the colors are really sharp and vibrant

Yeah, I took that one with a colour filter, but the conditions for shooting were nonetheless very good.

[MSP]

Just curious, whats the ridership like on the busways in Ottawa and Miami?

[dimondpark]

http://portoimagem.com/avenidas/novas2/rotula-cg2.jpg

http://portoimagem.com/avenidas/novas2/rotula-cg7.jpg

http://portoimagem.com/avenidas/novas2/rotula-cg8.jpg

[David]

I want to see more pictures of the Ottawa busway system

[Stanzmastertron3000]

heres a map of The Transitway system posted earlier in the Ontario forum by OttawaBrent

I live in Orleans, & downtown is really far so its nice to have busses that travel so fast

http://members.rogers.com/simplybrenty/transitway.jpg

[Stanzmastertron3000]

heres more pics i found David

http://www.lightrailnow.org/images/otw-bus-leaving-lincoln-fields-stn_d-williams.jpg

http://www.dewi.ca/trains/busway/bway2.jpg

http://www.dewi.ca/trains/busway/bway4.jpg

http://www.dewi.ca/trains/busway/dtown10.jpg

http://www.dewi.ca/trains/busway/dtown5.jpg

http://www.dewi.ca/trains/busway/wboro16.jpg ]

http://www.sightphoto.com/sightphoto/timeandplace/carroll.jpg

[hudkina]

Hmm... That's actually a neat idea. Are they used a lot? Are they just temporary until a light rail system is devised?

[Stanzmastertron3000]

tons of people use them

[Lexy]

I think it could work here!

[keninhalifax]

I still don't believe that the Transitway is adequate enough to serve Ottawa's mass transit needs; light rail needs to be intensively developed in this city.

[try 2B funny]

http://home.i-cable.com/rickpn/City/wanchai.jpg

The most interesting part is, this is actually not a busway

[tkd720man]

Busways seem like the kind of thing that might suit a city making a transition towards mass transit. For instance, for a city without any significant transit system other than regular bus routes, if money is a problem, then a busway might be a nice step towards light rail. You get the right of way and can construct stations, but don't have to fork over the money to construct tracks or buy trains until later on. It establishes the routes and puts everything in place for a future upgrade. If it's going to be a miserable failure, then at least the city hasn't dropped $750million on light rail to figure out that its populace isn't ready for transit - a $200million price tag, for instance, might be a lot easier to handle in that case. It also puts the infrastructure in place to get TOD-construction started in advance of light rail; something that can really aid in the success of a faster, more sophisticated transit system.

Is there a reason that cities don't do this that I'm just not picking up on?

tkd720man@hotmail.com

[someone123]

Halifax is getting BRT with some bus lanes.. the system is supposed to be up and running in a year. Commuter rail is still on the table, but I'm glad that they're going ahead with the bus lanes because who knows how long it will take to get the required funding in place and finish up the discussions with CN and residents who live by the tracks.

Are the buses for the Ottawa transitway standard buses or a special type? Do people pay while boarding or beforehand?

I agree that it's should only be a transitional thing. Buses are never really as good as rail, but for smaller cities they're much more affordable.

That map of Honolulu is very interesting.

[Rich500]

/\---You pay once you get on the buss if you do not have a bus pass. THe transit way works pretty well in my opinion. I use it every day. The buses are standard buses. THey arnt always running the transit way. They converge onto normal streets at some points in downtown. If it werent for the transitways in Ottawa, I feel the bus system would suck pretty hard. I already dont like its typically slow pace, but the transit way helps ALOT!!!
They are carved out below the normal traffic for most of my commute from Westboro (ont the above map). It looks really cool when riding the bus below the streets. The train here is a huge waste. One line with like 4 stops. Its better than nothing, and I use it every day, so it works for my needs to get to school. I give the whole system an B grade.

[Eddy_A]

I agree I think Ottawa's Tranistway(green and red on the map) is much more effective than our Light Rail System(light yellow on the map).
Ya I like the sub level channel the starts at Dominion Station and goes to LeBreton. Right before Lebreton it comes up and out of the ground onto a viaduct higher than the surrounding area giving a great view of downtown.

When you get downtown it ends and the bus tranfer onto bus lanes with the regular traffic until you reach the other side of the core where it tranfers back into the busway.
I'll try and get some more photos this weekend.
The buses arent special and the busway gets used by Para-Transpo(wheel chair acsses buses), maintenance vechiles, and tranist cops.
There are the two main lines the 97 and 95. But other regular routes use portions of the tranistway for short stretches of the trip.

[keninhalifax]

I've always been curious as to what the 'OC Transpo Police' do anyways, aside from scaring motorists by bearing a resemblance to real police.

[Stanzmastertron3000]

they troll around the bus stations looking for people spitting or smoking inside to give them finds
they do random checks on the 95 to see if anyone snuck on the bus

no one takes them seriously though

[Eddy_A]

I've always been curious as to what the 'OC Transpo Police' do anyways, aside from scaring motorists by bearing a resemblance to real police.

Wear fake bullet proof vests.

[Stanzmastertron3000]

haha

[ChunkyMonkey]

Here's our transitway. :nuts:

http://www.badtransit.com/TheT/SilverLine/tour_update_4_files/lane1.jpg

Seriously, we have one under construction in Boston called the Silver Line, though most are calling it the "Silver Lie" since most were originally promised a light rail line. Essentially, it is being developed in phases, Phase 1 has already opened, but it is quite lame, with a dedicated bus lane for a few miles and then mixed into general traffic. Phase II should be done early next year, it will mostly be in tunnels from South station through the airport. Phase III will link Phase I and II and wouldn't be done until 2010 at the earliest.

http://www.fta.dot.gov/brt/images/silver1.jpg

http://www.badtransit.com/TheT/SilverLine/tour_update_4_files/slb2.jpg

http://www.allaboutsilverline.com/images/strtmap4.jpg