Slide 1

Bus Rapid Transit StudyRockefeller FoundationAugust 3, 20111Presentation OverviewBackgroundPurpose of the StudyWhat is BRT?Project Scope of WorkTechnical AnalysisResults2

EmX median busway (Eugene, OR)Bus Rapid Transit Study2BackgroundCouncilmember Marc Elrichs BRT visionContracted with PB AmericaAssembled technical advisory committeeSHAMTAWMATAMNCPPCThe Council of GovernmentsCities of Rockville and Gaithersburg

3Bus Rapid Transit StudyBackgroundBriefing to StakeholderCounty Executive Rapid Transit Task ForceChambers of commerceTransportation management districtsMDOTPrince Georges CountyDistrict of ColumbiaThe Countys Regional Services CenterSenior CitizensMajor government employersEnvironmental, civic, and community groups

Briefing to the County Council

4Bus Rapid Transit StudyPurpose of the StudyTest the feasibility of a network system of BRT routes providing access to county activity centers within the existing right of wayEugene EmX (LTD, Oregon)

Las Vegas MAX (RTC of Southern NV)

5Bus Rapid Transit Study5What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?6BRT is based on rapid transit principles. It combines the most attractive features of light rail with the lower costs of bus technology.

Instead of trains and tracks, BRT invests in improvements to roadways, rights-of-way, intersections, and traffic signals to speed up bus transit service.Bus Rapid Transit Study67Stylish VehiclesAttractive StationsGuideways and Rights of WayFaster Fare CollectionIntelligent Transportation SystemsOperationsLand Use

Cleveland HealthLine (GCRTA)Arterial Bus LaneAlbany NY 5 (CDTA, New York)

Transit signal priority (TCRP Synthesis 83)Major BRT Elements in this StudyBus Rapid Transit Study78BRT Elements Separating BRT vehicles from other traffic increases speed and reliability.Several optionsExclusive bus waysBus only lanesMixed flow lanes with queue jumpers & TSPAssume guideways constructed within right-of-way, except at intersections

Guideways and rights-of-way

Guided busway (Leeds, London)

Rendering of Silver Line BRT in bus-only lane (Boston, MA)Bus Rapid Transit Study89Intelligent Transportation SystemsBRT Elements (continued)Increase service reliabilityTransit signal priorityApplied to roadway LOS C or DNot signal pre-emptionQueue jumpsApplied at existing right-turn only lanesThrough- and right-turning traffic volumes would not hinder queue jumpTSP preferable to queue jumps in study

Bus Rapid Transit Study910Other Elements to ConsiderLand UseStation AccessService Branding

Coordinate transit-supportive land uses with BRT stations to create transit-friendly environments

Depending on station location, customers can walk, bike, take a shuttle bus, or drive/park-and-rideDifferent than typical local bus serviceBRT is a new service with a new imageCleveland, OHPhoenix, AZBus Rapid Transit Study10Project Scope SummaryScreen all County roadways for potential BRT corridorsConduct planning-level corridor analyses to determine potential BRT treatmentsDetermine travel demand and identify routes for networkDetermine generalized capital and O&M costs for BRT network11

Reversible median busway (Eugene, OR)Bus Rapid Transit Study11Study Methodology

Baseline roadway networkScreened BRT corridorsOperating statisticsBus Rapid Transit Study12Project AssumptionsOperate in existing rights-of-way High-capacity articulated BRT vehiclesDedicated lanes where possibleTraffic signal improvements where possibleQueue jump lanes in areas where TSP is not feasibleOff-board fare collectionReal-time passenger information at major stationsStations approximately every 1/2-mile to mile, terminating at major activity centers or at other premium transit stationsMinimum density thresholds assumed for BRT system

13Bus Rapid Transit Study13The Proposed Network16 Corridors, 150 Miles

Bus Rapid Transit Study14The Proposed NetworkRouteFromToRoute Length (miles)Number of StationsMD 586/Veirs Mill RoadRockville Metrorail StationWheaton Metrorail Station6.711Georgia Avenue NorthMontgomery General HospitalWheaton Metrorail Station9.812Georgia Avenue SouthWheaton Metrorail StationSilver Spring Transit Center3.96Rockville Metrorail-Life Sciences CenterLife Sciences CenterRockville Metrorail Station5.37MD 124/Muddy Branch RoadLakeforest MallLife Sciences Center7.210MD 185/Connecticut AvenueGeorgia Avenue and Bel Pre RoadMedical Center Metrorail Station9.510MD 355 NorthMD 355 and Stringtown RoadRockville Metrorail Station14.616MD 355 SouthRockville Metrorail StationBethesda Metrorail Station8.813MD 650/New Hampshire AvenueWhite Oak Transit CenterFort Totten Metrorail Station8.89Montgomery Mall/ Old Georgetown RoadMontgomery Mall Transit CenterBethesda Metrorail Station6.99Randolph RoadWhite Flint Metrorail StationGlenmont Metrorail Station5.57MD 193/University BoulevardWheaton Metrorail StationTakoma/Langley Park Transit Center6.49US 29/Columbia Pike/Colesville RoadBurtonsville Park-and-Ride LotSilver Spring Transit Center13.511ICCLife Sciences CenterBriggs Chaney Park-and-Ride lot22.93North Bethesda TransitwayMontgomery Mall Transit CenterGrosvenor Metrorail Station5.17Midcounty HighwaySnowden Farm Parkway and Stringtown RoadShady Grove Metrorail Station13.410Total148.3150Bus Rapid Transit Study15Basis for Forecasting Ridership2040 horizon yearNo-build conditionsProjects in the MWCOG constrained long-range planPurple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway in operation as light railRound 8.0 land-use forecast (MNCPPC MWCOG)Use MDAA II model (Phase 2 model)Rider survey-based modelSpecific application for transitFTA Accepted for Purple Line and CCT2020 model runTested land-use implications against 2040 conditions Assumes baseline auto/transit costs for travel

16Bus Rapid Transit Study16Summary of Preliminary FindingsAll results compared to 2040 No-build50,000 new daily transit trips150,000 to 190,000 daily BRT boardings$138 million to $165 million annual O&M costsMajority of corridors with over 1,000 daily boardings per mileO&M costs for Ride On and Metrobus decrease by 17% and 4%, respectivelyBRT network reduces Ride On and Metrobus boardings, permitting redeployment of resources

17Bus Rapid Transit Study17Ridership: Daily and By Route Mile Preliminary Results

Bus Rapid Transit Study18Operations Cost and Farebox Recovery Preliminary Results

Bus Rapid Transit Study19Other Findings PreliminaryBRT system requires additional bus maintenance facilities and the modification of existing facilities to service articulated vehiclesRequires approximately 300 buses to accommodate passenger demandWill require redeployment of Ride On and Metrobus fleets

20Bus Rapid Transit Study20Questions and Answers21Bus Rapid Transit Study21Sheet2Route NumberRoute NameDaily BoardingsDaily Boardings/Route MileRequired Peak HeadwayMBRT14Randolph Road> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT10BIMD 355 South> 20,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT4BMD 97/Georgia Avenue South> 5,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT10AMD 355 North> 25,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT21North Bethesda Transitway> 5,000> 1,000< 10 min.MBRT12MD 187/Old Georgetown Road> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT18MD 193/University Boulevard> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT11MD 650/New Hampshire Avenue> 10,000> 1,000< 15 min.MBRT5Rockville Metro-LSC> 5,000> 1,000< 15 min.MBRT19US 29> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT4AMD 97/Georgia Avenue North> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MCBRT3MD 586/Veirs Mill Road> 5,000>1000< 15 min.MBRT7Lakeforest Mall/Muddy Branch Rd< 5,000< 1,000< 15 min.MBRT23Mid-County> 5,000< 1,000< 10 min.MBRT8MD 185/Connecticut Avenue< 5,000< 1,000< 15 min.MBRT20ICC< 5,000< 1,000< 35 min.Total

Sheet1Route NameOperating CostsAnnual O&M CostO&M Cost/BoardingFarebox Recovery RatioFarebox Recovery RatioRandolph RoadMedium$5 - $10 million$5,027,000-$6,032,400$1.12-$1.34High72%-57%North Bethesda TransitwayLowunder $5 million$3,129,000-$3,754,800$1.43-$1.72High56%-45%Rockville Metro-LSCLowunder $5 million$3,097,000-$3,716,400$1.51-$1.82High53%-42%MD 586/Veirs Mill RoadLowunder $5 million$3,040,000-$3,648,000$1.62-$1.94High49%-40%MD 193/University BoulevardMedium$5 - $10 million$6,730,000-$8,076,000$1.67-$2.00High48%-38%MD 355 SouthHighmore than $10 million$14,214,000-$17,056,800$1.84-$2.21High44%-35%MD 187/Old Georgetown RoadMedium$5 - $10 million$6,824,000-$8,188,800$1.92-$2.30High42%-33%MD 97/Georgia Avenue SouthMedium$5 - $10 million$5,504,000-$6,604,800$2.01-$2.41High40%-32%Lakeforest Mall/Muddy Branch RdLowunder $5 million$3,384,000-$4,060,800$2.53-$3.04Medium32%-25%MD 650/New Hampshire AvenueHighmore than $10 million$9,378,000-$11,253,600$2.86-$3.43Medium28%-22%MD 97/Georgia Avenue NorthHighmore than $10 million$9,932,000-$11,918,400$2.96-$3.56Medium27%-22%MD 355 NorthHighmore than $10 million$31,968,000-$38,361,600$3.02-$3.62Medium27%-21%MD 185/Connecticut AvenueLowunder $5 million$4,108,000-$4,929,600$3.55-$4.26Low23%-18%Mid-CountyMedium$5 - $10 million$8,057,000-$9,668,400$3.89-$4.67Low21%-16%US 29Highmore than $10 million$18,673,000-$22,407,600$3.89-$4.67Low21%-16%ICCMedium$5 - $10 million$4,820,000-$5,784,000$12.38-$14.85Low6%-5%High> $10,000,000> 35%Medium$5,000,000 - $10,000,000 25% - 35%Low< $5,000,000< 25%

Sheet2Route NumberRoute NameDaily BoardingsDaily Boardings/Route MileRequired Peak HeadwayMBRT14Randolph Road> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT10BIMD 355 South> 20,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT4BMD 97/Georgia Avenue South> 5,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT10AMD 355 North> 25,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT21North Bethesda Transitway> 5,000> 1,000< 10 min.MBRT12MD 187/Old Georgetown Road> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT18MD 193/University Boulevard> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT11MD 650/New Hampshire Avenue> 10,000> 1,000< 15 min.MBRT5Rockville Metro-LSC> 5,000> 1,000< 15 min.MBRT19US 29> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MBRT4AMD 97/Georgia Avenue North> 10,000> 1,000< 5 min.MCBRT3MD 586/Veirs Mill Road> 5,000< 1,000< 15 min.MBRT7Lakeforest Mall/Muddy Branch Rd< 5,000< 1,000< 15 min.MBRT23Mid-County> 5,000< 1,000< 10 min.MBRT8MD 185/Connecticut Avenue< 5,000< 1,000< 15 min.MBRT20ICC< 5,000< 1,000< 35 min.TotalTotal149,000 - 190,0001,100 - 1,400

Sheet1Route NameOperating CostsAnnual O&M CostO&M Cost/BoardingFarebox Recovery RatioFarebox Recovery RatioRandolph RoadMedium$5 - $10 million$5,027,000-$6,032,400$1.12-$1.34High72%-57%North Bethesda TransitwayLowunder $5 million$3,129,000-$3,754,800$1.43-$1.72High56%-45%Rockville Metro-LSCLowunder $5 million$3,097,000-$3,716,400$1.51-$1.82High53%-42%MD 586/Veirs Mill RoadLowunder $5 million$3,040,000-$3,648,000$1.62-$1.94High49%-40%MD 193/University BoulevardMedium$5 - $10 million$6,730,000-$8,076,000$1.67-$2.00High48%-38%MD 355 SouthHighmore than $10 million$14,214,000-$17,056,800$1.84-$2.21High44%-35%MD 187/Old Georgetown RoadMedium$5 - $10 million$6,824,000-$8,188,800$1.92-$2.30High42%-33%MD 97/Georgia Avenue SouthMedium$5 - $10 million$5,504,000-$6,604,800$2.01-$2.41High40%-32%Lakeforest Mall/Muddy Branch RdLowunder $5 million$3,384,000-$4,060,800$2.53-$3.04Medium32%-25%MD 650/New Hampshire AvenueHighmore than $10 million$9,378,000-$11,253,600$2.86-$3.43Medium28%-22%MD 97/Georgia Avenue NorthHighmore than $10 million$9,932,000-$11,918,400$2.96-$3.56Medium27%-22%MD 355 NorthHighmore than $10 million$31,968,000-$38,361,600$3.02-$3.62Medium27%-21%MD 185/Connecticut AvenueLowunder $5 million$4,108,000-$4,929,600$3.55-$4.26Low23%-18%Mid-CountyMedium$5 - $10 million$8,057,000-$9,668,400$3.89-$4.67Low21%-16%US 29Highmore than $10 million$18,673,000-$22,407,600$3.89-$4.67Low21%-16%ICCMedium$5 - $10 million$4,820,000-$5,784,000$12.38-$14.85Low6%-5%High> $10,000,000> 35%Medium$5,000,000 - $10,000,000 25% - 35%Low< $5,000,000< 25%