Quote:
Originally Posted by Makid
For relatively low cost, Nashville should take their highest estimated transit ridership corridor and do a 1 year run of a temporary BRT lite plan.
This can be done with just some traffic alterations, paint and some extra buses/drivers.
On the route, paint the right hand lane to denote it as a bus lane with right lane turning only. Back this up with some enforcement at key intersections.
Run buses every 10 to 15 minutes along the route. Give the buses the ability to hold signals green longer so they can make the light to make the route faster.
Compare ridership along the route from before and after the change. If ridership is up enough, you can keep the route permanently with plans to make it center running BRT with longer range plans to upgrade to LRT as ridership and area zoning increases.
It is possible that 1 route at a time could be done for between $5 and $7 Million a year.
All it takes is showing people what quick and reliable transit can do for their lives to begin a push towards a transit infused culture.
For some reassurance, look no further than Salt Lake City (my City). We originally turned down a plan to build a Light Rail network in the late 80's early 90's. But the local leaders knew it was something that was needed and eventually were able to get our initial line built (with the help of the Feds). This was 1999, since then we have added 6 Light Rail extensions, 90 miles of Commuter Rail, and we will have 2 BRT routes (1 opens in August of this year).
The State has seen the need for transit so much so that this Legislative session, they finally legalized the use of State funds for Mass Transit. In total, it took 19 years of gradually increasing steps to get more people to realize the necessity of transit.
It is a slow process but all it takes is 1 good project to get the ball rolling.
|
For a city of 2,000,000 people, I can't imagine their not being good quality transit system.
I tell you that my cousin visited Salt Lake City during the Olympic year, and she loved the LRT system even though she is a country girl and never uses transit here.
Our city (Ottawa) with a population of less than 1.5M opens the first phase of a similar plan as the Nashville proposal with a downtown subway and surface lines going towards the suburbs. Mind you there is a transit culture in this city so one less hurdle to jump.
It also started with a trial project that served one of the local universities and was an immediate hit with the student body. So, trial or demonstration projects have merit if properly selected and almost certain to succeed. You do not want a demonstration project that is a total failure.
Now our politicians are jumping all over each other, as Phase 2 and 3 are being planned. The anticipation of the opening of Phase 1 in November is very apparent and why everybody can't wait for Phase 2 and 3, the sooner the better.
Our plan will cost a similar $5B, even more including Phase 3. The politicians just announced another 3.4 km extension to be included in Phase 2 and this goes to the outer reaches of the suburbs. People see building traffic congestion and want an alternative.
So much is the build up for the Phase 1 opening, that our sister city across the river has now approved LRT in principle as well, when they had been resistant to it in the past.
I think that it has been the experience in Salt Lake City that the public quickly gets on board and sees the benefits very quickly and generates momentum.
I find it odd that a replacement would possibly be a commuter rail project. It seems to me that this is a complementary project rather than a replacement.
What needs to take place is an urban demonstration project where success is most likely.
What has to be considered is that LRT is a city building project. It will change the dynamics of how the city develops. It will change the downtown area by making it more easy to access. Downtown will become important again.
Prev
Linear Mode
