Archive | 2009

Boston: The “Rapid Transit and Key Bus Routes” Map

Posted on December 6, 2009 in Boston, Branding, Maps

As several commenters have mentioned lately, Boston’s transit agency recently published a new network overview map, part of an overhaul of the information system. The new map is similar in function to a subway network map but with some key bus lines added. Here’s a slice, but you can get the whole thing, in much better resolution, here.

Most large transit agencies with extensive rail transit publish a map of just the rail transit services. These tend to be the fastest, most frequent, and highest-capacity services in the network, so it makes sense that if you zoom out to a full-system overview, these are what you should see. Continue Reading →

Think Tanks, Binary Thinking, and “Bus vs Rail”

Posted on December 5, 2009 in Language, Philosophy

The Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida is under fire in Florida’s legislature. State senator Mike Fasano (R), who chairs the committee overseeing spending by the state Department of Transportation, proposes to cut off funding to the transportation think tank. From the St. Petersburg Times article, it sounds as though Fasano is just looking to cut spending generally, by citing projects that supposedly make CUTR’s work look arcane and unimportant: Continue Reading →

On Subways to the Sea

Posted on December 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, Rail Transit

This friendly little graphic, which I found on Dan Wentzel’s Pink Line blog, promotes the “Subway to the Sea,” an extension of the Los Angeles Purple Line subway, largely under Wilshire Blvd., all the way to the beach at Santa Monica (map here). I like it as a logo, but it also serves to explain why relatively few subways in coastal cities go all the way to the beach, and why they often stay back from the ocean a bit. Continue Reading →

Fantasy Maps: Columbus

Posted on December 2, 2009 in Loops, Maps

At the Urbanophile today, a fantasy transit map of Columbus, Ohio by Michael Tyznik. This fuzzy image will show you the general shape: For the very detailed map, click here.

Continue Reading →

Include Bus Rapid Transit on Rapid Transit Maps?

Posted on December 2, 2009 in Branding, Brisbane, Bus Rapid Transit, Maps

Most large transit agencies have a map that shows just their rapid transit services, which are usually rail. One good test of how an agency thinks about bus rapid transit is whether they include it on their rapid transit maps. Los Angeles County MTA’s rapid transit map, here, does include the Orange Line, which is exclusive right of way but is hampered by signal delays. But they don’t show their non-exclusive Metro Rapid product at this scale, which makes sense to me. Continue Reading →

Attention, Transit Professionals!

Posted on November 30, 2009 in General

Are you currently employed in some aspect of public transit planning, management, policy, or operations? Do you deal with public transit as part of your job, which could be in anything from town planning to social services to journalism? If so, please click the email button under my photograph at right, if only to tell me who you are. I’d like to know that you’re out there reading. You’re also encouraged to submit comments that way.

Most comments on this blog seem to come from people who are interested in transit as advocates or activists, and their input continues to be encouraged. I hear less often from professionals who read the blog; I suspect that’s because of professional risks associated with stating opinions under your own name. That’s fine, but I’d still like to hear your perspectives, so use email. Continue Reading →

Bus Rapid Transit Stop Spacing: Is 2 Miles Too Far?

Posted on November 29, 2009 in General

Joseph E asks an excellent question in response to my last post about the new Swift BRT, in Snohomish County north of Seattle. Here’s the heart of it:

Jarrett,
do you feel the wide stop spacing is a benefit? I was inclined to think the stations are too far apart. In comparison, commuter rail stops every 1 to 3 miles in most places (well, on the East and West coast), but always has an exclusive right-of-way, crossing gates, and high-speed operation between stations.
BRT should be capable of accelerating faster than diesel commuter trains, and obviously can stop much faster than even light rail. So why not have stations every 1/2 to 1 mile? It is much easier to walk 5 or 10 minutes to a station than walk to a local bus stop and transfer a mile down the road.

Continue Reading →

North of Seattle: Snohomish County’s “Swift” Bus Rapid Transit

Posted on November 29, 2009 in Bus Rapid Transit, Seattle

If you think on-street Bus Rapid Transit can never be acceptable, have a look at the new “Swift” project in Snohomish County, the suburban area north of Seattle. The local agency, Community Transit, has a slick but very informative presentation, including a great video, here. People who think BRT can never be good transit really need to watch the video. It’s definitely a sales pitch, but it gives a good overview of the system and shows some of why BRT projects have such appeal, especially in outer-suburban areas where densities don’t support rail, at least not yet. Continue Reading →

Bus Rapid Transit: Notes from a Pro

Posted on November 29, 2009 in General

Although I’ve done some Bus Rapid Transit planning, my Canadian colleague, Steve Schijns, has been doing it for decades, including important work in both Ottawa and Brisbane. He’s also up to date on a lot of the BRT happening around Toronto. In response to my previous post, he sent along these thoughts, which I thought I’d share verbatim: Continue Reading →

Bus Rapid Transit: Some Questions to Ask

Posted on November 26, 2009 in Branding, Bus Rapid Transit, Philosophy

There’s been lively comment on the last several posts about Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), including its recent history in America and elsewhere, the usefulness of the term, and the suspicions that it raises.

Still, “Bus Rapid Transit” is not going away. So as you consider new BRT proposals that arise in your community, possibly as alternatives to a rail project that you’d prefer, here’s a wise bit of advice I was once given about conversing with people who have differing viewpoints and incomplete information:

Don’t state a judgment. Ask a question. Continue Reading →

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