Cleveland Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - News & Updates

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Cleveland Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - News & Updates

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Started 1 year ago by joshlapp
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johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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Cole said:
I'm not that familiar with traffic on Cleveland Avenue, but even if it's busy, wouldn't the signal priority help keep it moving pretty fast? I prefer that to the idea of acquiring additional public right-of-way for more lanes which would likely be required for dedicated lanes. The Euclid BRT looks like it takes 7 lanes because the buses take the middle lanes but the median switches sides depending on the stop.

Euclid Avenue is 66 feet wide IIRC, and there's no parking. Cleveland Avenue appears to be about 42 feet wide near 11th Ave.

Posted 1 year ago #
byJody
Rural NW Columbus
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Bus Rapid Transit

Get the Video Plugins

Posted 1 year ago #
cbustransit

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johnwirtz said:
I talked to someone from Kansas City's transit agency a few years ago about their BRT project (MAX). He thouht the majority of the speed improvements came from stop consolidation rather than signal priority or dedicated lanes. I think this will hold true in places with limited congestion (i.e., most of Columbus). Dedicated rush hour lanes are probably a good compromise on a street with limited ROW.

That kansas city line is what they are modelling the bus rapid transit line here on. It won't be particularly fancy and won't have dedicated lanes. It might have signal priority. mostly its gonna be like the number 31...more an express bus with nicer stations.

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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cbustransit said:
That kansas city line is what they are modelling the bus rapid transit line here on. It won't be particularly fancy and won't have dedicated lanes. It might have signal priority. mostly its gonna be like the number 31...more an express bus with nicer stations.

Thanks for the info. I believe it will have to have signal priority to get federal funds. It's a requirement. What's not required, but should be, is some kind of pre-paid ticket system. I would recommend ticket vending machines (TVMs) at every station and/or smart cards. The extra dwell time from people messing with dollar bills and fare boxes is a problem. They should get rid of that problem throughout the system, but especially on a route that is supposed to be "rapid."

Posted 1 year ago #
Columbusneon
German Village/Brewery District
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I still think I-71, with a few modifications, can be used for BRT. Any of the local freeways can really as well. It would better serve on surface streets, but few if any are wide enough to accommodate it. I was in one of the crevices of the Main Library's reference section one day and found a dusty old booklet produced my MORPC in the mid 1970s, outlining a plan for BRT along I-71, complete with stations built at or near the entrances and exits. Fascinating. Should definitely be looked at again today.

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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Columbusneon said:
I still think I-71, with a few modifications, can be used for BRT. Any of the local freeways can really as well. It would better serve on surface streets, but few if any are wide enough to accommodate it. I was in one of the crevices of the Main Library's reference section one day and found a dusty old booklet produced my MORPC in the mid 1970s, outlining a plan for BRT along I-71, complete with stations built at or near the entrances and exits. Fascinating. Should definitely be looked at again today.

I had no idea this had been considered before. I came up with the same concept:
http://sites.google.com/site/columbusbusplan/freewaybrt

Here's an idea for 315 too:
http://xingcolumbus.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/a-concept-for-more-suburban-express-service-to-osu/

Posted 1 year ago #
swinzo1010
Upper Arlington
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Doesn't COTA run buses on the highway shoulder during peak traffic times? My question is whether BRT on the highway will provide enough benefit to implement over our current situation.

I agree that BRT better serves surface streets but don't see as much potential gain in terms of highways.

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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swinzo1010 said:
Doesn't COTA run buses on the highway shoulder during peak traffic times? My question is whether BRT on the highway will provide enough benefit to implement over our current situation.

I agree that BRT better serves surface streets but don't see as much potential gain in terms of highways.

The COTA express routes don't make intermediate stops. I envision BRT stops at I-71 and 17th or SR-315 & Lane as a way to improve express service to campus. The real problem with the BRT on freeways concept is the lack of walkability and transit oriented development around interchanges.

Posted 1 year ago #
swinzo1010
Upper Arlington
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Thanks for the clarification. Also, with that idea you could get any events at Crew stadium, Fairgrounds, and the Historical Society off I-71.

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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swinzo1010 said:
Thanks for the clarification. Also, with that idea you could get any events at Crew stadium, Fairgrounds, and the Historical Society off I-71.

Yes. It would need connecting bus service to campus via COTA or CABS, but I think a frequent route between OSU and the airport along 17th could allow for an entirely new neighborhood to open up to student living.

Posted 1 year ago #
Columbusneon
German Village/Brewery District
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I mean, it isn't a FAR stretch..rail line and freeway..similar in shape and design in many respects. I know that COTA is supposed to use the berm/breakdown lane during peak hours for a few years now, and there are signs along the freeway showing this, but I have never, EVER seen a COTA bus do this, and unfortunately, I have to spend a lot of time on 70 and 71 to get to work.

Posted 1 year ago #
Columbusneon
German Village/Brewery District
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Johnwirtz your plans are pretty similar to what I remember seeing in that study. I will have to look at it again next time I am at the library.

Posted 1 year ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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Columbusneon said:
I mean, it isn't a FAR stretch..rail line and freeway..similar in shape and design in many respects. I know that COTA is supposed to use the berm/breakdown lane during peak hours for a few years now, and there are signs along the freeway showing this, but I have never, EVER seen a COTA bus do this, and unfortunately, I have to spend a lot of time on 70 and 71 to get to work.

Not sure of COTA's specific policies, but most transit agencies only allow buses on the shoulders to travel at 35 MPH or less. So a bus wouldn't need to use the shoulder until general traffic speeds drop below 35 MPH. This doesn't happen often in Columbus except at a few key locations.

Posted 1 year ago #
News
Columbus Underground
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Cleveland Ave. could get bus upgrade
By Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
Thursday May 24, 2012 5:37 AM

Faster, fancier bus service along Cleveland Avenue would end on the North Side instead of in Westerville as COTA had been considering. Central Ohio Transit Authority officials said yesterday that they’ve decided to focus plans for what’s called “bus rapid-transit service” in the area of Cleveland Avenue that riders use the most. The corridor is the authority’s second-busiest bus line. Most of its riders travel between Downtown and North Linden, and its biggest growth is between the Northern Lights Shopping Center and Rt. 161, said Michael Bradley, the director of capital projects and planning.

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/24/cleveland-ave--could-get-bus-upgrade.html

Posted 12 months ago #
swinzo1010
Upper Arlington
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No fare collection before boarding is a big disappointment.

Posted 12 months ago #
heresthecasey
Funkytown
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Another big let-down from COTA. Surprise, surprise.

Posted 12 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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swinzo1010 said:
No fare collection before boarding is a big disappointment.

Isn't that one of the 3 keys to being BRT?

Posted 12 months ago #
swinzo1010
Upper Arlington
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lifeontwowheels said:
Isn't that one of the 3 keys to being BRT?

In my opinion it is. Reading the article above makes it sound like COTA is planning a fancy express route....

Posted 12 months ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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The "Faster Fancier Bus" sounds like a good branding option for the line. j/k

Posted 12 months ago #
johnwirtz
Glenview, IL
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lifeontwowheels said:
Isn't that one of the 3 keys to being BRT?

I agree that it's important, but it's not required to get FTA funding.

For "Small Starts" funding (less than $250 million project), it needs to:
1. Be a fixed guideway for at least 50% of the project length in the peak period –AND/OR-
2. Be a corridor-based bus project with the following minimum elements:
-Substantial Transit Stations
-Signal Priority/Pre-emption (for Bus/LRT)
-Low Floor / Level Boarding Vehicles
-Special Branding of Service
-Frequent Service - 10 min peak/15 min off peak
-Service offered at least 14 hours per day

For Very Small Starts funding, a project must contain the following features:
-Transit Stations
-Signal Priority/Pre-emption (for Bus/LRT)
-Low Floor / Level Boarding Vehicles
-Special Branding of Service
-Frequent Service - 10 min peak/15 min off peak
-Service offered at least 14 hours per day
-Existing corridor ridership exceeding 3,000/day
-Less then $50 million total cost
-Less then $3 million per mile (excluding vehicles)

See Fact Sheet links at the bottom of this page:
http://www.fta.dot.gov/12304_222.html

Posted 12 months ago #