TRB/APTA 2004Bus Rapid Transit Conference

When is BRTWhen is BRT the Best Option?the Best Option?

1:30 – 2:40 p.m.1:30 – 2:40 p.m.

Paul LarrousseDirector, National Transit Institute (NTI)Director, National Transit Institute (NTI)

(Moderator)(Moderator)

TRB/APTA 2004Bus Rapid Transit Conference

• FlexBRT Project Briefing, Randall Farwell• “When is BRT the Best Option – The LA

Experience”, Rex Gephart• Lane Transit District “BRT Decision Process”,

Stefano Viggiano

Session Presentations

TRB/APTA 2004Bus Rapid Transit Conference

Rex Gephart

• Masters Degree in Architecture and Urban Planning, University of California, Los Angeles

• Director of Regional Transit Planning for the LA MTA• Manages the MetroRapid Service program

When is BRT the When is BRT the Best Option?Best Option?

Rex GephartRex GephartDirector, Regional Transit PlanningDirector, Regional Transit Planning

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation AuthorityLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Russell ChisholmRussell ChisholmPresidentPresident

Transportation Management & Design, Inc.Transportation Management & Design, Inc.

APTA Bus Operations/BRT ConferenceAPTA Bus Operations/BRT ConferenceMay 5, 2004May 5, 2004

Page 5

Decision Process for Modal SelectionDecision Process for Modal Selection

Regional Transit Alternatives Analysis (1998)

Metro Rapid Demonstration (2000)

Transit Corridor Study (2000)

Metro Rapid Expansion Program (2002)

Page 6

Regional Transit Alternatives AnalysisRegional Transit Alternatives Analysis

Purpose of RTAA: Identify regional transit corridors Identified major regional demand patterns

Defined areas with high transit dependency Defined areas with high transit demand Defined origin and destination trip patterns

Identified five candidate corridors San Fernando Valley Corridor Wilshire Corridor East Los Angeles Corridor Exposition Corridor Pasadena Corridor

Supported Metro Rapid arterial concept

Page 7September 1998

Los Angeles CountyTransit Dependency Index

(By Traffic Analysis Zone)

Page 8September 1998

Transit Ridership by Line

Community Statistical Areaswith high transit dependency

Page 9September 1998

Mid-Wilshire & Koreatown CSAWork Trip Destinations

Page 10

Metro Rapid Program Metro Rapid Program

Frequent Service Bus Signal Priority Headway-based Schedules Simple Route Layout Less Frequent Stops Integrated with Local Bus Service Level Boarding and Alighting Color-coded Buses and Stations High Capacity Buses Exclusive R-O-W and Arterial Lanes Off-vehicle Fare Payment Bus Feeder Network

Page 11

Legend

Metro Rapid Station

Rapid & Rail Station

Metro Rapid Line

Metro Red Line

Metro Blue Line

Demonstration LinesDemonstration Lines Implemented June 2000

Downtown Los Angeles

Pasadena Gold Line

Blue/Gold Lines

Page 12

Metro Rapid DemonstrationMetro Rapid Demonstration

Reduced Passenger Travel Times Wilshire/Whittier Corridor – up to 29% Ventura Corridor – up to 23%

Increased Corridor Ridership Wilshire/Whittier Corridor – ridership up 42% Ventura Corridor – ridership up 38%

Attracted New Riders 1/3 of ridership increase are new riders

Two-line arterial demonstration implemented in 2000 to determine if people would ride higher speed bus

Page 13

Metro Rapid/BRT Becomes OptionMetro Rapid/BRT Becomes Option

Metro Rapid/BRT added as Major Investment Study option

MTA develops mobility toolbox for assessing BRT as a transit option

0 MPH

10 MPH

20 MPH

30 MPH

40 MPH

5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000

Peak Direc tional Capac ity (P assengers per Hour)

Op

era

tin

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Ra

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50 MPH

Rapid Bus

B us R ap id TransitB us R ap id TransitLight Rail (Exclusive Right-Of-Way)

Heavy Rail MNo rth Ho llywood

MNo rth Ho llywood

MNo rth Ho llywood

MNo rth Ho llywood

Com m uter Rail

Light Rail (Arterial)

Los Angeles Mobility ToolboxLos Angeles Mobility Toolbox

Page 15

Transit Corridor StudyTransit Corridor Study

Major Investment Study was performed on four of the five RTAA corridors

Identified preferred corridor modes San Fernando Valley Corridor - BRT Wilshire Corridor - BRT Exposition Corridor - BRT/LRT East Los Angeles Corridor - LRT Pasadena Corridor – Independent Study (JPA) - LRT

Page 16

San Fernando Valley Corridor BRTSan Fernando Valley Corridor BRT

Statistics 14 miles, 13 stations, 7 minute headway Project construction/vehicle cost = $330 million

Issues At-grade corridor with many street crossings (against signal

progression) Connects Red Line (HRT) with Warner Center (50,000 jobs) Originally planned as heavy rail extension (too costly)

BRT selected over LRT Expected demand (22,000 daily boardings) did not meet LRT

economies of scale BRT required for flexible on-street operation at Warner Center

Page 17

San Fernando Valley Corridor BRT San Fernando Valley Corridor BRT

Page 18

Wilshire Corridor BRTWilshire Corridor BRT

Statistics 13 miles, 15 stations, 3-4 minute headways Project construction/vehicle cost = $182 million

Issues At grade corridor in 3 jurisdictions; many major street crossings Very high arterial traffic with bottlenecks Existing Metro Rapid arterial BRT; extends beyond study corridor Potential future extension of Red Line (HRT)

BRT selected over LRT Existing BRT-light successful; only need to add exclusive lanes Avoid mode complexity and unnecessary transfers Minimizes short term investment until Red Line extended

Page 19

Wilshire Corridor BRTWilshire Corridor BRT

Rendering

Page 20

Exposition Corridor LRTExposition Corridor LRT

Statistics 9.4 miles (7.9 new/1.5 shared), 10-12 stations, 7.5 minute headway Project construction/vehicle cost = $426 million

Issues Exclusive railroad right-of-way with street crossings Alignment options include partial arterial operation & grade seps Opportunity to connect with existing Blue Line LRT Serves several jurisdictions

LRT selected over BRT Expected demand (43,600 daily boardings) provides LRT economies

of scale LRT allows shared use of Blue Line LRT tracks & LACBD tunnel

Page 21

Exposition Corridor LRTExposition Corridor LRT

Page 22

East Los Angeles Corridor LRTEast Los Angeles Corridor LRT

Statistics 6 miles (1.8 miles in tunnel), 8 new + 1 existing station, 7.5 min

hdwy Project construction/vehicle cost = $898 million

Issues Initially HRT extension (too costly) Desire to link with regional hub (Union Station) and existing LRT Station locations not on continuous street or right-of-way Surface streets narrow (built in 1800s); active community street life Surface operation requires numerous turns across traffic

LRT selected over BRT Minimize community impacts (mix of tunnel and surface ops) Through service w/ existing Gold Line LRT at Union Station

Page 23

East Los Angeles Corridor LRTEast Los Angeles Corridor LRT

Page 24

Metro Rapid Arterial ExpansionMetro Rapid Arterial Expansion

Based on the success of the Metro Rapid Demonstration, the program was approved for expansion Improved travel speeds (up to 29% faster)

Increase in ridership (up to 40%)

Relatively low capital cost ($200,000 per mile)

Easy implementation (12 months to start-up)

FY 2008: 28 corridors and 450 miles of service

Page 25

Page 26

SummarySummary

BRT allows for greater flexibility Allows for easy mix of on-street and exclusive right-of-

way operation Easier to fit in challenging corridors Allows for incremental upgrading

Lower cost for both capital and operations until economy of scale threshold is reached for LRT Over 5,000 passengers per peak hour, peak direction Over 25,000 passengers per day

Each corridor requires a unique decision