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December 23, 2004
Bus Rapid Transit Offers Flexible, Low-Cost Alternative to Rail if Done Correctly, Expert Tells BTA Board of Advisors At its December 20 meeting Transportation Planning Consultant Sam Zimmerman briefed the BTA Board of Advisors on the basics of Bus Rapid Transit as well as U.S. and international experiences to date. Mr. Zimmerman, a principal at DMJM Harris and formerly director of planning for the Federal Transit Administration, said BRT can be distinguished from traditional bus services by its speed, reliability, and image. In practice, this has meant everything from use of an existing street at a cost of $1 million a mile to building new lanes and tunnels that cost hundreds of millions of dollars. In presenting "lessons learned," Mr. Zimmerman urged the region to plan for BRT as it would any rapid transit mode, to focus on integrating the new BRT line with existing service, and to spend the money necessary to give riders a noticeably better experience.
Metrorail Blue Line Extended in Prince George's County The Washington, D.C. Metrorail system grew 3.1 miles on December 18 with the opening of the Blue Line extension to Largo Town Center in Prince George's County. The line had previously ended well inside the Beltway at the Addison Road Station. The $456 million project includes two new stations within walking distance of FedEx Field. The state paid 40% of the cost, with the remainder paid by the federal government. The cost of operating the extension will be divided among the WMATA Compact members according to a long-established formula. Planning for the project began in the 1970's, and the line was originally slated to go as far as Bowie. It was shortened in the mid-1990's, and construction funding was approved by then-Governor Glendening. Although the right of way was protected from development by Prince George's County, the project cost increased over time to reduce the impact on adjacent residential neighborhoods.
Boston's Silver Line Bus Tunnel Opens Boston's transit provider, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, opened a $600 million bus tunnel on December 17. The tunnel carries the Silver Line, a Bus Rapid Transit service, from South Station under the Fort Point Channel to South Boston where the city's convention center and new federal courthouse are located. Beginning in 2005 buses will use the Ted Williams Tunnel to reach Logan Airport. The MBTA will operate unique buses that use a diesel/electric hybrid engine when traveling on the street and an all-electric mode inside the tunnels. The third phase of the project, now in design and expected to be open by 2010, will connect the existing street-running segment on Washington Street to the new subway. For more information on the Silver Line, click here.
MDOT Preparing Transit Oriented Development Strategy for State Center Responding to Governor Ehrlich's mandate to maximize the use of state land as well as capitalize on two existing rail stations, Maryland Department of Transportation planners will hold a charette in mid-January to analyze different development concepts and prepare a plan for the State Center area. The charette will focus on a 1/2 mile radius around the State Center/Cultural Center Metro Subway Station. This area includes the state office complex, Maryland General Hospital, Bolton Hill, Seton Hill, and Mt. Vernon, as well as McCulloh Homes. The state-owned surface parking lots represent a particular opportunity, as do numerous smaller parcels in both public and private ownership. MDOT is promising to consult with community groups, local institutions, and developers to prepare both a land use plan and a fiscal analysis.
New Bus Fareboxes First Step Toward Regional Smart Card MTA has installed new fareboxes on 200 buses, approximately 25% of the fleet, and is conducting "in-service quality testing" before proceeding with full replacement. In addition to accepting bills and coins, the new fareboxes are equipped with a Smart Card reader. Smart Cards are plastic cards with an embedded computer chip that stores data, and riders will be able to place cash value on the card and pay fares for buses and trains by waving it across the reader. Identical cards are already in widespread use on the Washington Metro. MTA-issued cards will be accepted throughout the Baltimore-Washington region but, in a questionable move, will not use the same graphics as those issued by WMATA. Replacement of MTA's Metro Subway and Light Rail ticket vending machines is scheduled for 2005. The new bus fareboxes will also issue a one-day pass called a Go Pass that can be swiped through a slot on the top of the machines. Go Passes are intended to reduce fraudulent transfers of paper day passes by preventing re-use on the same bus. Additional information about the Smart Card program is available here. Best wishes for the new year!.
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