Bus rapid transit moves forward on Cedar Avenue

Transit ridership projected to triple in the corridor by 2025

It’s a bit like science fiction — “light-rail transit without the rails.” That’s how planners describe bus rapid transit (BRT).

BRT is a hybrid solution that combines the success of express buses on dedicated lanes with frequent, all-day service, high-quality transit stations, signal-light priority, and the real-time information that people expect from light-rail transit (LRT). Even the buses are designed to foster seamless transfers and on-time reliability – lower floors make boarding faster and more convenient.

In 2009, transit riders in the Twin Cities area will be able to use BRT. That’s when the Dakota County Regional Rail Authority (DCRRA) expects to complete the first phase of improvements to the Cedar Avenue Transitway, a 16-mile corridor that stretches from the southern terminus of Hiawatha LRT at the Mall of America to County Highway 70 in Lakeville.

Congested corridor attracts many transit riders

“The Cedar Avenue Corridor is one of the most successful suburban transit corridors in the region,” said Connie Kozlak, manager of transportation planning at the Metropolitan Council. “It attracts riders with several popular park-and-ride lots and express service during peak hours. BRT will further strengthen the corridor – we expect the number of transit riders to more than triple by 2025.”

Cedar Avenue BRT map and link to larger map

The Cedar Avenue Transitway stretches for 16 miles from the Mall of America in Bloomington to a proposed park-and-ride lot at 215th St. in Lakeville. LARGER MAP

The Cedar Avenue Corridor is also one of the most congested in the region: 100,000 vehicles drive the corridor daily. For many, nearly half of that distance is “stop-and-go.” The Council forecasts 90,000 more residents in Lakeville, Farmington and Apple Valley by 2030. This growth will add 60,000 new vehicles to traffic in the corridor during the period.

BRT project will have four phases

A corridor study, adopted in 2004 by the DCRRA, recommended implementing the transitway in four phases:

During Phase 1, preliminary engineering of the transitway will be completed. Shoulder lanes on County Road 23 will be improved to allow bus travel, and exclusive bus use of Highway 77 shoulders will be maintained. A new transit station will be added at Cedar Grove, and service may be extended to Lakeville. Existing park-and-ride lots and express bus service will be maintained throughout the corridor, and the Apple Valley Transit Center park-and-ride lot may be expanded. Phase 1 should be completed in 2009.
In Phase 2, by 2014, station-to-station service will be expanded from peak-traffic hours to all day and the Palomino station will be improved. New low-floor buses will be introduced in this phase.
During Phase 3 (by 2019) express service will be extended south to a new park-and-ride lot in Lakeville, and intermediate station stops will be added.
The final phase of the project includes a center-running bus lane between Highway 13 and Palomino, dedicated bus access to and from the center lane at Cedar Grove, and a station stop at Cliff Road.

County residents support BRT

Earlier this summer, Dakota County hosted a public open house to gather input from residents and businesses about its corridor plans for improvements from 138th St. in Apple Valley to Highway 70 in Lakeville. According to Kristine Elwood, Dakota County’s project manager for the corridor, most of the 65 people who attended the open house endorsed the choice of BRT to reduce congestion in the corridor.

Cedar Avenue is one of five transitways proposed for construction by 2020 in the Council’s 2030 Transportation Policy Plan. The transitways will feature exclusive rights-of-way for one of three transit modes: LRT, BRT or commuter rail.

Each mode is evaluated in comparison to the others and to existing transit services before a preferred alternative is selected. Among the major factors considered are cost, and each mode’s capacity to handle projected ridership in the corridor. Preferred alternatives have been chosen for Cedar Avenue (BRT), Central Corridor (LRT), Northstar (commuter rail) and the Northwest Corridor (BRT). LRT is already in operation along Hiawatha Avenue.

The total cost of Cedar Avenue BRT is currently estimated at $135 million. So far, funding has been contributed by:

Federal government - $4.3 million
State of Minnesota - $14.5 million
Local (county and cities) - $1.2 million

A total of $31.3 million will be needed to complete Phase I, Elwood said.

BRT likely to attract increased economic development

People exiting red New Flyer low-floor bus

Dakota County officials recently checked out a New Flyer low-floor bus, a model that could be used on for bus rapid transit on the Cedar Avenue Transitway.

According to proponents, BRT delivers economic benefits that are similar to light rail, while suiting corridors with both low- and high-density development areas. Construction of transit-oriented developments like those along the Hiawatha Line, which add commercial activity, an expanded tax base, and more employment in the corridor, is expected.

BRT will also reduce congestion pressure and air pollution. “BRT could take 4,000 vehicles off of the roads,” said Elwood.

BRT has a proven track record in North America. The cities of Pittsburgh and South Miami in the U.S., and Ottawa and Vancouver in Canada, use BRT. Eugene, Albany, Chicago and Cleveland have projects under way, and Boston recently expanded its popular “Silver Line.”