Chicago: A Vision for Bus Rapid Transit on Ashland

[marmar]

from the Chicago Transit Authority:


Ashland Bus Rapid Transit



Project Vision

The CTA, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Economic Development, and the Federal Transit Administration, performed a year-long planning study to assess options for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on both Ashland and Western Avenues.

Photo of people at public meetingAfter analysis and input at six public open houses in 2012, BRT is now planned for 16 miles of Ashland from Irving Park Road to 95th Street, with the first phase now being designed for central Ashland from Cortland Avenue to 31st Street with ongoing public input.

What is BRT?

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a term applied to a variety of bus service designs that provide for faster, more efficient and more reliable service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing street and traffic signal infrastructure.

Why BRT on Ashland?

There are many reasons why Ashland Avenue is a good corridor for implementing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)—it has high transit demand, it connects many parts of the city, and its physical layout is compatible with BRT improvements.

Ashland Avenue has the highest bus ridership of all CTA routes, with 10 million boardings in 2012—more than 31,000 per weekday. Currently, 1 in 4 households located within walking distance of Ashland Avenue do not have a car. Ashland BRT would provide a transit option about as fast as driving for neighborhood residents, with an up to 83% increase in bus speeds during peak periods, and a 50% improvement in reliability.

Ashland BRT would connect with seven CTA ‘L’ stations, two Metra stations, and 37 bus routes, and provide a much-needed north-south transit connection outside of the downtown area. The Ashland corridor provides access to nearly 133,800 jobs, including large employment centers such as the Illinois Medical District, and serves popular destinations like UIC, Malcolm X College, and the United Center. There are also 99 schools within walking distance of the proposed Ashland BRT. ..........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.transitchicago.com/ashlandbrt/

[earthside]

1. Big fan of BRT.

In Denver, if we had used a BRT model instead of a light rail scheme, we would have a mass transit system up and running by now.

As it is we are going to be twenty years behind schedule, billions and billions of dollars over budget, and stuck with a fixed rail system that goes where people aren't working anymore.