Metro Transit studies rapid bus service on 11 urban corridors
Other regions show affordable investment pays off in faster travel times, increased ridership
Shaving just a few minutes off a bus trip can make a big difference to passengers. Providing more frequent service can attract new riders. Adding amenities like heated bus shelters and real-time arrival signs make transit even more attractive. And it can all be done relatively affordably.
The potential for rapid bus is being studied on the 11 corridors marked in yellow. Larger map showing corridors (PDF).
Metro Transit is evaluating the suitability of 11 urban corridors for rapid bus service, also referred to as arterial bus rapid transit (BRT). Many of these corridors (see map) already have high ridership and carry nearly half the region’s urban passengers. But they could attract even more riders with more frequent service and reduced travel time, made possible by using these features:
- Fares paid on the platform, before boarding
- Boarding at both doors
- Raised curbs and curb extensions
- Signal priority for buses
- Fewer stations: 2-3 per mile
“Rapid bus service has been proven in other markets and provides faster travel times and better customer facilities that lead to higher ridership in these corridors,” said Charles Carlson, manager of transitway projects for Metro Transit. “The investment in these corridors has resulted in 15% to 25% better travel times and 20% to 40% increases in ridership.”
In other regions studied, capital costs ranged from $1 million to $3 million per mile for initial implementation of rapid bus features in a corridor. For full implementation, the investment can be $3 million to $6 million per mile. “Through this arterial study we plan on getting a better idea of both costs and ridership for our market, and will then provide the Council some ideas on how to best proceed,” Carlson said.
Better passenger experience helps to attract riders
Typical features of BRT include:
- A dedicated fleet of low-floor buses with low emissions
- Stations with enhanced security and lighting, heating, curb extensions and ticket machines
- Real-time signs, schedule information and way-finding signs
- Better on-time performance
Rapid bus service is proposed to operate every 7.5 to 15 minutes, depending on the corridor. If rapid bus service were to be implemented in a corridor, the current local service would still be maintained but at lower frequency, Carlson said.
The primary difference between the rapid bus or arterial BRT and highway BRT is that the latter operates on dedicated high-occupancy-vehicle lanes or bus-only shoulder lanes. Rapid bus service operates on arterial streets in the same lanes as other traffic.
Rapid bus service is part of larger plan for doubling transit ridership
The Metropolitan Council’s 2030 Transportation Policy Plan calls for a doubling of transit ridership from a base of 73 million in 2003 to 147 million in 2030. “This is an affordable way to help reach our goal and enhance the travel experience for our customers,” Carlson said.
In October, Metro Transit held a series of open houses to share information and get feedback on the proposed corridors and to hear what station-area amenities are most important to passengers. The next steps in the study include:
- February 2012: Complete evaluation of the corridors and rank them for implementation
- Early 2012: Select first corridor(s) for implementation
- 2012-2014: Conduct advance planning, engineering and construction of corridor(s)
- Late 2014: Begin operation in first corridor(s)
- 2015-2030: Implement service in additional corridors.