11/5/05
ETA Concept for
Regional Transit
WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Sound Transit is proposing an extension of Seattle-centric light rail
(LRT) to the Eastside
„ despite rejection by eastside voters
in 1995
„ despite eastside voters opting to
expand b bus rapid transit (BRT) in 1996 „ despite costs triple 1996 promises
BRT WILL PROVIDE SUPERIOR SERVICE AT FAR LOWER COST. IT IS TIME TO DECIDE AGAIN.
EASTSIDE TRANPORTATION ASSOCIATION, SUMMER 2005
What is Bus Rapid
Transit?
„ Buses, cars and vanpools on HOV lanes
„ 200 miles of HOV lanes in place today,
with another 100 miles on the way „ Permanent Eastside access to the
downtown Seattle regional bus tunnel „ BRT Service on both Lake bridges „ Builds on existing express bus service „ Minimum 45 mph under State Policy „ Provide distribution throughout
communities and activity centers without one or more transfers
Eastside Transportation Association, Summer, 2005
The Advantages of Bus Rapid Transit over Light Rail Transit
| | LRT | BRT/HOV | |
| | „ replaces some express buses | „ builds on successful express | |
| | | | bus system and HOV lane |
| | „ limited coverage | | |
| | | „ connects all centers | |
| | „ Limited capacity | | |
| | | „ Lower cost, higher capacity | |
LRT for the Eastside would cost more than 4 times the cost of a superior BRT system
More Advantages of Buses, Carpools and
Vanpools
+ builds on successful express bus service + connects all centers
+ works with regional densities + compatible with I-405 plans + 1/4th the cost of LRT
+ far higher capacity + fewer transfers
+ supports vanpool programs + preserves I-90 center roadway for
vanpools, carpools and other + needs existing taxes only (LRT will
require a MAJOR TAX INCREASE) + in place by 2010 (2020 to 2050 for
LRT in phases)
BRT IS THE SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY
Eastside Transportation Association, Summer, 2005
BRT/HOV Preserves the
Capacity of I-90
„ LRT preempts 2 lanes for exclusive
rail use, but is limited to one train every 5 minutes each way
„ That leaves 5 miles of empty lane
space between trains
„ LRT capacity = 3,550 seats per hour „ 1 bus/minute = 3,550 seats per hour „ 1 bus/minute leaves room for 1500
car/vanpools per hour between buses „ OR, room for 10 times more buses!
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1 mile
Eastside Transportation Association, Summer, 2005
BRT/HOV Supports Car
and Vanpooling
„ We have 6 of the nation’s best
vanpool programs
„ Carpools & vanpools serve 3 times
as many persons as transit
„ BRT needs little of the HOV lane
capacity
„ WSDOT policy will maintain HOV
lane speed of 45 mph or higher
Better Performance with
BRT/HOV
FEWER TRANSFERS.
Buses can travel through activity centers and neighborhoods, then enter HOV
SHORTER WALKS. LRT has one station in each Eastside CBD. BRT can make several stops
Eastside Transportation Association, Summer, 2005
Crrtain maps and a couple of diagrams not included on here due to format incompatibility.
For original seehttp://www.eastsideta.com/docs/BRTbrochure.11.05.pdf
