tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post3292529018436676071..comments2024-02-28T11:29:36.860-05:00Comments on just up the pike: to get anywhere with BRT, we have to think bigDan Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10594208011755406956noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-37713693384637194302013-09-25T10:46:12.187-04:002013-09-25T10:46:12.187-04:00@Lockwood_650
This blog has a commenting policy. ...@Lockwood_650<br /><br />This blog has <a href="http://www.justupthepike.com/2012/05/on-commenting-policy-and-challenge-to.html" rel="nofollow">a commenting policy</a>. If people can express their views in a polite and civil manner, they won't get their comments deleted. I don't think it's censorship to require people to act like adults.Dan Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10594208011755406956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-73136704364045997622013-09-24T12:11:21.836-04:002013-09-24T12:11:21.836-04:00I like the BTR Idea, just stop deleting comments b...I like the BTR Idea, just stop deleting comments because u feel is offensive... let people voice their opinions no matter what, stop censoring people!!!Lockwood_650https://www.blogger.com/profile/06309022213309314011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-84715378381815634902013-07-19T18:27:07.463-04:002013-07-19T18:27:07.463-04:00@Woody
BRT actually jives pretty well with Metro&...@Woody<br /><br />BRT actually jives pretty well with Metro's <a href="http://planitmetro.com/2013/07/05/metrobus-priority-corridor-network-pcn/" rel="nofollow">priority corridors network</a> plan, which looked at ways to provide faster, more reliable bus service. One of the best ways to do that is with dedicated lanes. And in fact, the plan explicitly calls out Route 29 as a corridor where they'd like to have a dedicated lane (between Sligo Creek Parkway and the Silver Spring Metro).<br /><br />I'm disappointed with the SHA's <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/19328/maryland-considers-boulevard-design-for-georgia-avenue/" rel="nofollow">current proposals for Georgia Avenue</a> that involve tearing down buildings. That's not the way to make Montgomery Hills a better place. We need to find a way to accommodate pedestrians and transit on Georgia Avenue <i>without</i> widening the street, which means repurposing space that's currently only for cars.<br /><br />Like I said to Robert, just because you personally don't see yourself using BRT doesn't mean it's not a good idea. It gives people another transportation option and can be done without widening the road if MCDOT and SHA were willing to take a lane from traffic. Some people may not find that to be the most palatable option, but it's actually the only one that exists, whether the space is used for transit or for sidewalks, a median, etc.<br />Dan Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10594208011755406956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-43906507382748912212013-07-14T17:05:02.793-04:002013-07-14T17:05:02.793-04:00Dan, it takes five to 8 minutes for a ride-on bus ...Dan, it takes five to 8 minutes for a ride-on bus between 2nd and Seminary and the Silver Spring station. No one in my neighborhood is going to take another five minutes to hop on a BRT on Georgia Avenue. <br />Running a BRT down Georgia Avenue in a dedicated lane between Forest Glen and 16th would mean the elimination of businesses on one or both sides of Georgia and eliminate any chance for the kind of walkable neighborhood you are always touting. <br />Transit advocates need to focus our time and energy on funding the Purple Line. Then we can focus on BRT where it makes sense.<br /><br />And how does BRT jive with Metro's plan for more express buses.Woody Brosnanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05396619795756337811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-10306311105909802382013-07-12T12:19:13.131-04:002013-07-12T12:19:13.131-04:00The idea that BRT in dedicated lanes is somehow ta...The idea that BRT in dedicated lanes is somehow taking lanes away from traffic on roads like 29 inside the beltway and Viers Mill is bogus. Bus traffic is such that the curb lanes don't function to carry cars now. <br /><br />The right lane is something you briefly enter if there's no bus between you and the next traffic light. The back and forth probably slows traffic overall. Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00930563727941355838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-33241134679452157852013-07-12T10:50:47.009-04:002013-07-12T10:50:47.009-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00197250236607774802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-550661135951027282013-07-12T10:20:19.329-04:002013-07-12T10:20:19.329-04:00If we're going to talk about expensive luxurie...If we're going to talk about expensive luxuries: the Silver Line Metro extension costs <a href="http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2011/08/23/how-significant-an-opportunity-for-reducing-u-s-construction-costs/" rel="nofollow">$269 million A MILE</a> to build. By comparison, Los Angeles built its entire 14-mile Orange Line BRT <a href="http://www.nctr.usf.edu/jpt/pdf/JPT%2010-1%20Stanger.pdf" rel="nofollow">for $290 million</a>.<br /><br />As I said, BRT and Metro aren't interchangable (as you suggest), but if we're trying to move people quickly and affordably, especially in parts of the county where the density isn't there to support the investment in Metro (like Olney), BRT is a good way to go. <br /><br />If you'd like to learn more about the BRT proposal, I strongly suggest you read up on it. Read the <a href="http://www.justupthepike.com/2011/05/brt-proposal-could-get-moco-on-bus-for.html" rel="nofollow">Parsons Brinckerhoff study</a>, the <a href="http://www.justupthepike.com/2012/08/mocos-rtv-has-promise-but-needs-lanes.html" rel="nofollow">Transit Task Force report</a>, and <a href="http://www.justupthepike.com/2013/02/scaled-down-brt-plans-presented-at.html" rel="nofollow">the ITDP report</a>, and look at some of the BRT systems being built around the country. I think they would answer a lot of your questions.Dan Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10594208011755406956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-28741657858153320592013-07-12T07:42:54.532-04:002013-07-12T07:42:54.532-04:00It sure seems like an expensive duplication to me....It sure seems like an expensive duplication to me. <br /><br />The local buses meet the needs of anyone wanting to get to a Metro station along Georgia Avenue, and BRT stops a half a mile to a mile apart. besides duplicating the local bus service, wouldn't serve a lot of people very well who live in the interior of neighborhoods -- their walk to get to a BRT station would be a lot farther than a quarter mile to half a mile. <br /><br />Do we really need THREE types of transit service in that corridor? <br /><br />As far as the one trip BRT ride to <br />Silver Spring for people north of Glenmont is concerned, that would be nice, but it seems like an expensive luxury we can't afford. Besides, what we really should do is extend the Red Line to Olney, not give those folks inherently slower BRT that duplicates the Red Line for half the trip.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00180733496678026590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-17240858954372459622013-07-11T14:51:26.463-04:002013-07-11T14:51:26.463-04:00As I've noted before many times, different for...As I've <a href="http://www.justupthepike.com/2012/11/planners-encounter-skeptical-public-at.html#comments" rel="nofollow">noted before</a> many times, different forms of transit <a href="http://www.justupthepike.com/2013/01/to-build-support-for-moco-brt-start.html" rel="nofollow">do different things</a>. <br /><br />The Red Line stops are about 2 miles apart, meaning it's best suited for long trips, while local buses often stop every couple of blocks, making it ideal for short trips (though people often take the bus for longer trips because they often don't have an alternative.) <br /><br />BRT goes in the middle, with stops every 1/2 to 1 mile apart. It's not duplicating the Red Line, it's complimenting it.<br /><br />I don't know about you, but I could see this helping people who live between Metro stations or too far away from one, or serving as an alternative when there are service issues on the Red Line, or giving people who live north of Glenmont a one-seat ride to Silver Spring.Dan Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10594208011755406956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-29947935134042608872013-07-11T14:43:52.590-04:002013-07-11T14:43:52.590-04:00They are still calling for BRT between downtown Si...They are still calling for BRT between downtown Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Glenmont on Georgia Avenue. The Metro Red Line under Georgia Avenue serves this corridor and could easily handle more passengers by running all trains from downtown DC through to Glenmont rather than turning half of them around at Silver Spring. <br /><br />Why propose expensive and duplicative BRT? We already have the Red Line.<br /><br />The same thing holds true on 355. Why duplicate the existing Red Line?Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00180733496678026590noreply@blogger.com