Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
District 6 (Western United States)
San Francisco Bay Area Section

February 10, 2009

Kevin Connolly of VTA spoke about their recently completed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Strategic Plan, which is a pioneering work, as neither VTA nor other transit agencies have previously prepared this type of plan. The need arose because light rail and buses are not fast enough to attract new riders, so they want to distinguish BRT from their existing transit routes. One way is with a distinguishing "brand" of logo, bus design, signage, and the like, similar to what has been done in Eugene Oregon with their BRT.

VTA has identified six BRT corridors, which they've targeted for having BRT achieve a 30% travel time savings. The BRT routes will have the BRT express service, but also a local bus service that operates less frequently on the same route, but making all local stops. BRT will operate every 10 minutes for 18 hours per day, whereas the local route would operate on 15 to 30 minute headways.

BRT will entail a 10-25% increase in operating costs for existing routes, but due to increased ridership, will reduce the cost per rider. The capital costs will be about $100-200 million for each corridor. In congested cities (such as Palo Alto along El Camino Real) on-street parking would be eliminated in order to free up a traffic lane that could be for exclusive BRT use. In lesser congested cities (such as Mountain View, on that same route further along El Camino Real) the BRT would operate in regular traffic lanes, as buses do now. An aerial guideway is another option.

Kevin thanked SBTOA for inviting him, as some of his previous speaking engagements on this subject have had hostile audiences.

Report submitted by Mark Roddin.

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